From Superioress to President: The Evolution of IHM Congregational Leadership, 1845–2024
This timeline charts the evolution of governance within the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, from the congregation’s founding through to the present day. Beginning in 1845 with Bishop Lefevere’s appointment of Theresa Maxis Duchemin as the first General Superioress, the record shows how leadership structures gradually shifted in response to the growing size of the congregation, the challenges of mission, and the reforms of the wider Church. Over the decades, responsibilities once concentrated in a single leader expanded to include councils, boards, provincial structures, and, eventually, today’s Leadership Council. Each change reflects both fidelity to the founding spirit and adaptation to new realities, demonstrating how IHM governance has continually evolved to serve the mission of the congregation and the needs of its members.
1800s
1845, Dec. 8
Bishop Lefevere appoints Theresa Maxis Duchemin General Superioress for one year.
1846, Dec. 8
Bishop Lefevere reappoints Mother Theresa General Superioress for three years. First use of a three-year term.
1849, Dec. 8
Bishop Lefevere appoints Alphonsine Godfroy-Smyth General Superioress for three years.
1852, Dec. 8
Sisters who have taken final vows elect Mother Theresa General Superioress for three years.
1855, Dec.
Some days prior to Dec. 8, Bishop Lefevere “reestablishes” Mother Theresa in the office of General Superioress. No election is held; despite the fact there are now twice as many eligible voters as in 1852.
1859, April 1
Bishop Lefevere discharges Mother Theresa from office and appoints Mary Joseph Walker General Superioress.
1859, Dec. 8
Sisters in Monroe who have taken final vows elect Mother Mary Joseph General Superioress for three years. They also elect an Assistant and Monitress.
1861
The 1861 revised Constitutions provide for Annual Chapters and a Director (Father Joos, who also attends all Annual Chapters; he had already been in the role of Director since 1857). It also specifies sisters under vows for one year have the right to vote.
1862, Dec. 8
Sisters re-elect Mother Mary Joseph for three years and also elect an Assistant and Monitress.
1864, Oct
Mother Mary Joseph dies. Bishop Lefevere appoints Xavier Eagan General Superioress.
1864, Dec
Due to illness, Mother Xavier requests release from office. Sisters elect Gertrude Gerretsen General Superioress (to complete term ending Dec. 1985). They also elect an Assistant, Monitress, and Novice Mistress.
1865, Dec. 8
Sisters re-elect Mother Gertrude General Superioress for three years. They also elect an Assistant, Monitress, and Novice Mistress.
1868, Dec. 8
Sisters re-elect Mother Gertrude General Superioress for three years. They also elect an Assistant, Monitress, and Novice Mistress.
1869, Aug. 20
Mother Gertrude resigns due to illness and Clotilda Hoskyns is appointed (interim) General Superioress.
1869, Dec. 8
Sisters elect Mother Clotilda General Superioress for three years. They also elect an Assistant, Monitress and Novice Mistress
1872, Dec. 8
Sisters re-elect Mother Clotilda General Superioress for three years. They also elect an Assistant, Monitress and Novice Mistress
1875, Dec. 8
Sisters re-elect Mother Clotilda General Superioress for three years. They also elect an Assistant, Monitress and Novice Mistress
1879, Aug. 15
Sisters elect Justina Riley General Superioress for three years. They also elect an Assistant, Monitress and Novice Mistress. The election date is moved from Dec. 8, 1878, to Aug. 15, 1879. Mother Clotilda remains in office until the election.
1882, Aug. 15
Sisters re-elect Mother Justina General Superior for three years. They also elect an Assistant, Monitress and Novice Mistress. Title changes from General Superioress to General Superior.
1885, Aug. 15
Sisters (re)-elect Mother Clotilda Hoskyns General Superior for three years. They also elect an Assistant, Monitress and Novice Mistress.
1888, July
Annual Chapter provides for the election of a 4th sister and that elected persons would act as a Council to the General Superior.
1888, Aug. 15
Sisters re-elect Mother Clotilda General Superior for three years and also elect a Council of an Assistant, Monitress, Novice Mistress, and 4th Member.
1891, Aug. 15
Sisters re-elect Mother Clotilda General Superior for three years and also elect a Council of an Assistant, Monitress, Novice Mistress, and 4th Member.
1894, Aug. 15
Sisters (re)-elect Mother Justina General Superior for three years and also elect a Council of an Assistant, Monitress, Novice Mistress, and 4th Member.
1897, Aug. 15
Sisters re-elect Mother Justina General Superior for three years and also elect a Council of an Assistant, Monitress, Novice Mistress, and 4th Member.
1900s
1900, Aug. 16
Sisters elect Mechtildis McGrail General Superior for three years* and also elect a Council of an Assistant, Monitress, Novice Mistress, and 4th Member. *See 1902.
