Board of Directors 2025-2026
President – Mother Anna Grace Neenan, O.P.
Prioress General, Dominican Sisters of St. CeciliaVice President – Sister M. Lissetta Gettinger, O.S.F.
Provincial Vicar, Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual AdorationSecretary – Mother Ann Marie Zierke, M.S.
Superior General, Marian Sisters of the Diocese of LincolnTreasurer – Sister Mary Aloysius Kim, S.O.L.T.
General Sister Servant, Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity
Mother Amata Veritas Ellenbecker,O.P.
Prioress General, Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist
Mother Julie Marie Horseman, l.s.p.
Provincial, Little Sisters of the Poor, Chicago Province
Mother Maria Catherine Iannotti, P.V.M.I.
General Superior, Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate
Sister Barbara Johnson, F.S.E.
Vicar General, Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist
Sister Maris Stella Karalekas, S.V.
Vicar General, Sisters of Life
Mother Gloria Therese Laven, O.C.D.
Superior General, Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles
Sister Maria Theresa Kim-Hong Nguyen, O.P.
Prioress Provincial, Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province
Mother Mary Christa Nutt, R.S.M.
Superior General, Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma
Advisors to the Board
Mother Louise Marie Flanigan, S.s.E.W.
Mother Superior, Sister Servants of the Eternal Word
Sister Regina Marie Foley, A.C.J.
Vicaress General, Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus
Mother Francis O’Donnell, C.F.R.
General Servant, Community of Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal
Founding Board Members
Sister Christine Born, O.P.
Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia
Sister Vincent Marie Finnegan, O.C.D.
Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles
Sister Mary Bernard Nettle, l.s.p.
Little Sisters of the Poor – Baltimore Province
Mother Mary Quentin Sheridan, R.S.M.
Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan
Episcopal Liaison
His Eminence Justin Cardinal Rigali
Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia
Episcopal Liaison for CMSWR
Advisory Council
The CMSWR Advisory Council is assembled to advise the Board of Directors of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious in the advancement of its mission, bringing professional experience, ecclesial wisdom, and best practices to bear on the furthering of religious life in the Church in America.
Most Rev. William E. Lori
Archbishop of Baltimore
Vice President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted
Bishop Emeritus of Phoenix
Montse Alvarado
President and Chief Operating Officer
EWTN News, Inc.
Paul McMahon
Executive Director
Connecticut Catholic Foundation
Honorary Advisory Council Members
Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap
Archbishop of Philadelphia
His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Cardinal Archbishop of New York
