Sisters of Charity, BVM elects new leadership team: BVMs Kathy Kandefer (l.), LaDonna Manternach, Amy Golm, and Anne Marie McKenna.
Dubuque, Iowa – Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary chose leadership for the next four years at a Congregational Assembly April 23–25. The Leadership term begins Aug. 1, 2025.
LaDonna Manternach, BVM will be president of the congregation. President since 2021 and second vice president 2016-2021, LaDonna is a graduate of Beckman High School in Dyersville, Iowa, and Clarke University in Dubuque, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music. Her master’s in music education is from Holy Names University in Oakland, Calif., and her Doctor of Musical Arts in vocal performance is from the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Conn. A Cascade, Iowa, native, she served as an elementary music teacher in Iowa and California, and as assistant professor of music, and in campus/youth ministry at Clarke.
Katherine “Kathy” Kandefer, BVM will be first vice president. Kathy holds a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Mundelein College in Chicago and a master’s in ministry from Creighton University. She served as a pastoral associate; diocesan director of catechesis; coordinator of initial membership for the congregation; associate director of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership and director of conferences and events for the Theological Union, both in Washington, D.C.; and operations manager for the Religious Formation Conference in Chicago. She has been vice-president for the past four years.
Anne Marie McKenna, BVM will be second vice president. Anne Marie entered the congregation in 1965 from San Francisco, Calif. She taught elementary school for 20 years on both the east and west coasts and in Chicago, then served at Clarke for three years. She ministered as a parish liturgy and music director in Dubuque and California for 21 years and then served the congregation in liturgy and music at Mount Carmel Bluffs in Dubuque. She has also served the congregation on its stewardship committee, board of directors, and regional and assembly planning committees.
Amy Golm, BVM will be third vice president. Amy earned a bachelor’s in English from Clarke and entered the congregation in 1993. After Clinical Pastoral Education at Loyola University Medical Center, she was a hospice chaplain in Palos Heights, Ill. Following final vows in 2003, she earned a Master of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary and served as Clarke’s campus liturgist, then director of campus ministry. In 2014, she joined St. Agnes Hospital’s spiritual care team, in Fond du Lac, Wis., specializing in palliative care. Today, she serves as a chaplain at MercyOne in Dubuque, as co-chair of the continuity and coordinating committee of the congregational assembly, and on the board of directors.
The new leadership team will be installed at a July 30 ceremony in the Mary Frances Clarke Chapel at Mount Carmel Bluffs. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. and can be viewed virtually at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/bvmsisters.
The BVM elected leaders bear a special responsibility to facilitate, encourage, and inspire Gospel living with the congregation and its presence and voice in the broader church and civic community.
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The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a community of women religious whose members, in response to a personal call from God, have chosen a vowed life of prayer, ministry, and community. In response to that call, BVM Sisters express their mission of being freed and helping others enjoy freedom in service to God’s people though their core values of freedom, education, charity, and justice.