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Sr. Mary Teresa Barron, OLA

Sr. Mary Teresa Barron, OLA, born in Donegal, Ireland, entered the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles in 1992 and made her Perpetual Vows in 2001. Her missionary journey has included pastoral and development work in Tanzania, where she served in catechesis, education, women’s empowerment, and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. She has held various leadership responsibilities within the OLA Congregation, including Provincial Councillor, General Councillor, and Assistant General. Since July 2018, she has served as Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, coordinating the leadership and administration of a Congregation present in 21 countries. Beyond the Congregation, Sr. Mary Teresa Barron has served in international Church leadership, including as President of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and President of SEDOS. On 8 October 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Sr. Mary Teresa Barron, OLA, as Adjunct Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, in the Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches, with the office of President of the Pontifical Mission Societies. The appointment takes effect on 4 January 2027. Read her full profile

Pope Leo XIV Appoints Sr. Mary T. Barron, OLA, as Adjunct Secretary for the Dicastery of Evangelization, Serving as President of the Pontifical Mission Societies

Rome, 8 October 2026 — The Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) receive with joy the news of the appointment of Sr. Mary Teresa Barron, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA), to a new mission of service to the universal Church as Adjunct Secretary for the Dicastery of Evangelization, serving as President of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS). The appointment entrusts Sr. Mary with an important responsibility at the heart of the Church’s missionary activity. The Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) form a worldwide network that promotes prayer, missionary awareness and solidarity, supporting the Church’s evangelizing mission and accompanying young and emerging Churches in their growth and development. A life shaped by mission Sr. Mary Teresa Barron is an Irish-born sister of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, a missionary congregation founded in 1876 for the evangelization of Africa. Her missionary journey has taken her to Nigeria and Tanzania, where she gained extensive pastoral and missionary experience. Her ministries have included pastoral work in a rural parish, youth ministry, women’s empowerment, education, and the coordination of HIV and AIDS projects. Her experience of mission has also been enriched by years of congregational leadership and international collaboration. Since 2013, she has served in Rome, first as a Councilor and later as Congregational Leader from 2018. She has also played a significant role in the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), serving on its Executive Board, as Vice-President and subsequently as President. Her participation in the [...]

Welcoming and Accompanying Those Living with Mental Health Challenges

During this month of October, we, the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA), warmly welcome Pope Leo XIV’s invitation to pray for the pastoral care of mental health. His prayer calls the Church to become ever more an open, welcoming, and compassionate home, where people experiencing psychological and emotional distress can find understanding, accompaniment, and hope. Across our communities and missions, many people quietly carry the burden of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and other mental health challenges. Often, these struggles remain hidden because of stigma, fear, or misunderstanding. Behind the silence, however, are people longing to be listened to, respected and accompanied without judgement. The Pope’s invitation encourages us not to turn away from these “silent wounds,” but to become more attentive to the suffering that may remain unseen. It calls us to create communities where people can speak openly, where vulnerability is not a cause for shame, and where every person is treated with dignity and compassion. For us as OLA Sisters, this invitation speaks deeply to our missionary vocation. Our mission calls us to be present among people, to listen, to serve and to accompany them in the realities of their lives. Care for mental health is therefore also part of our commitment to the dignity and integral well-being of every person entrusted to our care. In our communities, schools, health centres, pastoral ministries and other places of mission, we are invited to foster environments where people feel welcomed, heard, valued and accompanied. Sometimes, a listening ear, a [...]