Sponsors Council

Sponsors Council Chair, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

Sr. Kay Ryan, CSJ, currently serves as the Chair of the Sponsors Council of Ascension Health and is a member of the Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Albany Province.  Prior to her current role, Sr. Kay served as the Director of the Family Life Office, Diocese of Albany, N.Y. As an active member of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers, she served as President and Executive Director for two years, National Conference Chair for two years and National Treasurer for four years.

Member, Sponsor's Council, Ascension Health
Visitatrix, Northeast Province, Daughters of Charity

Sr. Kathleen Appler, DC, serves as a member of the Sponsors Council of Ascension Health. She is the Visitatrix of the Northeast Province of the Daughters of Charity, Albany, N.Y.  Prior to her appointment as Visitatrix, Sr. Kathleen served as Provincial Councillor for the Northeast Province of the Daughters of Charity from 1999-2008. Sister Kathleen has been involved in education as an administrator and a teacher. She was the Administrator of Holy Rosary School in Brooklyn, N.Y., from 1995-2000, and from 1985-1995 at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Utica, N.Y. She taught elementary school from 1975-1985.

Member, Sponsors Council, Ascension Health
Visitatrix, Southeast Province, Daughters of Charity

Sr. Claire Debes, DC, currently serves as a member of the Sponsors Council of Ascension Health and is the Visitatrix for the Southeast Province of the Daughters of Charity. She has served on the Provincial Leadership Team in Emmitsburg as the Provincial Councilor and as the Assistant to the Visitatrix. Sr. Claire has been the Vincentian Collaboration Coordinator for the Southeast Province, serving as a liaison with the various branches of the Vincentian family.

Member, Sponsors Council, Ascension Health
President, Marian College, Indianapolis

Daniel J. Elsener currently serves as a member of the Sponsors Council of Ascension Health, and is the President of Marian College, Indianapolis.  Prior to his current position, Mr. Elsener served as the Executive Director of the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation and Project E Indiana. He has strong leadership experience in Catholic education. He served as Secretary/Executive Director for Stewardship and Development and Secretary/Executive Director, Office of Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and was the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Kan. In addition, Mr. Elsener was the Principal of Hayden High School, Topeka, Kan., and a teacher at Daniel J. Gross High School, Omaha, Neb.

Member, Sponsors Council, Ascension Health
Province Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

Sr. Mary Kay Hadican, CSJ, serves on the Province Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis. She is the liaison to Healthcare Ministries, St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, Province Finance Office, and Province Development Office.  She has vast experience as an educator and as a leader in mission effectiveness. Previously, Sr. Mary Kay served as the Vice President for Mission Effectiveness at Carondelet Health and the Director of Mission at St. Joseph Health System. She has served as a director of religious education, a catechectical coordinator and an elementary teacher.

Member, Sponsors Council, Ascension Health

Sr. Helene Lentz, CSJ, currently serves as a member of the Sponsors Council of Ascension Health. Previously, she served as President of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita, Kansas, before it became part of the new Congregation of St. Joseph.  Her ministry experience began in education in Paso Robles, Calif., where she taught first and second grades for two years. She also taught fifth and sixth grades for two years in Coffeyville, Kansas. Believing she could help other teachers by serving in an administrative role in the elementary school, she began work on a master’s degree in school administration at Emporia State College, Emporia, Kansas.

Member, Sponsors Council, Ascension Health

John (Jack) W. Logue currently serves as a member of the Sponsors Council of Ascension Health. He retired in 2002 from a respected career in healthcare, and now serves part-time as the Director of the Spirituality Center at St. Vincent’s HealthCare, Jacksonville, Fla. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Logue was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at St. Vincent’s HealthCare. He also served as the President and as the Chief Operating Officer at Carney Hospital, Boston, and as an Assistant Administrator at Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital, Binghamton, N.Y.

Member, Sponsors Council, Ascension Health

Sr. Patricia Mullen, CSJ, serves as a member of the Sponsors Council of Ascension Health. Her current ministry is Administrator of Nazareth Center, the home of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Kalamazoo, Mich. Prior to her service at Nazareth Center, Sr. Pat ministered as the Vice President of Mission for St. Joseph Health System, Tawas City, Mich., from 1995-2006 and Patient Representative/Advocate at Genesys Health System in Flint, Mich., from 1990-1995. Sr. Pat also taught junior high students prior to her assignment as an elementary school principal from 1964-1971. She was a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph Leadership Team from 1971-1989.

Member, Sponsors Council, Ascension Health
Visitatrix, East Central Province, Daughters of Charity

Sr. Honora Remes, DC, currently serves as a member of the Sponsors Council of Ascension Health and is the Visitatrix for the East Central Province of the Daughters of Charity. Sr. Honora has taught English and religion. She served on the faculty of Marillac College, St. Louis, and in various Catholic high schools in Iowa, Illinois and Mississippi.

Member, Sponsors Council, Ascension Health
Visitatrix, West Central Province, Daughters of Charity

Sr. Mary Walz, DC, currently serves as a member of the Sponsors Council of Ascension Health and is the Visitatrix for the West Central Province of the Daughters of Charity. Prior to her service as Visitatrix, Sr. Mary served as a Provincial Councillor for the West Central Province. Sr. Mary has served as Charity Services Planner for the West Central Region of Daughters of Charity National Health System, as Director of Social Services at Daughters of Charity Services of Arkansas in Gould, and Director of Family Services at DePaul Family Center in San Antonio, and as Director of Social Services and then Administrator of Marillac Social Center in Dallas.