The Daughters of Charity released the following statement May 27:
Sister Kathleen Appler, DC, was elected Superioress General of the worldwide Community at the General Assembly of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris, France, May 25.
Sister Kathleen is the first American to be elected Superioress General and only the second Superioress General who was not French.
A native of Utica, N.Y., Sister Kathleen most recently served as a member of the Daughters’ General Council in Paris since June of 2009. Previous to that, she served as Provincial of the Daughters’ former Northeast Province based in Albany, N.Y. She succeeds Sister Evelyne Franc, D.C., who served as Superioress General for 12 years. Sister Kathleen’s appointment is for six years. At the end of her term, Sister Kathleen may continue for another six year term if re-elected at the next General Assembly.
Around the world, there are 16,179 Daughters of Charity living and serving in 94 countries. Sister Kathleen will lead the Community of these Sisters, which is divided into 60 Provinces and one Region.
Sister Kathleen entered the Community of the Daughters of Charity in April of 1973 in Boston, Mass. She marked 42 years vocation in April of 2015.
Sister Kathleen has served in education, administration, and vocation and formation ministries. She served in schools in Syracuse, N.Y., (Cathedral School, 1974 to 1975); Bridgeport, Conn., (St. Ann’s School, 1975 to 1979); Utica, N.Y., (Our Lady of Lourdes School, 1979 to 1982 and 1985 to 1995); and Wilmington, Del., (St. Peter’s School, 1982 to 1985). Sister Kathleen served at St. John’s Parish Center in Brooklyn, N.Y, from 1995 to 2000. She also served as the local Superior in Brooklyn from 1997 to 1999. Sister then moved into governance for the Province and resided in Albany until her appointment in Paris in 2009.
A 1970 graduate of Utica Catholic Academy in Utica, N.Y., Sister Kathleen earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from Maria Regina College in Syracuse, N.Y., in 1975; her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature with a Concentration in Elementary Education from Sacred Heart University in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1978; a Master’s in Elementary Education from State University of New York at Cortland, Cortland, N.Y., in 1984; and her Certification in Spiritual Direction from the Center for Spirituality at Work, Denver, Colo., in 2006.
