Lynne Kennedy Mullen Appointed New Executive Director

HNEM: Tell us about your background.

I was born and raised in San Francisco, California into your typical Irish-Catholic family. My brother, two sisters and I all attended Catholic elementary and high schools. From third grade on, because of a wonderful teacher, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. After college, I started teaching fifth grade and middle school in a small Catholic school in San Carlos, California, and then moved into parish youth ministry and high school campus ministry. I returned to the elementary school level as an administrator and treasured my twenty years as principal in three different elementary schools in the Diocese of Oakland, where I made wonderful friends and worked with many outstanding colleagues. I feel perfectly at home in Catholic schools and I love the aspirational nature of Catholic education in particular.

HNEM:  What drew you to this position?

I was honored to be invited to join the Member Board (as the Sponsors Council was called then), and I loved getting to know more about the SNJM-sponsored ministries. I was impressed and inspired both by those I worked closely with as a Member and our ministry leaders in our schools.  I was on that Board for almost two years before being hired to replace Patrick Lynch. The SNJM Charism and Core Values resonate deeply with me, and I was confident that this position would be a good fit for both my head and my heart.

HNEM: What excites you about this point in HNEM’s history?

We have just submitted our first Annual Report to the Vatican on our progress in setting up our new entity, and it is very gratifying to see how much work has accomplished by so many people in getting our Ministerial Public Juridic Person (MPJP) approved and up and running. We are developing a strong formation program with the talents of our Charism Education Committee. We are blessed to have strong support from the Sisters who sit on the current Sponsors Council, the SNJM U.S.-Ontario Province Leadership Team, and prayers and support from all the Sisters who voted unanimously for HNEM to come into being.  We have excellent leadership in our strong and committed Sponsors Council. Our ministry leaders and boards are outstanding. I feel excited about where we are right now and where we are going in the future.

HNEM: What do you see as your first-year priorities?

My immediate priorities are to do all I can to continue the excellent work of Patrick Lynch and those who came before him in birthing this entity. Building strong and supportive relationships with our ministry leaders and Boards is very important. I look forward to visiting each ministry as often as I can to hear about the wonderful things happening in our six schools, and at our Next Step Learning Center, and at our Holy Names Music Center. There is such variety and yet such a common dedication to the Core Values and Mission of the SNJM across the board. I also look forward to building strong and supportive relationships with the bishops and archbishops of the dioceses in which our ministries are located.

Tell us about your family.

I have been married for thirty-six years to my husband, Sean, who is a great guy. We have two adult sons. My eldest son and his wife have two young children, and it is our joy that this beautiful and busy little family lives with us. My younger son lives close by and works for The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. We also have two cats in the family.

What outside interests do you have?

My favorite hobbies are reading and knitting, and I can do both when I use audio books!  I enjoy music from the 60’s and 70’s  and “whodunit” mysteries on English television channels. I like to poke around in my garden, and I usually enjoy cooking for my family.  I am constantly amazed at and entertained by my grandchildren as I watch them grow and learn about the world. I feel very blessed in my life.

What hopes and dreams do you have for HNEM?

My dream is to see and be part of how HNEM grows and thrives and to do my best to support our Sponsors Council in their important work. It is an honor and a privilege to be helping to carry on the amazing ministries to which the Sisters have given their lives. I am humbled and grateful for the trust placed in me to work with our Sisters and our beloved ministries for a bright and vibrant future. My hope to help ensure that our ministries are strong and remain strong for a long, long time.