Executive Director’s Update – Summer 2025

From the Executive Director

It has been an exciting first year for Holy Names Educational Ministries! When we officially launched on October 6^th, 2024 (the Feast of Blessed Marie Rose Durocher), we were already proud of all that had been accomplished through the labors of many people. The work included researching, developing, and successfully submitting a Petition to Rome asking to establish Holy Names Educational Ministries (HNEM) to become the continuing sponsor for 6 SNJM schools, a music center, an adult tutoring center, and a program which provides college scholarships.

Important communication and collaboration with our SNJM and SNJM US-Ontario Sisters, bishops, our ministry leaders, and outstanding canonical and legal advisors all contributed to establishing a solid foundation for HNEM as mission-driven and dedicated to continuing strong relationships, guidance, and support.

As October 6^th neared, we created a website for all the educational ministries to use. We also worked with our ministries to update and standardize their governance documents to reflect the sponsorship shift. Our first annual report to the Vatican was sent and we shared this report with our bishops, diocesan superintendents, and school leaders. You can view this report: Holy Names Educational Ministries First Annual Report.  We are currently working on our next report which will be personally delivered to the Vatican by representatives of the Sponsors Council in early 2026.

Two accreditation visits took place in 2024—Academy of the Holy Names – Tampa, FL and St. Mary’s Academy in Portland, OR. The schools each prepared a self-study reflecting on the ways that their mission and the SNJM Charism is lived out in their communities. Visiting Teams then spent two days on campus to affirm the excellent formation at the heart of their respective schools. Our Visiting Teams, made up of Sisters, campus ministers, and Canonical Stewards, spent two days at each campus meeting with students, staff, and the Boards of Trustees. Both the schools and the Visiting Committees found these experiences to be very inspiring and affirming.

Transition of Sponsorship Rituals

One of the highlights of our spring was sharing a ritual to celebrate this transition to HNEM at our annual in-person meetings with each ministry. This ritual was a simple but powerful acknowledgment of the new HNEM’s role with our sponsored ministries. Representatives from the SNJM Province Leadership Team and members of the Sponsors Council shared the ritual with the Boards of Directors/Trustees.  Three candles symbolized the transfer of leadership from the SNJM Province to HNEM and the collaboration with the Presidents, Directors, and Board members of each ministry. All gave thanks for the long history and the legacy of SNJM education and looked forward to their new future.

As Executive Director, it is a joy to work with a dedicated, faith-filled, and gifted Sponsors Council, led by Sr. Cynthia Canning, SNJM as well as our creative and hard-working Executive Assistant Kathy Perren.  A talented and inspiring Charism Education Committee supports the work of the Sponsors Council in developing formation experiences for our school leaders and, this year, Boards. Looking ahead, we are developing a Leadership Forum at the Villa Maria Del Mar, the Sisters’ beautiful retreat house on the coast of Santa Cruz, California, which our ministry leaders and Board Chairs will attend in February of 2026. I am confident that HNEM will continue to grow in wisdom and in faith, thanks to all– past, present and future– who are committed to its mission.

With gratitude for your ongoing prayers and support,