By Eileen Connelly, OSU

ST. ANDREW DEANERY — The Ohio Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, which is headquartered in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, recently selected the members of the leadership team who will guide the 203-year-old community for the next three years.

Sister Teresita Weind was elected provincial, the position with canonical and legal responsibility for the community. Sister Claire Foley was also selected as a member of the team, joining Sister Marilyn Kerber who continues service on the team.

COURTESY PHOTO

The newly elected Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur leadership team poses together. Pictured, from left, are Sisters Claire Foley, Sister Teresita Weind, provincial and Sister Marilyn Kerber.

Provincial Sister Teresita Weind was born in Columbus, Ohio. She is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy in Ohio, Mary College in North Dakota, and Mundelein College in Illinois, holding a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in theology. Sister Teresita initially entered the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation and ministered as a registered nurse. She transferred to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1973. Sister Teresita has served on the Ohio Province leadership team for the past two years. Prior to this, she was director of the Spirituality Center at Mount Notre Dame in Reading. She also served as pastoral associate at St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Delhi Township and St. Jude Parish in Bridgetown, director of the Neighborhood House in Saginaw, Mich., pastoral minister at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Parish in Oak Park, Ill., and director of liturgical formation for black parishes for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Sister Claire Foley is a native of Hamilton, Ohio. She joined the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1956, and most recently served as the community’s director of associates. Her educational ministry included assignments at Mount Notre Dame Academy in Reading, St. Susanna School in Mason, and St. Agnes and Holy Family Schools in Dayton. In addition, Sister Claire served as principal at St. Susanna and at Corryville Catholic School in Cincinnati, and as an assistant superintendent of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Sister Claire served previously on the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur of Ohio leadership team as provincial and team member. She is a graduate of Edgecliff College and Xavier University, with a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in education administration.

Sister Marilyn Kerber was born in Chicago and joined the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1959. She is a graduate of Edgecliff College and Mundelein College and holds a bachelor’s degree in education and master’s in religious studies. Sister Marilyn has served as a member of the Ohio Province leadership team for the past seven years. Previously, she was formation minister at the St. Clare Formation House in Chicago, assistant director and diocesan director of religious education for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, director of religious education at St. Peter Church in South Beloit, Ill., CCD coordinator at Ascension Parish in Dayton, and a teacher at the former St. Veronica School in Hamilton.

The Ohio Province, which was established in 1840 and is the first Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur community in the United States, has 190 members with ministries throughout the United States and in Brazil, Italy, Kenya, Nigeria, Nicaragua and Peru.