1902
Annual Chapter changes the term of the General Superior from three years to six; Mother Mechtildis is now to be in office for the full six-year term. A new form of elections of General Superior provides for the use of elected Delegates for the first time.
1906, Aug. 16
Delegates to General Chapter re-elect Mother Mechtildis General Superior for six years. First use of Delegates as electors; first six-year term for General Superior.
1911
Revised Constitutions eliminate “Director” and add an elected Council (in use since Chapter 1888).
1912, Aug. 16
Delegates to General Chapter re-elect Mother Mechtildis General Superior for six years and they also elect a Council of 1st and 2nd Assistants to the General Superior, Monitress, and 4th member. Novice Mistress is now an appointed position.
1918, Aug. 16
Delegates to General Chapter elect Domitilla Donohue General Superior for six years and elect a Council—1st and 2nd Assistants to the General Superior, Monitress, and 4th member—and General Bursar. Name of gathering changes from Annual Chapter to General Chapter.
1924, Aug. 16
Delegates to General Chapter re-elect Domitilla Donohue General Superior for six years and elect a Council—1st and 2nd Assistants to the General Superior, Monitress, and 4th member—and General Bursar. Name of gathering changes from Annual Chapter to General Chapter.
1930, May 15
Upon the death of Mother Domitilla, Ruth Hankerd (then 1st Assistant) becomes Acting General Superior
1930, Aug. 16
Delegates to General Chapter elect Ruth Hankerd General Superior for six years and also elect a Council—1st Assistant to the General Superior, 2nd Assistant to the General Superior/General Secretary, Monitress, and 4th member—and General Bursar. Beginning in 1930, the 2nd Assistant also holds the role of General Secretary.
1936, Aug. 1
Delegates to General Chapter re-elect Mother Ruth General Superior for six years and also elect a Council—1st Assistant to the General Superior, 2nd Assistant to the General Superior/General Secretary, Monitress, and 4th member —and General Bursar.
1942, Aug. 1
Delegates to General Chapter elect Teresa McGivney General Superior for six years and also elect a Council—1st Assistant to the General Superior, 2nd Assistant to the General Superior/General Secretary, Monitress, and 4th member —and General Bursar
1948, July 31
Delegates to General Chapter re-elect Mother Teresa General Superior for six years and also elect a Council—1st Assistant to the General Superior, 2nd Assistant to the General Superior/General Secretary, Monitress, and 4th member —and General Bursar
1954, July 31
Delegates to General Chapter elect Anna Marie Grix General Superior for six years and also elect a Council—1st Assistant to the General Superior, 2nd Assistant to the General Superior/General Secretary, Monitress, and 4th member —and General Bursar
1960, June 30
Delegates to General Chapter re-elect Mother Anna Marie General Superior for six years and also elect a Council—1st Assistant to the General Superior, 2nd Assistant to the General Superior/General Secretary, Monitress, and 4th member —and General Bursar
1962
A 1960 Chapter Enactment providing “The Community should be divided” becomes operative in 1962 in the form of Regions.
1966, June 18
Delegates to General Chapter elect Margaret (Mother Benedicta) Brennan General Superior for six years. Enactments of the General Chapter 1966 call for a move from Regional to Provincial Government. They also elect a Council—1st Assistant to the General Superior, 2nd Assistant to the General Superior/General Secretary, Monitress, and 4th member —and General Bursar
1967-1968
Sisters Senate, an advisory body elected from across the Congregation, is initiated and discontinued when provinces come into being (see below).
1968, Aug.
Establishment of Provincial Government
- Northeast Province
- Northwest Province
- Southeast Province
- Southwest Province
- Vice Province of Latin America
The Generalate: a government structure but not a province; includes congregational leadership, Motherhouse sisters, Marygrove sisters, etc. The first Provincials are appointed by the General Superior.
1969
A Special Chapter of Affairs is required by post-Vatican II directives to religious congregations. Ex-officio members include:
- General Superior and Council
- Former General Superiors
- Provincials
Delegates to the Extraordinary Chapter of Affairs include five from each Province, five from the Generalate, and two from temporary professed.
1972
Assembly 1972 is a General Chapter of Affairs. All members of the Congregation are invited to participate; registrants are divided into 41 groups.
The resulting Government Plan provides for each group of the Assembly 1972 Chapter of Affairs to elect one person as delegate in the election of General Superior and her Assistant. Provincials and Vice-Provincial are elected by members of the respective provinces for a term of three years. Executive Board to replace council.
