The discernment process of the 33rd Collegial Assembly of the Holy Union Sisters in Nemi, Italy from July 25 to August 10, led to the election of Sister Caroline Njah, Superior General, and General Councilors: Sisters Yvette Sam, Annemarie Egan, and Michele Totman who will serve the Congregation for six years.
Sister Caroline Njah is a native of Cameroon. She entered the Holy Union Sisters on September 8, 1996. Sr. Caroline served as Novice Director and Superior of the Cameroon Region before being elected to the General Council in 2017. As a General Councilor, she worked in the area of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, especially with the sisters of Cameroon and Tanzania.
Sr. Caroline’s hope for Holy Union in the next six years is: “That we will work collaboratively, to put into practice our Collegial Assembly document, courageously bringing in the new and deepening the spirit of commitment and union among us.”
Sister Annemarie Egan is a native of Ireland who has ministered for most of her religious life in England. She entered the Holy Union Sisters on September 8, 1970. A gifted musician, Sr. Annemarie has ministered as a music therapist in school and in a Children’s Hospice. She has been involved in liturgy, pastoral work and has used music therapeutically with small groups. She recently served as a member of the Anglo-Hibernia Tanzania Leadership Team.
Sr. Annemarie’s hope for Holy Union in the next six years is: “that we find creative ways to maintain unity as a congregation and utilize our diversity and giftedness in fulfilling the mandate of the Collegial Assembly.”
Sister Yvette Sam is a native of Cameroon. She entered the Holy Union Sisters on September 15, 1998. She has served as principal at St. Mary High School, Ndop in the northwest region of Cameroon and La Sainte Union Secondary School in Yokadouma in the eastern region of Cameroon. She has taught religious studies and philosophy in secondary schools. Most recently she has been a member of the Leadership Team of the Cameroon Region with responsibility for education of the sisters and communications.
Sr. Yvette’s dream for Holy Union in the next six years is to implement the document from the Collegial Assembly by “stimulating the evangelical and apostolic vitality of the Congregation” (Art 120) and that we would continue praying and striving to foster the unity of the congregation and to remain close to all the sisters in the congregation.
Sister Michele Totman is a native of England and entered the Holy Union Sisters on September 14, 1980. Her early years in Holy Union were spent in education. In 1993, she fulfilled a dream to serve as a full-time school chaplain. This ministry brought her to Bournemouth in the South of England and was the catalyst for a new mission in West Howe. She served in parish ministry, trained as a counselor, and worked with the International Charity ‘Rainbows’, which supports children and young people in schools, affected by death and separation. From 2015-2021 she served as a member of the Anglo-Hibernia Tanzania Leadership Team.
Sr. Michele’s hope for Holy Union in the next six years is: “That we live the Vision of the Collegial Assembly 2023 with courage and boldness, ‘widening our tent’, embracing diversity and interculturality among ourselves and beyond, to become One Holy Union.”
The International Union of Superiors General (UISG) of which Holy Union Sisters is a member, has also shared the news of the recent election.
If you are on Facebook, you can send a message to Srs. Caroline, Annemarie, Yvette and Michele on the UISG Facebook Page.