Daughters of Wisdom, USA Province

Vowed Membership

List of Past Provincial Leaders & Councilors

Called by God to a community life of prayer and mutual support, we are a congregation of Catholic Sisters who seek to promote justice and live in compassionate relationship with all God's people. Committed by vows, we witness to the Gospel by living the values of universal love, poverty in spirit and truth, and active listening to the voice of God manifest in the Scriptures, in creation and in others. Sent on mission throughout the world in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia, we strive to share the message of Christ with people, especially women and children, experiencing injustice and poverty.

Sr. Catherine Sheehan, DW, Delegation Leader

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This is Sr. Catherine Sheehan's third consecutive term as Provincial Leader. Prior to becoming Provincial Leader for the first time in 2014, Sister worked with AmeriCares – a non-profit disaster relief humanitarian aid organization based in Stamford, CT. Sr. Cathy was the Director of the AmeriCares Free Clinic of Bridgeport serving those without health insurance who do not have the financial resources for medical care.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from St. John’s University, Jamaica, NY; a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Columbia University, New York, NY and a Master’s degree in Public Health Administration from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.

Sr. Cathy previously worked in Bristol, CT as the Director of Community Health for the Bristol-Burlington Health District and in Bridgeport, CT at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. Sr. Cathy has done public health work in Belize, Central America and Armenia.

Sr. Cathy enjoys outdoor activities, theatre, reading and spending time with friends and family.

Sr. Evelyn Eckhardt, DW, Canonical Treasurer

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This is Sr. Evelyn's second consecutive term as Canonical Treasurer. Sister served as Provincial Leader from 1994-1998; 1998-2002 and from 2002- 2006. Sister Evelyn is a spiritual director and leads retreats and workshops on spirituality. She is the past coordinator and continues to serve on the team of U.S. Province’s ministry, Fire in Our Hearts, which offers web-based Wisdom Spirituality through weekly reflections on its website, fireinourhearts.org.

Sr. Evelyn has a Bachelor’s degree in English from Seat of Wisdom College, Litchfield, CT; a Master’s degree in English from Boston College, Boston, MA; a Certificate in Theological Studies from the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkley, CA, and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Shalem Institute, Washington, DC.

Her past ministries include Coordinator of the International Renewal Program in Rome for the Daughters of Wisdom from the developing countries, Pastoral Ministry on the diocesan and parish levels and education on the secondary level. Sr. Evelyn has also served in formation and leadership within the U.S. Province as well as in various capacities for brief periods of time with the Daughters of Wisdom in Malawi, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. Sr.

Evelyn enjoys reading, dancing and soaking in the beauty of creation.

Sr. Marie Chiodo, DW, Councilor

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My journey through life with Wisdom has been as a seeker of God in the experiences of everyday life, in the ordinary. That has brought me to many extraordinary people, places, and tables.

I have met Wisdom as an educator in New York and Maine, the Newman campus in California, and with families in Colorado, Virginia, and New Jersey parishes. I served the Vietnamese refugees in Cambodian camps, organized planning, and facilitated meetings with women and men religious in the US, Canada, the Philippines, Brazil, Guam, and Europe. I joined with friends and justice seekers in the United Nations and Maryland for many causes. For fifteen years, I worked with Salvadoran Enterprise for Women, empowering women in rural El Salvador to start small businesses and develop their potential. I have also served in Province leadership several times over the years.

My most recent joy has been tutoring Afghani women in English and American culture and working collaboratively with my parish, Lutheran Social Services, and Catholic charities in helping with the resettlement of immigrants, Asylum seekers, and refugees from our southern border. This is done through fundraising, accompaniment to the Immigration Court, providing transportation to doctors, and delivering food.

My English, Theological Studies, and Human Resource and Systems Development degrees have equipped me for these sacred ministries.

I enjoy staying connected with family, cooking, reading, writing poetry, photography, and enjoying my friends in my spare time.

As a youth, I journeyed in search of Wisdom; in search of her, I journey still!

Sr. Marie first served in leadership as a councilor from 1980-1983 and then from 1994-1998, 1998- 2002, and 2014 -2019.

Sr. Patricia Torre, DW, Councilor

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This is Sr. Patricia's second term as a Councilor. Her first term was from 2019-2023. Sister Pat presently serves as Program Coordinator at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center in Litchfield, CT. In the past she served as a Pastoral Associate at Sacred Heart Church in Southbury, CT. Her responsibilities focused on Pastoral Care as she trained, sent and supervised the compassionate ministries of Stephen Ministry, Friendly visitors, and Eucharistic Ministry to the homebound and skilled care facilities. She accompanied those interested in becoming Catholic and returning to Catholicism and worked with parents as they prepared to baptize their children. Sister Pat wrote and offered a Call To Worship as a warm welcome for all who attended the weekend Liturgies.

Sr. Pat has an MS in Theology and a BS in Marketing, both from St. John’s University, Jamaica, NY, and a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Chrysalis Institute, Rockville Center, NY.

Other past ministries include faith formation in various parishes in Pueblo, Colorado, East Northport, Brentwood and Melville on Long Island, New York, and in Oxford, CT. She also offers Spiritual Direction and Retreats, and has offered brief periods of Community Service for the Daughters of Wisdom in Malawi and with the Montfort Fathers in the Philippines.

