Stewards

Sr Margaret Endicott is a Sister of Mercy and a member of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea.  Originally, Sr Margaret began her ministry as a Primary school teacher and Principal and then a Parish Worker. Over the last thirty years Sr Margaret has been particularly involved with Religious Congregations and not-for-profit organisations as a Facilitator, trainer and member on committees and boards.

In 2006, Sr Margaret began her involvement with the development of Ministerial Public Jurdic Person (MPJP), as the facilitator and Project Worker of the Queensland Mercy Leaders and the establishment of Mercy Partners.  Sr Margaret was also a member of the Formation Committee of Mercy Partners and assisted in the development and delivery of the Formation Program for its first five years, along with the establishment of the Mercy Alliance of MPJPs.

Sr Margaret's work continues with MPJPs - the New Zealand Sisters of Mercy, Institute of the Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea, Newfoundland Sisters of Mercy and the Loreto Sisters in the establishment of their Ministerial PJP.

Sr Mary Franzmann is the Congregation Leader of the Queensland Presentation Sisters.  Sr Mary began her Ministry as a Secondary school teacher and taught Secondary school in Longreach, Yeppoon and Brisbane.  After 18 years as a teacher, Sr Mary retrained as a parish pastoral worker and ministered for eight years in the mining town of Moranbah in the Rockhampton Diocese. In 2001, Sr Mary studied at All Hallows in Dublin, attaining a Master of Arts, Pastoral Leadership.  On returning to Australia, she became the Director of Pastoral Planning in the Rockhampton Diocese.

From 2004 – 2009, Sr Mary was the Congregation Leader of the Presentation Sisters, Queensland.  In 2010, Sr Mary worked in the Faith and Life Office in the Brisbane Archdiocese, taking responsibility for Pastoral Planning and the Formation of Parish Pastoral Councils.

Elected to the Leadership Team of the Congregation in 2014, Sr Mary became involved in the Formation Program of Brisbane Catholic Education, both in Guiding Lights – formation for Principals and school Leadership Teams, and Spirit Fire – formation program for APRE’s and teaching staff.

Sr Mary is presently Congregation Leader and a Steward Representative of Mercy Partners.

Sister Catherine, a Religious Sister of Mercy, is the current Congregation Leader of the Sisters of Mercy Brisbane Congregation. Prior to taking up this role in 2018 again, she was on the Congregation Leadership Team 2008-2013 and Congregation Leader 2013-2018. 

From 1976 until 2007, Sr Catherine was engaged in the ministry education in the Brisbane Archdiocese and Toowoomba Diocese. Completing her primary teacher training at McAuley Campus, All Hallows’, she taught upper primary classes and was engaged in parish sacramental preparation and adult education until 1991. 

In 1993 after completing a Bachelor of Theology through the University of Melbourne, she moved into secondary education with a particular interest and involvement in the subject areas of Religion and Ethics, Study of Religion and Liturgy Education and Planning.

Sr Catherine loves reading mystery novels and the works of theologians such as Dermiud O'Murchu and Elizabeth Johnstone, listening to music favourites, watching Christmas movies and being immersed in Nature.  

Sr Catherine White grew up in Brisbane and taught for a couple of years before entering the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (MFIC).  After her profession, Sr Catherine was missioned to Papua New Guinea, first to Lumi High School in the mountains of the West Sepik and to St Ignatius High school on the coast in Aitape.  Sr Catherine returned to Australia when the Melanesian Sisters became a separate Province.

At the request of the Bishops for Sisters to do adult  theological formation post Vatican II Sr Catherine completed a degree in Theology at Brisbane College of Theology, followed by specialisation in Liturgy at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. On her return she worked in the Toowoomba Diocese for a number of years as Director of Liturgy. After time on congregational leadership, Sr Catherine served in Thailand with Franciscans International and in a MFIC secondary school in Egypt.  Sr Catherine is currently the Australian Leader of the MFIC Sisters.

Micheal O’Sullivan is currently the Manager of the School Improvement Unit for Brisbane Catholic Education.  In this role Micheal provides advice and leadership to drive School Improvement across BCE Schools. Micheal has worked for many years in the forefront of education, teaching in a variety of schools and serving for a number of years as Principal.

Micheal has a long association with the Sisters of Mercy, having been educated by the Sisters of Mercy.  However, it was not until he began working as a teacher alongside various Sisters of Mercy, that he was inspired by the way in which the Sisters went about their ministry. 

Micheal has developed a lifelong interest in, and deep appreciation of, the life of Catherine McAuley and the early days at Baggot St.  He is drawn to Catherine’s correspondence and the legacy of her Charism. 

Micheal has participated in the Mercy Partners Formation Program and is currently a coordinator of the Mercy Mission Formation Network. 

Micheal has qualifications in Mercy Spirituality, Theology, Music, Auslan, Education, Leadership and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sr Margaret Jones is a Sister of Mercy of the Parramatta Congregation. She has qualifications in Education, Speech and Drama and Spirituality. Margaret began her ministry in Primary Education and Administration. She was then invited to become a Formator for her Congregation and, for several years, journeyed with newer members. Her ministry in Formation led to further training in Spirituality and Leadership. For the last thirty-five years Margaret has been involved in all aspects of the programmes at Marymount Mercy Centre Castle Hill NSW. Marymount offered six-month and three-month Spirituality Programs, Programs for the training of Formation Personnel and Programs for women and men preparing for Perpetual Profession in their Congregations. Participants came from Australia and across the world. Margaret has enjoyed her years of ministry in Education and Spirituality and has felt privileged to share the journey with so many people. Margaret has been a member of four Leadership Teams for her Congregation and is currently the Congregation Leader.

Sr Loreto Conroy was recently elected to the Leadership Team for the Sisters of Mercy North Sydney after completely nine years as Congregation Leader. 

For the past six years, Sr Loreto Conroy has been a Trustee for Catholic Healthcare. She has been the Chairperson of the Mercy Foundation; a Board member of Mercy Foundation, a Director of Mercy Family Centre Limited and a member of the Immigration Advisory Group for the Federal Minister for Immigration. Sr Loreto has previously held the position of National Manager of Migrants and Refugees for the National Council of Churches. 

Sr Loreto’s background is in primary education as well as social work with the UNHCR working in refugee camps in Thailand. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science (specialising in aged care), Diploma of Teaching and a Diploma of Migrant Teaching. 

Sr Karon Donnellon is a Sister of Mercy and a member of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea.  She was elected Institute Leader in September 2023.  Since joining the former Ballarat East Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy and then the Institute, Sr Karon’s ministries have included secondary teaching, Diocesan Youth Director, Juvenile Justice Chaplain, Director of Mission for Catholic Social Services Victoria, Institute leadership and facilitation.  

Over the last few years, Sr Karon has been working with a number of religious congregations in Australia, and coordinated and facilitated a Mercy Leadership Program and Dublin Pilgrimage for Board members and senior executives of Mercy ministries.  She has served on a variety of boards and is currently on the Board of Catholic Social Services Australia.   

Sr Karon’s formal qualifications include a Master of Arts – Leadership and Organisational Analysis from the Alanus University; Graduate Diploma of Arts (Criminology) from the University of Melbourne; a Bachelor of Education from the University of Melbourne; and a Bachelor of Theology from what is now the University of Divinity.