The Generalate of the congregation of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Apostole del Sacro Cuore di Gesù ) is in Rome, Italy. The Superior General, assisted by her Council, governs and guides the sisters in fidelity to the spirit of the Congregation.
The 2010-2016 General Council, (L-R): Sr. Marta Dalcin, Sr. Mary Grace Giaimo, Sr. Chiara Cervato, Mother Clare Millea, Sr. Lorenzina Perniola, Sr. Cornelia Marcazzan, Sr. Alice Reginato.
Mother Mary Clare Millea, Superior General, was born in Derby, Connecticut, USA. She entered the Congregation in 1965 in Hamden, Connecticut, professed her first vows in 1967 and her perpetual vows in 1973. She holds undergraduate and advanced degrees in Special Education and Psychology and earned her doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical University Lateranense, Rome. In addition, she studied Spiritual Theology at the Teresianum and pursued studies in various areas of spirituality and ecclesiology in Rome. In the apostolate she has served as special education teacher, principal, and local superior. In 1986 she was elected to the General Council and from 1989 to 1991 she was also directress of the juniorate in Rome. From 1992 to 1998 she was the Vicaress General, and in 1998 she was elected to a third term as General Councillor, responsible for formation. She served as provincial superior in the United States Province from 2001 to 2004 while remaining a member of the General Council. In 2004 she was elected Superior General of the Congregation. She participated as an auditor at the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God in 2008. Later in 2008 the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life named her Apostolic Visitator of congregations of women religious in the United States. At the General Chapter of 2010 Mother Clare was re-elected Superior General for the 2010-2016 term.
Sr. Lorenzina Perniola, Vicaress General, was born in Santeramo in Colle, Province of Bari. She entered the Congregation of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart in Rome in 1960, professed her First Vows in 1963 and made her Final Profession in 1967. Sr. Lorenzina studied education in Rome and religious education in Naples. She served as a teacher and instructional coordinator in various schools of the Congregation. In 1987 she was named to the Provincial Council of the former Province of Southern Italy and from 1990 to 1996 she was also the Provincial Secretary. In 1996, while remaining on the Provincial Council, she was appointed superior and instructional coordinator in Noicattaro. From 1999 to 2006 she served as Provincial Superior. When the Southern and Central Provinces of Italy merged in 2006 she was named Provincial Treasurer. She was elected Vicaress General at the General Chapter of 2010. Her responsibilities as General Councillor include coordinating the revitalization of ministries in Italy, the drafting of a congregational educational plan of evangelization, and the study of updated strategies for presenting Sacred Heart spirituality.
Sr. Chiara Cervato, General Secretary and Councillor, was born in Chiampo, Italy. She entered the Congregation in 1964 in Milan, where she completed her initial formation. She professed first vows in 1966 and perpetual vows in 1972. She holds a degree in Foreign Languages and Literature, with certification as a teacher of English. She also pursued studies in Religion and Formation of Lay Ministers. As a teacher she has worked in elementary, middle, and secondary school, as well as in teacher training programs. In 1998 she was elected to the General Council. In 2004 she was elected General Secretary and re-elected in July 2010. As a Councillor she is responsible for youth and vocation ministry and study of Sacred Heart spirituality, while continuing to serve as secretary to Cardinal Giovanni Canestri.
Sr. Cornelia Marcazzan, General Treasurer and Councillor, was born in San Giovanni Ilarione, Italy. She completed her initial formation in Milan, made her first profession in 1968 and her perpetual profession in 1974. She holds a degree in Literature and a diploma in teaching religion. She has taught on the pre-school, elementary, and middle school levels and for many years served in parish ministry. From 1990 to 2004 she was provincial treasurer and councillor in the Province of Central Italy, Avezzano. As a Councillor she is responsible for coordinating the revitalization of ministries in Italy.
Sr. Alice Reginato was born in Avanhadava, Sao Paulo, Brazil. She entered the Congregation in 1964 in Curitiba, Paraná, made her First Profession in 1967 and her Final Profession in 1973. She earned degrees in education at the Pontifical University of Paraná and psychology at Sacred Heart University in Bauru, with a specialization in counseling. She also completed a program in Spirituality at the Teresianum in Rome. Her apostolic experience includes service as a catechetical coordinator, religion instructor, parish minister, vocation minister, member of a diocesan pastoral committee and a diocesan council for the formation of future priests, and instructor at the diocesan seminary in Dourados, Paraná. She has also held various leadership roles in the Congregation: directress of aspirants and postulants, local superior, Provincial Councillor, Provincial Vicaress, and Provincial Superior of the provinces of Paraná and San Paulo. The General Chapter of 2010 elected her to the General Councillor. She is responsible for youth and vocation ministry, ongoing formation, and the revision of the Constitutions. She also assists with GFASC and other initiatives for lay formation.
Sr. Marta Dalcin was born in Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. She entered the aspirancy in Curitiba, Paraná, in 1963. She completed her initial formation in Curitiba, made her first profession in 1967 and her perpetual profession in 1973. She holds a degree in Literature and Education and pursued additional studies in the Montessori Method, in Spirituality at the Teresianum in Rome, and in Human and Spiritual Formation. In the apostolate she has served as a pre-school teacher, juniorate directress in San Paulo and Rome, and provincial secretary in Paraná. She was elected to the General Council in 1998 and re-elected in 2004 and 2010. Her responsibilities as a Councillor include communications, coordination of lay groups including GFASC, and Fai Felice for the support of the Congregation’s missions.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA,
Sr. Mary Grace Giaimo entered the Congregation in Hamden, Connecticut, in 1980. She professed her First Vows in 1983 and her Perpetual Vows in 1988. She holds a degree in Music Education, a Masters in Music and Liturgy, and a Diploma in Spirituality from the Angelicum, Rome. In the United States she taught on the elementary and secondary levels and from 2001 to 2004 she served as provincial secretary. She was elected to her first term as General Councillor in 2004, during which time she was was juniorate directress from 2007 to 2009. She was re-elected to the Council at the General Chapter of 2010. As a Councillor she is responsible for communications and the revision of the Constitutions. She also assists with the Canonization Cause of Mother Clelia Merloni and is responsible for initial formation.
- General Council 2006-2010, from left: Sr. Cornelia Marcazzan, Sr. Marta Dalcin, Sr. Chiara Cervato, Mother Clare Millea, Sr. Agnese Panarotto, Sr. Giampaola Voltolini, Sr. Mary Grace Giaimo