Sr. Pat enjoys the arts - music, dance and drama - and the many colors and faces of Creation.

Is Wisdom Inviting you to Join Us?

Learn More about Wisdom...through retreats, guest speakers, and personal reflections on Wisdom Spirituality, offered for free:

Fire In Our Hearts Digital spiritual reflections written by Daughters and Associates of Wisdom speak to the wisdom in everyday life. Sign up here to have weekly Reflections sent to your email: Fire In Our Hearts
Discover Wisdom monthly presentations (via Zoom) on different aspects of Wisdom spirituality offered through Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center. Click here to learn more and register: Wisdom House Programs
Wisdom Circles (small groups via Zoom) that gather together monthly, September through June, to reflect on readings from Wisdom literature of the Bible and other writings and their applications to daily living. To learn more about joining a group, contact Associate of Wisdom Bonnie Zaman at Bonnie.Zaman@yahoo.com or Sr. Diane Guerette, DW, at DGueretteDW@comcast.net

Associates of Wisdom

Called to seek Wisdom, we are women and men who follow in the footsteps of St. Louis Marie de Montfort and Blessed Marie Louise Trichet, co-founders of the Daughters of Wisdom. Coming from different walks of life, we maintain our own lifestyles, independence, and personal commitments. Our ministries range from full-time jobs to volunteerism, as well as support for the Daughters of Wisdom in prayer and spirit. A community within the community of the Wisdom family, we share in the spirituality, mission, and history of the congregation.

WHAT DO ASSOCIATES DO?

Associates maintain their own lifestyle, independence, and personal commitments. Their work can range from full-time jobs to volunteerism, or simply supporting the Daughters of Wisdom in prayer and spirit.

HOW DO I BECOME AN ASSOCIATE

Please contact Bonnie Zaman, Coordinator of the Associate community listed HERE. Following the initial contact, we offer an orientation period, during which a Daughter of Wisdom or an Associate of Wisdom companions and shares the Congregation's spirituality, mission, and history.

Bonnie Zaman, Coordinator of the Associates of Wisdom, tells about being a part of the Wisdom Family

I have belonged to and participated in the Spirituality and mission of the Wisdom family as an Associate of Wisdom since 2017. As such, I continue to seek and develop a deeper realization of Wisdom’s love of us and all creation and answer Her calling by responding to those needing healing as a Holistic Healing Practitioner. I volunteered for six years as a Reiki Practitioner at Hartford hospital and worked to promote peace locally and globally as an active demonstrator in Pace e Bene’s Campaign Nonviolence. I am a member of the Wisdom Circle committee and was a member of the former FIOH Spring and Fall gatherings committee. I enjoy sharing in enriching the life and growth of the community of the Associates of Wisdom and being part of the entire Wisdom family, and allowing myself to be transformed by Wisdom.

Associate of Wisdom Lanetta Gann Honored by HHCS

Friends of Wisdom, we are delighted to announce the well-deserved recognition of our esteemed Associate of Wisdom, Lanetta Gann, BSN, RN-BC, MSSW, LCSW. Her exceptional blend of nursing and social work experience has earned her the prestigious Medical Staff Appreciation Award from the Hartford Health Care System of Connecticut. This award is a testament to her invaluable service as a Case Coordinator, benefiting employees, patients, families, nurses, and doctors alike.

This recent distinction joins others given to her throughout her career, including The Florence Nightingale Award in recognition of excellence in nursing and the Black and Red Hero's Award given to 25 notable leaders who committed to continuous improvement of the Hartford Health Care System. (One that she asked to be passed on to another recipient.) Such is the quiet, competent, and compassionate way of Lanetta, whom we have been privileged to have as an Associate of Wisdom since 2007.

Congratulations, Lanetta!

Maryse Haig, an Associate of Wisdom in Action

Most of us know Maryse as a quiet, very humble person. Yes, she is those things. Her work shows us just what goes on within her loving heart and commitment of nearly 22 years of living out her promises as an Associate of Wisdom.

Treasurer, communications person, and fundraiser, Maryse has served for over 25 years locally with Friends of Montfort, Inc., (Merrick, NY) and as a liaison for Institut Montfort in Haiti. Founded in 1957 by the Daughters of Wisdom, it is the first institution in Haiti specializing in educating children who are deaf and deaf-blind. Most Recently, Maryse along with the Friends of Montfort Committee and Sr. Ann Gray, DW, developed a post-graduate program for Institute Montfort which will offer graduates grants to fund their continuing education.

For many years she and members of Friends of Montfort have joined forces with Sr. Evelyn Lamoureux DW, and the Zonta Club of Long Island to prepare hundreds of birthing kits to support clean births for the women of Haiti. An annual event, these groups are set to assemble and send more birthing kits this Autumn.

When not involved in these and other community activities, you can find Maryse assisting Sr. Marie Josee Seide, DW, in preparing boxes of food and bags of toiletries for the Outreach Program of St. Martin of Tours Parish in Amityville, NY.

We are so blessed to have Maryse as an Associate of Wisdom and friend to all.

Audrey J. Schroeder, Associate of Wisdom

Associate of Wisdom Maryse Haig pictured above is caught in action in the top right photo (she’s to the far right) helping to coordinate an annual fundraiser for Friends of Montfort, and in the photo, beneath it, she is helping to assemble birthing kits at the annual Zonta Club of Long Island event.