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IHM Leadership Council |
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L-R Front row - Sisters Joan Mumaw, Helen Ingles, Mary Fran Gilleran, Marge Sweeney, Carol Quigley and Janet Ryan.
Mission Councilors - In addition to overseeing a particular aspect of IHM Leadership - be it joining, development, resources, pastoral care, the Motherhouse renovation - IHM mission councilors provide all IHM Sisters and Associates a direct connection to the IHM Leadership Council. Mission units are overseen by one of the mission councilors. Mission units are comprised of sisters and associates who meet at least twice a year for spiritual support and reflection and to discuss issues involving the IHM community. Mission councilors also assist individual sisters in making significant decisions related to education, ministry, housing, health, sabbatical and retirement.
IHM Leadership Council
Sister Mary Fran has served as a provincial for the IHM congregation and has worked with the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the association of the leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States.
She describes her leadership style as collaborative and believes leadership is focused on vision and mission, with administrative decisions flowing from the vision.
"I believe religious life has a voice and perspective to offer from the margins of the Church. Religious life was intended to be where there are unmet needs," she says. "I am eager to work with others in deepening and expressing the spirituality that supports our commitment to sustainability. I am interested in helping the IHM community to become known for an inclusive spirituality that combines the values of the Gospel, our IHM heritage, the New Universe Story and the Earth Charter."
Sister Mary Fran received her Master of Arts in religious studies from the University of Detroit and Master of Arts in conflict management and organizational change from Antioch University, Yellow Springs, Ohio.
During that time, she has served as the IHM Northwest Province treasurer, the IHM general treasurer, the IHM director of financial services and a member of the Coordinating Council since 2000. Sister Helen is part of the Finance Office, Detroit Archdiocesan Catholic Cemeteries. "I am deeply concerned about our financial condition and realize that we are at a crossroads in our own ability to sustain ourselves financially," Sister Helen says. "I would hope that all of us reaffirm our commitment to a community of life that pools our resources, physically, spiritually, financially, in order to allow us to continue into a sustainable future." Sister Helen holds a Bachelor of Arts from Marygrove College, a Master of Arts from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Toledo.
She has been a lecturer at Katigondo National Major Seminary (Uganda) and currently serves as assistant to the management and development coordinator of the Catholic Institute of Education, Johannesburg, South Africa. Sister Joan is a member of the Management and Supervisory Committee of the AIDS Office of the Southern Africa Catholic Bishops' Conference and has been a board member of the African Faith and Justice Network. She served on the IHM Leadership Team from 1982-1988. She has been the African Mission Unit representative to the IHM Coordinating Council since 2000 and is a member of the Justice, Peace and Sustainability Advisory Committee. "We need to see our lives and the challenges we face in the context of mission and the Reign of God," says Sister Joan. "The differences we face are a microcosm of the differences in our world. How we deal with them can be a model for others." Sister Joan holds a Master of Arts from Wayne State University, Detroit.
"In the face of Church tensions, I look for the Gospel and Second Vatican Council values," Sister Carol says. "I lament the use of power that controls and does not energize. In conflict, I look for the truth from the perspective of the other. I take time for face-to-face listening and learning. Usually, I learn a lot." Sister Carol has served on 17 boards, chairing the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Jesuit Volunteer Corps and Gabriel Richard Historical Society. She is currently a board member of Health Alliance Plan (HAP). She received her Master of Arts in theology from Toronto School of Theology.
Sister Janet has served on various boards, including The East Central ACPE Region (Chairperson), Children's Hospital's Bioethics Committee and on its institutional Research Review Board. She currently serves on the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops' Certification and Accreditation Commission and on the Marygrove College Presidential Search Committee. On the Leadership Council Sister Janet has been part of a team instrumental in coordinating the sustainable renovation of the IHM Motherhouse, completed in 2003. "We have amazing opportunities to develop a more cosmic-oriented spirituality as a community and shape our campus into an eco-learning laboratory for southeast Michigan," Sister Janet says. "This could serve as a model for sustainable community and future religious life." Sister Janet holds a Master of Religious Studies from the University of St. Thomas, Houston, and is a certified clinical pastoral educator as well as a board certified chaplain.
Sister Margaret was part of many boards, including the Inner City Education Association, serving as its treasurer for many years. She was also on the board of the Northwest Vicariate Principals' Association, member of the Archdiocese of Detroit Principals' Association and the Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools. Sister Margaret served on an Archdiocesan Search Committee for superintendent of schools and was a long-time member of the St. Cecilia School Board and Parish Council. She continues to serve as a member of the St. Cecelia Parish staff in administrative support roles and as accountant. "While I experience frustration and tension within the Church, I am energized by the people and find their needs move me to work within the structures to obtain justice for those whose voices are not heard," Sister Margaret says. "I am committed to changing unjust structures." Sister Margaret received her Master of Arts from Wayne State University, Detroit. |
Mary Fran (Kathleen Thomas) Gilleran, IHM, is president of the IHM congregation. Sister Mary Fran has spent more than 40 years in pastoral work. For the last eight years, the focus of her work has been on organizational change, facilitation and conflict management. She has facilitated work with a wide variety of religious communities and organizations in the United States and Canada. She taught elementary school and later taught adults, including those in the deacon preparation program at Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit. 
Helen (Mary LaSalette) Ingles, IHM, was elected Mission Councilor/Chief Financial Officer. Sister Helen spent 16 years as a teacher before switching to the field of financial services, a field in which she has worked for 23 years. 
Joan (Robert Jean) Mumaw, IHM, was elected Mission Councilor/Vice President. Sister Joan has worked in the fields of cross-cultural ministry, cultural anthropology, and justice/peace for 30 years. 
Carol A. (Laura) Quigley, IHM, was elected Mission Councilor. She has spent 35 years working in the fields of applied theology and spirituality. Her work has been centered in community-building and faith-development as a teacher in the United States and as a missionary in Brazil. For seven years, she served as vice-president of Institutional Advancement for Marygrove College, Detroit. She spent 12 years working in the leadership of the IHM community and is the IHM director of novices and a part-time spiritual director at Visitation Spirituality Center. 
Janet (Ann Rita) Ryan, IHM, was elected Mission Councilor on the Leadership Council. This is a continuing position for Sister Janet, who has been serving on the Leadership Council since 2000. Her professional experience includes 30 years as an administrator. She spent 24 years in clinical pastoral settings at hospitals in the Detroit and Chicago areas. Fifteen of those years were at the Detroit Medical Center and at Children's Hospital of Michigan. Her early ministries included parish work and teaching. 
Margaret (Kathleen Marie) Sweeney, IHM, was elected Mission Councilor to the Leadership Council. Sister Margaret has been an educator for 42 years. She taught elementary school in the Detroit area for the first 15 years of her ministry and served as principal of St. Cecelia School (Detroit) for the next 27 years. 