ASEC News

Appreciation for ASEC Donors in 2021

African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC)

Thank you to our amazing partners, donors and friends (Donations between 9/1/2020 and 8/31/2021)


Thank you to our amazing 2021 supporters! What we do is not possible without you. You are always in our thoughts and prayers.

Our gratitude goes out to you, our generous partners, donors and friends. What we do is not possible without you. Every single dollar you've given makes such a big difference. You are always in our thoughts and prayers.

ASEC Donors*

Adrienne Castellon
Allen Aguilar
Ann E. Sweeney
Anna Solis
Anne Kibuna
Annie Njenga
Antionett Simmons
Antoine Reid
Archdiocese of Newark, NJ
Archdiocese of Philadelphia, PA
Arlene Coronado
Ashley Miller
Assumption Abbey Bakery
Babette Martinez
Beatrice Wachira
Brighid Blake
Brothers of Christian Instruction
Bruce McBeth
Carmelite Monastery of Boston
Cheryl Gruenke
Cheryl Spager
Christina Clark
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia
Cynthia Diniz
Dan Schlegel
Daniel & Missy Crump
Daughters of the Holy Spirit
David Jackson
David Tucker
Debbie Adams
Deborah Snyder
Debra Beakley
Denise Bloxham
Diana MacPherson
Diocese of Brooklyn, NY
Diocese of Greensburg, PA
Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ
DM Slifer
Dody Mitchell
Donita Eade
Donna Ringwald
Doris Chechotka
Dorothy Ballen
Dr. Jeffrey Senese
Dr. Tata J. Mbugua
Elizabeth Lute
Elizabeth Ramirez
Ellen Ellis
Erin Sadlack
Franciscan Friars - Mt. Alverna
Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph
Gail Rayford
Gaye Hodges
Genevieve Torres
Geoff Smeltzer
Ginger Stalheber
Grace Mwangi
Hasani De Brossard
Jacqueline C. Reich, Ph.D.
Jaime Bloxham
James and Kristen Andrews
James Sullivan
Jane Farr
Jaye & Angelica Johnson
Jennifer Greely
Jerren Scruggs
Jesus Angel Ramos
John & Elizabeth Stapleton
John and Dorris McQuade
John G. Jackson
John Kestler
Josh Grimard
Julie Lovorn
Karen Martin-Gass
Kathy House
Kebei Zun
Kevin A McLean
Kevin Holman
Kim Scalese
Koch Foundation, Inc.
Kristi Swift
Latesha Manns
Laticia Lewis
Linda Paulah
Lisa Blaker
Little Company of Mary Sisters USA, IL
Marcie Kumah
Marguerite Loughran
Maria Lourdes Duran
Marita Williams
Mark & Anne Yamakaitis
Marvin Harris
Mary Adamson
Mary Christine Burns
Mary Hood
Mary L. Gautier
Mary Mccary
Marywood University
Matthew Malkin
Maura Cornyn
Maureen K. Saunders
Mepkin Abbey
Michael F. Dunleavy
Michelle Meeks
Michelle O'Malley
Mount St. Scholarstica, Benedictine Monastery
Ms. Jessica Higgins
Mwaura Chege
Nancy Christian
National Catholic Community Foundation
Nicole Clare
Notre Dame Sisters
Nursing Sisters of the Sick Poor
Nyambura Ndiba
Paola Lettini
Patricia Laws-Locicero
Patricia Warning
Paul and Sandra Montrone
Paul Yarwaye
Pius Ojara
Presentation Sisters of Aberdeen
Quinta Tebo
Redempta Bekah
Regina McCalla
Rev. Fr. Andre A. Patenaude
Rev. Leonard Gicheru
Rev. Ryan P. Glenn
Rev. Stephen Karani
Rev. Thomas Delaney
Richard and Paula Scott
Robert Leidy
Robert and Elizabeth Olson
Rochelle Rasberry
Rodolfo Villa
Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, PA
Ronald Gonzales
Rosemarie Randall
Rosemary Gremillion
Roxie Davis
Sally Enos Williams
Sandra Smith
Sara McDermott
Sean D'Antonio
Servants of Mary (Servite Sisters) of Ladysmith
Sharon Kestler
Sharon Whiteside
Shawanda Collins
Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration
Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sisters of Providence, Inc.
Sisters of St. Benedict (The Crookston Benedictines)
Sisters of St. Casimir
Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque - Mount St. Francis
Sisters of St. Francis of Rochester - Assisi Heights
Sisters of St. Francis of Holy Name Province
Sisters of St. Francis of Savannah
Sisters of St. Joseph
Sisters of St. Joseph Associate Group
Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace Generalate, Inc.
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament of Bensalem
Sisters of the Precious Blood
Sneh Akruvala
Society of the Holy Child Jesus
Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, LSMIG
Sr. Eileen M. Maguire
Sr. Elizabeth Wanyoike
Sr. Jane Wakahiu, LSOSF
Sr. Kathleen Kelly, IHM
Sr. Kathleen Lunsmann, IHM
Sr. Kevin Karimi, LSOSF
Sr. Marijane Hresko, OSF
Sr. Nancy Kamau, LSOSF
St. Mary's Institute of O'Fallon
Takeisha Lowrey
Taraja Theresa Gill
The Ancilla Domini Sisters (Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ)
Tony Diah
Tysha Mccray
Valerie Lane
Vernita Shields
Veronica Kahacho
Veronica Kariuki
Vincent and Elaine Fedele
Winfred Mutinda
Yolanda Summers

*Donations between 9/1/2020 and 8/31/2021.

