Our Leadership
In Clelia's Footsteps
Each province in the congregation of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is led by a Provincial Superior, assisted by a Vice Provincial, Provincial Secretary, Bursar, and a team of Councillors.
Current Provincial Council:
Back row, L-R: Sr. Susan Emmerich, Sr. Ellen Cronan, Sr. Veronica Beato, Sr. Anne Walsh.
Sr. Maureen Martin, Provincial Superior
Sr. Maureen Martin, a native of St. Louis, MO, first came to know the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis, Mo. Sr. Maureen taught in elementary and secondary schools for 13 years and then served in elementary school administration for 20 years before her appointment as Provincial Superior of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 2004.
The first 3 ½ years of Sr. Maureen’s term as Provincial Superior have been marked by construction, restructuring, revitalization, and development. She completed the in-process renovations at Mount Sacred Heart in Hamden, CT which included provision for the Caritas Christi Center, restructured Queen of Apostles in Imperial, MO as a Retreat and Spirituality Center, and opened a new Apostle mission in St. Joseph Parish in Shelton, CT. Sr. Maureen worked with the Formation Team to formalize a pre-postulant program for women discerning religious vocations, and followed a collaborative process with all province members to delineate Core Values for community living. In the summer of 2006 she worked with the sisters in a whole-province gathering to devise a plan for ministerial restructuring and revitalization, and has been focusing on both Development aspects of the province and spiritual growth opportunities for the sisters. Sr. Maureen was elected to the Board of the CMSWR (Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious) in 2005. Sr. Maureen lives at Mount Sacred Heart in Hamden, CT.
Sr. Anne T. Walsh, Vice Provincial Superior
Sr. Anne is a New Haven, CT native and a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden. She entered the congregation in 1985, professing her first vows in 1988 and her final vows in 1993. Sr. Anne has a degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Math and has taught both subjects at the secondary level. After preparing for a year in the Chinatown section of New York City, Sr. Anne opened the new Apostle mission in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 2000. There, she taught English and Religion at St. Paul High School. In addition to her responsibilities as Vice Provincial, Sr. Anne also serves as the novice directress. Sr. Anne lives at the Formation House at Mount Sacred Heart in Hamden, CT.
Sr. Anne D'Alessio, Bursar and Councilor
Sr. Anne D’Alessio was born in New Haven, CT. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy and entered the Congregation in 1965 in Hamden, CT. She professed first vows in 1967 and perpetual vows in 1973. She has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mathematics from St. Louis University. She also has graduate credits in educational administration from Saint Louis University. She has taught high school and middle school math .She was an elementary school principal (for 15 years) in Missouri, Pennsylvania and New York. She has had leadership positions in the congregation as local superior, provincial treasurer and provincial councilor. She resides at Mount Sacred Heart in Hamden, CT.
Sr. Ellen Cronan, Councilor
Sr. Ellen Cronan is a native of New Haven, CT. After attending elementary schools in New Haven, she attended Sacred Heart Academy. She entered the congregation in 1958, professed her first vows in 1961 and her final vows in 1966. She holds undergraduate degrees in Political Science and History and a Master’s Degree in Political Science. She has taught at the secondary level and since 1969 has held the position of principal at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden, CT (1969-1974 and 1984-1990); Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis, MO (1975-1984) and Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township, NJ (1990-present.) Sr. Ellen resides at St. Luke Convent in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ.
Sr. Veronica Anne Beato, Councilor
Sr. Veronica Beato was born in Rochester, NY and then resided in St. Louis, MO. After attending Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis, she entered the congregation in 1974. She professed first vows in 1977 and final vows in 1982. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and master’s degrees in biology and administrative leadership. She taught at the secondary level from 1982-2002 at the congregation’s high schools: Sacred Heart Academy and Cor Jesu Academy. Presently she is principal of St. Raphael School, an inner-city, elementary school in Bridgeport, CT and lives at St. Raphael Convent.
Sr. Susan Emmerich, Secretary
Sr. Susan Emmerich was born in Red Bud, IL and raised in St. Louis, MO. She entered the Congregation in 1963, professed first Vows in 1966 and Perpetual Vows in 1971. She holds Masters Degrees in English and Library Science, a Diploma in Spiritual Theology from the Teresianum, Rome, and teaching certifications in English, Latin, History and Social Studies. She has taught on elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. Sr. Susan lives at Mount Sacred Heart in Hamden, CT.
Provincial Council 2004-2007:
- Shown in this 2004 photo are (l-r) Sr. Maureen Martin, Provincial Superior; Sr. Susan Emmerich, Secretary; Sr. Anne D'Alessio, Bursar and Councillor; Rt. Rev. Lambert Reilly, OSB; Sr. Mary Grace Giaimo, General Councillor (Rome); Sr. Mary Ellen Burns, Provincial Councillor; Sr. M. Clare Millea, Superior General (Rome); Sr. Ellen Cronan, Provincial Councillor, and Sr. Barbara Matazzaro, Vice Provincial.