History and Leadership
Our History
1894
The Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an international congregation that was founded by Blessed Clelia Merloni on May 30, 1894, in Viareggio, Italy.
1902
At the turn of the twentieth century, the first Apostle missionaries from Italy set out for the Americas: first to Brazil and then to the United States. On June 16, 1902, six Apostle missionaries sailed to Boston, Massachusetts, to minister to Italian immigrants who were seeking a better life.
Within a short time of their arrival in Boston, the Apostle missionaries from Italy had gathered about 200 children from the area and organized Christian doctrine classes for them. By 1905, 15 additional Sisters had come from Italy.
1906
In 1906, the Apostles moved into the Archdiocese of Hartford, establishing the first Provincial House and Novitiate in New Haven, Connecticut.
1953
In 1953, the Provincial House (also known as the Provincialate, or our U.S. “headquarters”) moved to a 125-acre parcel of land in Hamden, Connecticut. Formerly known as Cherry Hill, the property was purchased from the family of Manley Chester in 1946 and renamed Mount Sacred Heart due to its location on one of the highest spots in the area. The beauty of the original estate can be seen throughout the property in orchards, majestic trees, and the family’s stately home, which is used to house our Sisters in formation.
Today
Over the years, the Apostles were invited to minister in other dioceses across the United States. Today, Sisters of the U.S. Province—officially called the Mary, Queen of Apostle Province— serve in Connecticut, New York, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Florida, and in foreign missions in Ireland and Ghana.
Worldwide, the Congregation of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is divided into four provinces: Provincia D’Italia Madre Clelia (Italy); Província Brasileira Clélia Merloni (Brazil); Província Brasileira Sagrado Coração de Jesus (Brazil); and Mary, Queen of Apostles Province (United States). Together, our Sisters faithfully minister to the evolving needs of the Church through apostolic missions in 16 countries, sharing the merciful love of the Heart of Christ with all whom we encounter.
U.S. Provincial Leadership
Each province in the Congregation of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is led by a Provincial Superior, who is assisted by a Vice Provincial, Provincial Secretary, Provincial Treasurer, and a team of Councilors. The U.S. Provincial House is located at Mount Sacred Heart in Hamden, Connecticut.
Provincial Superior, Sr. Mary Lee, ASCJ
A native of Dallas, Texas, Sr. Mary Lee entered the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1987. She professed First Vows in 1990, and made her Perpetual Profession in 1995.
Sr. Mary began her ministry in education as a teacher at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden, Connecticut. She went on to teach at St. Joseph School, a K–8 school in the heart of New York’s Chinatown district. She returned to Sacred Heart Academy in 1994 for three years before embarking on a new chapter as a missionary in Taiwan. During her 17 years in Taiwan, Sr. Mary taught at St. Paul School in Kaohsiung.
She returned to the United States in 2016 to serve as Provincial Treasurer. In 2019, she was appointed Vice Provincial, and in 2023, she was appointed Provincial Superior. Sr. Mary holds a dual degree in computer science and physical education, a Master of Arts in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), and a post-graduate certificate in Mandarin.
Provincial Council
The current Provincial Council was installed July 16, 2023. Pictured from left are Sr. Colleen Therese Smith, Secretary; Sr. Colleen Patricia Mattingly, Councilor; Sr. Mary Lee, Provincial Superior; Sr. Luisa Fernanda Villegas, Vice Provincial; Sr. Maureen Flynn, Councilor; Sr. Angela Gertsema, Councilor; and Sr. Christine Ann Hoffner, Treasurer.