New International Leadership Team Elected at General Assembly

Delegates to the School Sisters of St. Francis’ 2022 General Assembly have elected a new International Leadership Team that will guide our congregation for the next four years.

The election took place on July 4, near the culmination of the 14-day assembly that was held this year on the campus of Alverno College in Milwaukee. Delegates from every province and region of our international community gathered and participated in setting the direction and choosing leaders for the new term, which will begin on September 1 and extend to 2026. The new team was welcomed at a Mass in St. Joseph Chapel on Sunday, July 10.

The newly elected International Leadership Team members are:

Sister Deborah Fumagalli, President (United States Province)
Received into the community in 1977, Sister Deborah has most recently served as the Coordinator of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation for the U.S. Province. She served on the provincial leadership team from 2011-2019.

Sister Tresa Abraham Kizhakeparambil, First Vice President (St. Francis Province)
Sister Tresa Abraham was received into the community in 1982. She has served on the International Leadership Team as first vice president for the past four years.

Sister Matilde Maravi, Vice President (Unión Latinoamericana de Franciscanas)
Sister Matilde was received into the community in 1998 and currently serves as a high school teacher at St. Clare School in Paita, Perú.

Sister Jincy Vilayappilly, Vice President (St. Francis Province)
Sister Jincy was received into the community in 1994 and most recently studied at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She previously ministered as a formator, teacher, and served a term on her provincial leadership team.

The team will work to carry out the new Congregational Direction that was adopted by the delegates at the assembly. The direction statement for 2022-2026 is:

As School Sisters of St. Francis, we are witnesses to God’s love and a source of hope in the world, responding to the needs of the times wherever the Spirit leads us. We care for all of creation, for all those we encounter and for ourselves as sisters.  We partner with others to alleviate suffering in the world, change unjust systems and restore our ecosystem. We are aware of God’s presence within us and around us, which leads us to oneness.

Written and video reports, presentations, and liturgies of the General Assembly are available for reading and viewing on our special events page.