


Elected Leadership Team
Elected Leadership Team
The Congregation’s leadership team is known as the General Council. It is comprised of five sisters: the Congregational President, Vice President and three Councilllors. The General Council is elected every five years during General Chapter, a major gathering of our sisters where they determine priorities for the next five years.

Sister Maureen G. Erdlen SSJ
Congregational President

Sister Eileen Marnien SSJ
Congregational VICE President
Sister Eileen, has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and her master’s in social work. Her ministry experiences prior to congregational leadership include elementary school educator, social worker, formation director, and director of the Sisters of Saint Joseph Welcome Center. Sister Eileen tries to maintain balance in her life by nurturing her relationship with God, spending time with family and friends and staying close to people who live on the margins.

Sister Teresa Shaw, SSJ
Sister Teresa has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in child welfare. Most of her ministry has been in education in the Archdiocese of Newark where she served as teacher and administrator. Sister Teresa enjoys spending time with God, family and friends, reading, listening to music and taking time away at the New Jersey Shore or in Lancaster, PA.

Sister Karen Dietrich, SSJ
Sister Karen has a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in biology with a concentration in anatomy and physiology, and a doctorate in instructional design. Her ministry experiences prior to congregational leadership include high school educator, principal of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and executive director of Catholic Partnership Schools in Camden, NJ. Sister Karen is renewed by things like long drives on back roads, photographing the moments of everyday life, creating things out of wood and reading.

Sister Owen P. Bonner SSJ
Sister Owen has a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in theology. Before her role in leadership, Sister Owen has ministered as an elementary school teacher for 15 years and a principal for 33 years in predominately inner-city areas. Sister Owen maintains balance in her life by spending time with family and friends, enjoying nature and gardening.