Members of the Leadership Team of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph are (seated left to right): Sister Michele Morek, congregational leader; Sister Maureen Griner, councilor; (standing) Sister Cheryl Clemons, assistant congregational leader; Sister Ann McGrew, councilor; Sister Barbara Jean Head, councilor.

Sister Michele Morek was elected Congregational Leader for the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph in 2004 and will serve through 2010. A noteworthy accomplishment during her tenure thus far has been a successful merger of the community with the Ursuline Sisters of Belleville, Illinois. A native of Aztec, New Mexico, Sister Michele has been an Ursuline Sister for 44 years. She had previously served on the faculty of Brescia University since 1971. She was Academic Dean/Vice President for Academic Affairs, 1979-86, and also served as chair of the Division of Math and Natural Science. She holds a doctorate in biology from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s in biology from Brescia College. She has been active in Habitat for Humanity and the Kentucky Water Watch program. For several years she was a member of the Diocesan Rural Life Commission. She has sung in the Diocesan Choir and in the Owensboro Choral Society’s Messiah. In 2004, she received the Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission Earth Day Award. In 2003, she was honored with the Brescia University Honor Societies’ Teaching Excellence Award, and in 2000, she received the Owensboro Business and Professional Women’s Woman of Achievement Award. Sister Michele also served as an elected member of the Council of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, 1992-2000. 

Sister Cheryl Clemons was elected Assistant Congregational Leader for the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph for the 2004-2010 term. She had been a faculty member at Brescia University since 1995, where she served as associate professor in the Theology and Pastoral Ministry programs. She continues to be an adjunct professor for the Hesburgh Sabbatical Program at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She holds a doctorate in historical theology from The Catholic University of America (with minors in women's theology and church history), a master’s in theological studies from the University of Dayton, and a bachelor’s in French from Brescia College. She has taught at several high schools in Kentucky and Nebraska. Sister Cheryl has also served as co-director and director of the Office of Social Concerns for the Owensboro Diocese. Her other involvements include the preparation of The Ursuline Book of Prayer for her community, writing and presenting papers for national publications and conferences, leading parish groups, and directing retreats. She gave two plenary addresses at the 2007 North American Ursuline Convocation in Louisville. A native of Grayson County, Kentucky, and one of eight children, Sister Cheryl has been an Ursuline Sister for 37 years.

Sister Maureen Griner was elected in 2004 to serve as a Councilor to assist the Congregational Leader. She currently ministers as Director of Music for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Memphis and has held that position since 1992. In addition, she is the Co-Director of the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality, a transitional home for homeless families in Memphis. Sister Maureen was Director of Music for the Diocese of Memphis for nearly 15 years. During those years she became the founding director of the Institute for Liturgy and Spirituality, a diocesan program designed to educate participants in the basics of prayer, spirituality, liturgy, and liturgical music. She holds a master’s degree in theology with an emphasis in liturgical studies from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s degree in music education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Brescia College. Previously, Sister Maureen taught music in Missouri and Nebraska in addition to Brescia College in Owensboro. From 1986-1991 she served as Director of Liturgy and Music at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Henderson. In 2001 she was the recipient of the Spirit and Truth Award from the Notre Dame Center for Pastoral Ministry. A native of Louisville, she has been an Ursuline Sister for 42 years.

Sister Barbara Jean Head was elected in 2004 to serve as a Councilor until 2010. She  is also a senior accountant at Brescia University. Previously she served as Treasurer and Business Administrator for the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph for 15 years. She was an elementary and high school teacher in Kentucky  for 20 years, nine years of which she was both principal and teacher. She holds a master’s in business administration for not-for-profit organizations, with high honors, from the University of Notre Dame; a master’s in education and psychology from Western Kentucky University; and a bachelor’s in mathematics from Brescia College. Sister Barbara Jean is on the board of the National Association for Treasurers of Religious Institutes, for which she has served as a financial consultant. She has also been a financial consultant for the National Religious Retirement Office. She is on the Brescia University Board of Trustees and Finance Committee, the Owensboro Diocesan Administration Committee, the Investment Committee of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana, and is a member of the Coalition for Responsible Investing. A native of New Haven, Kentucky, Sister Barbara Jean has been an Ursuline Sister for 41 years.

Sister Ann McGrew was elected in 2004 to serve as a Councilor to assist the Congregational Leader. She serves as Director of Formation and Director of Temporary Professed at Maple Mount and parish ministry at Saint Martin Parish, Rome, Kentucky. She has served as Program Facilitator for Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center, ministered at Brescia University as supervisor of the House of Discernment for Women, Campus Minister, and coordinator of the spiritual component of the Ministry Formation Program. She taught at several Kentucky schools and served in pastoral ministry in various parishes. She was also a Librarian at Trinity High School in Whitesville, Kentucky, and a Campus Minister at the Newman Center at Murray State University. Sister Ann has received recognition awards from several parishes and was a 2001 recipient of the Catechetical Award from the Diocese of Owensboro. She holds a master’s degree in religious studies from Loyola University, Chicago; certification in initial formation from Saint Louis University; a master’s in elementary education and principal certification from Western Kentucky University, and a bachelor’s in elementary education from Brescia College. A native of Grayson County, she has been an Ursuline Sister for 41 years.

To learn about former congregational leaders throughout the history
of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, click here

To read about the newly elected leaders for 2010-2016, click here