The Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus recently welcomed Sr. Barbara Thomas, ASCJ, as the newly appointed Provincial Superior for their United States Province, which is located in Hamden.
While Sr. Barbara spent the past 12 years as President of Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis, she calls the greater New Haven area home. She grew up in the Hamden area, attended St. Rita School, and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1971. Upon graduation, Sr. Barbara entered the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and made her perpetual vows as a sister in 1979.
“It is a privilege to follow in the footsteps of the many great leaders who have come before me,” Sr. Barbara said. “I joyfully look forward to serving my community in this capacity.”
With a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven and a Master of Arts in liberal studies in mathematics from Wesleyan University, Sr. Barbara enjoyed teaching math at several Catholic high schools across the country, including Sacred Heart Academy, her alma mater.
She later went on to earn a Master of Arts in educational administration from St. Louis University and transitioned into the ministry of educational administration, serving as principal of schools in St. Louis and locally at St. Rita School in Hamden from 2004 through 2007.
In her most recent role as President of Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis, Sr. Barbara led extraordinary expansion efforts that doubled the size of the school’s campus. This included spearheading a $10 million dollar capital campaign.
Sr. Barbara’s appointment as Provincial Superior of the United States Province of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus—effective July 14, 2019—came from the Congregation’s Superior General and the General Council in Rome after months of prayerful discernment. She succeeds Sr. Ritamary Schulz, ASCJ, also a native of Connecticut, who served as Provincial Superior of the United States Province since 2016.
Collaborating with Sr. Barbara Thomas as the new Provincial leadership are Sr. Mary Lee, ASCJ, Vice Provincial/Treasurer; Sr. Angela Gertsema, ASCJ, Provincial Councilor; Sr. Diane Mastroianni, ASCJ, Provincial Councilor; Sr. Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Provincial Councilor; and Sr. Sharon Kalert, ASCJ, Secretary.