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Special Thanks

ASEC Charter Institutions

Chestnut Hill College and the Sisters of St. Joseph (SSJ), Philadelphia, PA
Marywood University and the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), Scranton, PA
Neumann University and the Sisters of St. Francis (OSF), Philadelphia, PA
Rosemont College and the Society of the Holy Child Jesus (SHCJ), Rosemont, PA

ASEC Associate Members

Associate Members promote and further the mission of the organization, make a financial contribution, collaborate in ASEC programming and commit the president or major superior of the member institution as a representative.

DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Sisters of the Holy Redeemer (CSR), Meadowbrook, PA
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ), Albany, NY
Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati (SC), Mount St. Joseph, OH
St. Leo University, Saint Leo, FL
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM), Quebec, Canada
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM), Dubuque, IA
Daughters of the Holy Spirit (DHS), US Province, Putnam, CT

Special Thanks

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Inc., Westlake Village, CA
Franciscan Sisters of Chicago (FSC), Lemont, IL
Sisters of St Casimir (SSC), Chicago, IL
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM), Dubuque, IA
National Catholic Community Foundation (NCCF), Crownsville, MD
Servants of Mary (Servite Sisters) (OSM), Ladysmith, WI
Koch Foundation, Inc., Gainesville, FL
Society of the Holy Child Jesus (SHCJ) - Wants of the Age, Rosemont, PA
Pontifical Mission Societies - Diocese of Scranton, PA; Archdiocese of Philadelphia, PA; Archdiocese of Newark, NJ; Diocese of Brooklyn, NY; Diocese of Greensburg, PA; Catholic Diocese of Erie, PA
Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), Washington, D.C.
ASEC Board Members
ASEC Partners in Africa

News & Updates

ASEC 2021 Board Meetings Held Virtually

ASEC’s annual Advisory Board meeting, held on April 28, 2021, is an exciting opportunity to discuss ASEC’s programs, review evaluation data and plan for the future of the organization. ASEC Advisory Board, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Catholic Sisters Initiative team, other invited experts and ASEC staff members were in attendance.

On April 29, 2021, ASEC’s Board of Directors meeting was also held virtually. The meeting began with opening remarks and staff introductions. Upon dismissal of ASEC staff, Sr. Jane Wakahiu and the Hilton Foundation’s Catholic Sisters Initiative team briefed the board on Hilton’s strategy and focus areas. Dr. Tara Lopatofsky then presented ASEC program evaluation data and shared participant success stories with attendees.
The Board conducted regular business before concluding the meeting in the afternoon. 

ASEC Country Director in Malawi Obtains Bachelor's Degree

Please join us in congratulating Sr. Hilaria Chombo, SBVM, a senior staff of ASEC and the Country Director of Malawi, upon her successful completion of her Bachelors of Science degree in Managing Rural and Community Development. Sr Hilaria sets a great example for many young and senior people (religious or lay) that “where there is a will there is always a way."
We are so proud of you, Sr. Hilaria! May your great success stand out as a light on the path of achievement for many generations.

In Memory of ASEC Family

We have said goodbye to far too many ASEC family members over the past year, many due to COVID-19. These losses are great for our ASEC family, but we are grateful for the opportunity to know each person who is no longer with us. We pray that they may rest in eternal peace.

Fr. Peter Gichure (8/1/21), HESA Liaison, Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Kenya
Sr. Ursula Netty Mutakha, LSOSF (6/26/21), HESA Participant, Kenya
Sr. Joan Chisala, CSJB (6/16/21), ASEC Programs Coordinator, Zambia
Sr. Maria Fausta Shirima, CSR (1/22/21), HESA Participant, Tanzania
Sr. Gwendolyn Mfune, LSSF (1/19/21), SLDI Alumna, Zambia
Rev. Fr. Dr. Dominic Kazingatchire (1/18/21), HESA Liaison, Catholic University of Malawi
Sr. Magdalena Ndwala, TS (1/15/21), SLDI Alumna, Malawi; Secretary General, Association of Women Religious Institutes of Malawi (AWRIM); Financial Administrator, Archdiocese of Lilongwe
Sr. Rosemary Ndyomugyenyi, MSMMC (11/23/20), SLDI Alumna, Uganda

Thank You For Your Service

We are forever grateful for the service of those who have moved on from ASEC over the last twelve months. Thank you for being a part of our ASEC family and sharing your talents and gifts with us.

Sr. Kathryn Dougherty, OSF, Former Board Chair and Founding Member (May, 2021)
Sr. Kate McCarron, OSF, Former Board Member (October, 2020)
Sr. Teri Hadro, BVM, Former Associate Member Representative (August, 2021)
Sr. Mary Anne Heenan, CSJ, Former Associate Member Representative (February, 2021)
Stephen Kubasek, DBA, Former Associate Member Representative (May, 2021)
Melissa Frein, Former ASEC Finance Manager
Sr. Kevin Karimi, LSOSF, Ph.D., Former ASEC Researcher, Program Evaluation
Jennifer Mudge, MSW, LSW, Former ASEC Senior Program Manager, Monitoring & Evaluation

Read a message from ASEC's Development Director: Catholic Sisters: Building Virtue Bridges

Be a Ray of Hope

Communities across Africa are counting on Catholic Sisters, but 71% lack the education needed to carry out their important mission work. You can be a Ray of Hope for a Sister who needs you by donating to her education today.

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This article is addressing the following UN Sustainable Development Goal(s):

Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Sr. Nancy Kamau
Profiled in article
Director of Development  

Sr. Hilaria Chombo, SBVM

Sr. Hilaria Chombo, SBVM
Profiled in article
Director - Malawi  

Amy Fedele

Amy Fedele
Author
Former ASEC Media & Communications Manager - USA  

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