Thursday, May 31, 2012

Nashville Dominican gets nod as executive director at key USCCB office

Sr. John Mary Fleming while principal at St. Dominic's School


No shortage of vocations
in Nashville
This sure sent a positive wave through the Catholic news circles and blogs yesterday. Sr. John Mary Flemming who is with the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (commonly referred to as the "Nashville Dominicans") will now serve as executive director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Like the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, the Nashville Dominicans are seeing explosive growth in vocations. It is so delightful to see a member of such a successful community take a lead position at the USCCB.

I prefer not to dwell in all that has gone wrong the past 50 years, but to savor these kinds of moments one brick at a time. This just happens to be one, very large brick.

Here is the full USCCB news release:


May 29, 2012


WASHINGTON—Dominican Sister John Mary Fleming, a member of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, Tennessee, has been named executive director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Sister Fleming currently is principal of St. Dominic School, Bolingbrook, Illinois.


She succeeds Marie Powell, who announced her retirement earlier this year.


Msgr. Ronny Jenkins, USCCB general secretary, announced the appointment May 29.


“I am delighted that Sister John Mary will soon join the USCCB and am grateful to her religious community for allowing her to accept this appointment,” Msgr. Jenkins said. “Both she and her religious community have shown a commitment to Catholic education that resonates with our conference and which has been a hallmark of the Catholic church in this country.”


He thanked Marie Powell for her years at the bishops’ conference and commended her both for her generous service at the bishops’ conference and for her outstanding career in educational leadership.


“Marie served well for many years as a strong advocate for Catholic schools and as a leader in the education community,” Msgr. Jenkins said. “She can be proud of her contributions, as we are proud of her.”


Sister Fleming holds a licentiate in canon law from The Catholic University of America, a master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, a master of education degree in educational leadership and supervision from the University of Southern Mississippi and a bachelor’s degree in education from Belmont University, Nashville.


Prior to her term as principal at St. Dominic’s, 2010-present, Sister Fleming was director of education for her religious congregation, 2000-2007; interim vice president of operations at Aquinas College, Nashville, 2000-2001; and coordinator of her congregation’s $46 million motherhouse building project, 2000-2006.


She served on the board of Aquinas College, 2000-2007, and currently is a board member of Providence Academy, Minneapolis. In 2012, she also served on the 10-member team to develop a program for the year of Faith for the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois.


For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.