ST. ANDREW DEANERY — During a recent general chapter gathering of Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur from around the world, Sister Teresita Weind was elected the congregation’s 19th leader.

She will lead the 204-year-old international religious community, whose mission is carried out today by more than 1,650 Sisters in 34 states and in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Congo-Kinshasa, South Africa, Nicaragua, Peru and Brazil.

"I am looking forward to getting to know the Sisters in all of our Notre Dame ministries," Sister Teresita said. "This is an opportunity to get to know what we’re really doing to proclaim the goodness of God internationally."

COURTESY PHOTO

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Teresita Weind, left, newly elected congregational leader poses with Sister Camilla Burns, who currently holds the position.

Sister Teresita will assume her new responsibilities in December after serving for the past three years on the leadership team of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Ohio Province, which is headquartered in Cincinnati. For the past year she has served as the congregation’s provincial leader.

Sister Teresita is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy in Columbus. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., and a master’s degree in theology from Mundelein College in Chicago. She entered the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation, worked as a registered nurse, and then transferred to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1973. Before her service on the Ohio Province leadership team, she was director of the spirituality center at Mount Notre Dame in Reading.

Her previous ministry includes serving as pastoral associate at Sts. Simon and Jude Parish and director of The Neighborhood House, both in Saginaw, Mich. Sister Teresita also served as pastoral minister at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Parish in Oak Park, Ill., and director of liturgical formation for African-American parishes for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Four Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur were elected during the general chapter meeting to serve on the international congregational leadership team with Sister Teresita. All will serve for the next six years. They are: Sisters Maria Delaney and Jeanne MacDonald, members of the Boston Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur; Sister Nancy O’Shea of the California Province; and Sister Liliane Sweko from the Zimbabwe-South Africa unit.

During this most recent gathering delegates from five continents met in California. In addition to electing the new congregational leadership team, the delegates pledged to raise $2 million a year over the next six years to fund the Sisters’ ministries in Africa, Latin and South America.

Sister Teresita said every newly elected leadership team is given an agenda with specific items to address and implement. At the top of her team’s list, she noted, is unity. "The chapter gave us a strong call to stress and enrich the unity of the congregation. We’re called to be one."

While saddened to see her leave Cincinnati, the members of the Ohio Province are "moving forward together with a united heart, recognizing the call of the congregation," she said. "Our Sisters are very happy and supportive."

She believes her biggest challenge will be learning a new language. "I’m a typical American who speaks one language," Sister Teresita admitted. "I need to learn some conversational Italian and will be going to language school in January. It’s wonderful to look at someone and smile but even better to be able to understand each other."

Sister Teresita will leave for Rome in November. Prior to her departure the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur will hold an open house, scheduled for Nov. 17, from 4-8 p.m. at Mount Notre Dame.