President & General Council 2024-2029
The leadership team was officially installed on September 8, 2024, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto at Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, Indiana.
Sister Sharlet Ann Wagner, CSC, President
Sister Sharlet has been serving as the executive director of the Newcomer Network of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Washington, since 2020. The program assists immigrants with legal services and connects them to comprehensive supports. From 2014–2019, she served as first councilor of the Congregation’s General Administration and, from 2009–2014, as general secretary of the team. Prior ministries include her service as an immigration attorney and department director with Holy Cross Ministries, a nonprofit organization sponsored by the Congregation in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also worked as an immigration attorney with Central American Resource Center, served as a clinic worker in Uganda, and taught high school English and journalism in the U.S.
“I’m honored and humbled to be elected to serve my Congregation in this role. The General Chapter set an exciting and full course for the next five years,” says Sister Sharlet. “The entire Congregation will be involved in renewing our life together as we seek to witness to God’s transforming love for the life of the world. I and my team are eager to, in the words of our founder, “hurry, and be about this work of resurrection.”
Sister Esther Adjoa Entsiwah, CSC, First Councilor
Sister Esther most recently served as a general councilor on the 2019–2024 General Administration. She is also on the boards of Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, and The Academy of the Holy Cross, Kensington, Maryland. Prior to that, she taught in schools in Ghana and Uganda. She was also headmistress of Our Lady of Holy Cross School, Kasoa, Ghana. Sister Esther served as Area of Africa coordinator and previously was a postulant director in Ghana and a country vocation animator. Sister Esther shares: “I am a visionary and can work with others to dream, reflect and discern. In a team, I can help create processes that will lead us to build bridges that will connect us and strengthen our international community dreams.”
Sister Taposi (Gomes), CSC, General Treasurer
Sister Taposi has served as a financial consultant in the Congregation’s Finance Department since 2021. Since 2019 she has been a member of the board of Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame. From 2014–2019 she was councilor and treasurer for the Congregation’s Area of Asia. She prior served six years as assistant director of Student Affairs at Holy Cross College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and nine years as assistant treasurer for the Area of Asia. She also helped establish several institutions of education and ministries in Bangladesh and India. She says, “I believe in God’s providence to be open to the Spirit for the service of the Congregation and its worldwide mission.”
Sister Verónica A. Fajardo, CSC, General Secretary
Sister Verónica has served as a mental health counselor with Holy Cross Ministries, Salt Lake City, Utah, since 2020. Preceding this role, she served at a shelter for survivors of domestic abuse in Utah, in various social service agencies in Los Angeles (2014–2017), and with immigrants at Holy Cross Ministries (2011–2014). Sister Veró also taught elementary education for 12 years and served as a teacher mentor. She shares, “I am a lifetime learner and active listener and look forward to learning more about ways to support our sisters in their community and ministry journeys throughout the world.”
Sister Violet Rodrigues, CSC, Councilor
Sister Violet has served as the Area of Asia coordinator for the Congregation since 2019. She held that same role from 2009 to 2014 while also teaching at Holy Cross College, Tejgaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh. She currently also serves as the vice president of the Bangladesh Conference of Religious. She was the novice director of the Area from 2005–2009, and at Nirmola Education Center, Kulaura, Bangladesh, Sister Violet taught and served as headmistress for seven years. “[This role] is a tremendous responsibility that I will promise to the sisters,” says Sister Violet. “But in this journey, I am not alone. Together, with the sisters, we move forward.”