Superioress, with Albany ties, named to historic Congregation

A sister, who has worked in the Capital Region, recently made history.

Superioress General Kathleen Appler of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul was named a full member of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on July 8 by Pope Francis. Sister Appler is one of seven women, including six superiors of religious orders and a consecrated laywoman, to become full members of the Congregation.

The Congregation is responsible for the government, discipline and studies for religious orders, congregations and societies of apostolic life. The is the first time women have been appointed to the Congregation.

A native of Utica, Sister Kathleen was elected Superioress General of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul at the General Assembly in Paris on May 25, 2015. Prior to her election, Sister Kathleen had served as a member of the Daughters’ General Council in Paris since June of 2009, and as Provincial of the Daughters’ former Northeast Province based in Albany.

 There are 14,500 Daughters of Charity living and serving in 94 countries around the world. Sister Kathleen leads 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. Sister Kathleen has served in education, administration, and vocation and formation ministries. She served in schools in Syracuse, (Cathedral School, 1974-75); Bridgeport, Conn., (St. Ann’s School, 1975-79); Utica, (Our Lady of Lourdes School, 1979-82 and 1985-95); and Wilmington, Del., (St. Peter’s School, 1982-85). Sister Kathleen served at St. John’s Parish Center in Brooklyn, from 1995-2000. She also served as the local Superior in Brooklyn from 1997-99. She 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, Sister Kathleen earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from Maria Regina College in Syracuse, 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 in 1984; and her Certification in Spiritual Direction from the Center for Spirituality at Work, Denver, Colo., in 2006.

In addition to Sister Kathleen, the newly named female members to the Congregation by Pope Francis include: Yvonne Reungoat, superior of the Salesian Sisters; Francoise Massy, superior of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary; Luigia Coccia, superior of the Comboni Sisters; Simona Brambilla, superior of the Consolata Missionary Sisters; Rita Calvo Sanz, superior of the Company of Mary Our Lady; and Olga Krizova, general president of the Volunteers of Don Bosco, a group of consecrated laypeople.