On Saturday, February 18th, Pope Francis announced the nominations of the members and consultants to the Dicastery for Culture and Education. Among the appointed consultants is sr. Patricia Murray, ibvm, the Executive Secretary of the UISG.

Sr. Patricia says: "It is truly an honor to be nominated as a consultant to the new Dicastery for Culture and Education.  Schools, universities and other educational settings are privileged places at the cutting edge of the dialogue between faith and culture.”

A member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto Sisters), sr. Pat has given her life to improving the situations of others – first in Ireland, where she was born, and later throughout the entire world. She studied at the University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and Catholic Theological Union in Chicago obtaining several degrees, including a doctor of ministry degree.

She worked first as a secondary school teacher and principal, a peace education officer for the whole of Ireland, a director of the Loreto education office, and a university lecturer and frequent speaker at conferences. In the field of education, she gained a reputation as an innovator who inspired faculty, staff, parents, and board members to exercise a communal symbolic leadership that helped them discover meaning in their work and value the contribution each was making to the greater vision.

As member of the general council of her religious community for eight years, she empowered her sisters to lead in numerous ministries in more than 20 countries on all continents. She later became the executive director of Solidarity with South Sudan which established a new missionary paradigm of religious life with men and women religious living and working together to help the South Sudanese people build a peaceful and just society.

In 2014, sr. Pat began her current ministry as executive secretary at the International Union of Superiors General where she fosters networking and solidarity among the women religious of the world. She significantly expanded the services of the Union and established several important global projects.

The full list of appointed members and consultants to the Dicastery for Culture and Education (in Italian)