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.
The Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus welcomed new leadership for the Mary, Queen of Apostles Province (U.S. Province) on July 16, 2023. Leading the new Provincial Council are Sr. Mary Lee, Provincial Superior, and Sr. Luisa Fernanda Villegas, Vice Provincial. Serving alongside them are Sr. Maureen Flynn, Councilor; Sr. Angela Gertsema, Councilor; Sr. Colleen Patricia Mattingly, Councilor; Sr. Colleen Therese Smith, Secretary; and Sr. Christine Ann Hoffner, Treasurer.
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 Perpetual Vows in 1995. She began her life of 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.
Sr. Mary returned to the United States in 2016 to serve as Provincial Treasurer. In 2017, she also took on the role of Novice Directress for two years. Prior to being appointed Provincial Superior, she served as Vice Provincial since 2019. She succeeds Sr. Barbara Thomas as Provincial Superior.
Sr. Mary holds a dual Bachelor of Science in computer science and physical education from Stephen F. Austin State University. She also earned a Master of Arts in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Fairfield University as well as a post-graduate certificate in Mandarin from Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan.