(ST. LOUIS) March 19, 2009 – The Sponsors Council of Ascension Health has appointed Sister Kathleen Appler, DC, Sr. Helene Lentz, CSJ, and Sister Patricia (Pat) Mullen, CSJ, as members.
Sister Kathleen Appler is the Visitatrix of the Northeast Province of the Daughters of Charity, Albany, N.Y. Prior to her appointment as Visitatrix, Sister Kathleen served as Provincial Councillor for the Northeast Province of the Daughters of Charity from 1999-2008. She has been involved in education as an administrator and a teacher. Sister Kathleen was the Administrator of Holy Rosary School in Brooklyn, N.Y., from 1995-2000, and from 1985-1995 at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Utica, N.Y. She taught elementary school from 1975-1985.
She earned an associate degree in liberal arts from Maria Regina College, Syracuse, N.Y.; a bachelor’s degree in English literature with a concentration in elementary education from Sacred Heart University, Bridgeport, Conn.; and a master’s degree in elementary education from the State University of New York, Cortland, N.Y. Sister Kathleen holds a Certification in Spiritual Direction from the Center for Spirituality at Work, Denver. She has served on the boards of Catholic School Administrators Association of New York State (CSAANYS); St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, N.Y.; Samaritan Counseling Center, Utica, N.Y.; and Lourdes Hospital, Binghamton, N.Y.
Sister Helene Lentz most recently served as President of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita, Kan., before the Wichita congregation joined with six other congregations to form the Congregation of St. Joseph. She is currently Director of the Associate (lay membership) program for the Wichita Center of the Congregation of St. Joseph.
Before being elected to congregational leadership Sister Helene served as the Vice President of Mission Development at St. Joseph Medical Center, Wichita, Kan. She was instrumental in initiating discussions with the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, which resulted in the merger of St. Francis Ministry Corporation and CSJ Health System in Wichita to form Via Christi Health System in 1995. Subsequently, she became the Senior Vice President of Mission for Via Christi Health System, and served in the role until her election as President of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita in 2000.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the former Sacred Heart College in Wichita, now known as Kansas Newman University, and a master’s degree in religious studies from Mundelein College, Chicago.
Sister Patricia Mullen is currently transitioning from her ministry as Administrator of Nazareth Center, the home of the sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph in Kalamazoo, Mich., to her new role and ministry within the Congregation of St. Joseph, as Director of Center Life. Prior to her service at Nazareth Center, Sister Pat ministered as the Vice President of Mission for St. Joseph Health System, Tawas City, Mich., from 1995-2006 and Patient Representative/Advocate at Genesys Health System in Flint, Mich., from 1990-1995. She also taught junior high students prior to her assignment as an elementary school principal from 1964-1971. She was a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph Leadership Team from 1971-1989.
Sister Pat earned a bachelor’s degree in science and math from Nazareth College, Kalamazoo, Mich., and a master’s degree in education administration, guidance and counseling from Wayne State University, Detroit. She also holds a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University, Chicago, and earned Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units as part of that program at St. Francis Hospital, Evanston, Ill.
She was active with the Sisters of St. Joseph Health System and participated in the founding process for Ascension Health, and served as a trustee on multiple hospital boards within the Sisters of St. Joseph Health System.
Ascension Health has six Sponsors: the Northeast, Southeast, East Central and West Central Provinces of the Daughters of Charity, the Congregation of St. Joseph, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Coming together has allowed these Sponsoring Organizations to continue their vital role in the tradition and mission of Catholic healthcare and to ensure the vitality of Catholic hospitals while serving the needs of their local communities.
Ascension Health is transforming healthcare by providing the highest quality care to all, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Ascension Health, which provided $926 million in care of persons who are poor and community benefit last year, is the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system. Our Mission-focused Health Ministries consist of 107,000 associates serving in 20 states and the District of Columbia.