1972, April 1
Delegates to Chapter of Elections re-elect Margaret Brennan General Superior for four years. No record was found to explain why this term is only four years. They also Also elected an Assistant Provincials (4) and Vice-Provincial are elected by members of the respective provinces for a term of three years: The elected sisters above (General Superior, Assistant, four Provincials, and one Vice-Provincial) form the Executive Board, which also includes, as appointed staff:
- Assistant Treasurer/Resource Person
- Director, Spiritual Formation
- Director, Apostolate
- Director, Assembly Implementation
- General Secretary/Director, Communications
1972 – 1976
The 1972 Government Plan creates a Representative Assembly. The body is not only advisory but has authority to make policy decisions. Initially members of the R.A. are elected from their Province. In 1974 and 1975 R.A. members are elected from the Congregation at large according to various divisions, such as age. The R.A. meets with the Executive Board.
1976
The General Chapter of 1976 accepts a new government plan to replace the Executive Council with a Central Administration composed of General Superior, Assistant, and three Coordinators. It also creates a Governing Board to include members of Central Administration and the Provincials (including the Vice Provincial and Motherhouse Administrator) and Advisory Board composed of representatives elected according to the government plan of each Province. The Advisory Board replaces the Representative Assembly.
1976, April 20
Delegates to Chapter of Elections elect Mary Kinney General Superior for six years; also elect the following as members of the Central Administration, according to the Government Plan adopted during the Chapter of Elections of 1976:
- Assistant
- Coordinator of Apostolate
- Coordinator of Personal Growth and Development
- Coordinator of Material Resources
Appointed staff of Central Administration include:
- General Secretary
- General Treasurer
- Novice Mistress
1982, Feb. 27-28
Delegates to Chapter of Elections elect Carol Quigley President (title changes from General Superior to President) for six years; also elect the following members of Central Administration:
- Vice President
- Coordinator of Ministries
- Coordinator of Human Resources
- Coordinator of Material Resources
Appointed staff of Central Administration include:
- General Secretary
- General Treasurer
- Novice Mistress
1988, Feb. 20
Delegates to Chapter of Elections elect Dorothy McDaniel President for six years; also elect the following members of Central Administration:
- Vice President
- Coordinator of Ministries
- Coordinator of Human Resources
- Coordinator of Material Resources
Appointed staff of Central Administration include:
- General Secretary
- General Treasurer
- Novice Director (Title of Novice Mistress is changed to Novice Director)
- Puerto Rico Novice Director
1988, June
The revised government structure approved for inclusion in the 1988 revision of the Constitutions eliminates the Advisory Board and Representatives from the Provinces become members of the Governing Board. The Vice Province and the Motherhouse become Provinces.
1993, Aug.
Outcomes of Assembly/Chapter outline a Government Plan to include a Leadership Council of the President and seven Mission Councilors, one of whom is Assistant and one the Treasurer. The membership of the congregation will be in Mission Units of 12-20 persons, and a specific Mission Councilor will relate to each Mission Unit. Each Mission Unit will elect a Representative to the Coordinating Council.
1994, Jan 14
Delegates to Chapter of Elections elect Mary McCann President for six years; also elect the following members of the Leadership Council:
- Vice President/Mission Councilor
- Chief Financial Officer/Mission Councilor
- Mission Councilors (5)
2000s
2000, March
Delegates to Chapter of Elections elect Virginia Pfau President for six years; also elect the following members of the Leadership Council:
- Vice President/Mission Councilor
- Chief Financial Officer/Mission Councilor
- Mission Councilors (5)
2006, Jan.
Delegates to Chapter of Elections elect Mary Fran Gilleran President for six years; also elect the following members of the Leadership Council:
As recommended by the Coordinating Council and approved at Chapter 2006, the total number of Mission Councilors is changed from seven to five.
- Vice President/Mission Councilor
- Chief Financial Officer/Mission Councilor
- Mission Councilors (3)
2011, July
Upon the death of Mary Fran Gilleran, Vice President Joan Mumaw assumes the office of President for the remainder of the term
2012, Jan.
Delegates to Chapter of Elections elect Jane Herb President for six years; also elect the following members of the Leadership Council:
- Vice President/Mission Councilor
- Chief Financial Officer/Mission Councilor
- Mission Councilors (3)
2018
Delegates to Chapter of Elections re-elect Jane Herb President for six years; also elect the following members of the Leadership Council:
- Vice President/Mission Councilor
- Chief Financial Officer/Mission Councilor
- Mission Councilors (2)
- As recommended by the Coordinating Council and approved at Chapter 2018, the total number of Mission Councilors is changed from six to five.
2024
Delegates to Chapter of Elections elect Maxine Kollasch President for five years; also elect the following members of the Leadership Council:
- Vice President/Mission Councilor
- Treasurer/Mission Councilor
As recommended by the Coordinating Council and approved at Chapter 2024, the term of office is changed from six years to five and total number of Mission Councilors is changed from five to four. Coordinating Council is dissolved in favor of semi-annual Assembly meetings.
