Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word (CCVI)
60th First Profession
Sister Kathleen Coughlin
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1960
First profession: 1963
Final profession: 1968
Education: Bachelor’s in nursing, Incarnate Word College, 1967
Master’s in healthcare administration, Saint Louis University, 1972
Service in the archdiocese: Director of community and apostolic ministry, Provincial Council, St. Louis, 1979-81
Service outside the archdiocese: Staff nurse, Santa Rosa Hospital, San Antonio, Texas, 1966-67
Director of nurses, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Paris, Texas, 1967-70
Administrative resident, Mercy Hospital, Denver, Colorado, 1971-72
Assistant administrator, St. Anthony Hospital, Amarillo, Texas, 1972-73
Administrator, St. Anthony Hospital, Amarillo, Texas, 1973-79
President and CEO, Spohn Health System, Corpus Christi, Texas, 1981-95
Provincial superior, CCVI-US Province, San Antonio, Texas, 1996-2000
President, Catholic Health Association of Texas, Austin, Texas, 2001-02
Vice president for institutional advancement, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 2002-18
Senior advisor to the president for leadership gifts and sponsored ministries, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 2018-23
About Sister Kathleen Coughlin: I have been blessed to serve in leadership roles at a local, state and national level. It has been a privilege to represent the Congregation and its mission. I thank God for giving me the gifts to serve the people of God in so many ways.
Sister Jean Durel
Birthplace: New Orleans
Entrance: 1960
First profession: 1963
Final profession: 1968
Education: Bachelor’s in chemistry and math, Incarnate Word College, 1966
Master’s in chemistry, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 1970
Doctorate in biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 1981
Master’s of ministry with a focus in peace and justice ministry, 1986.
Service in the archdiocese: Project coordinator, Incarnate Word Foundation, St. Louis, 2003-2010
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Alice School, Ft. Worth, Texas, 1963-64
Teacher, Archbishop Chapelle High, Metairie, Louisiana, 1966-69
Instructor, Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Texas, 1970-74, 1980-84
Pastoral Worker, Curato San Pedro El Alto, San Pedro, Mexico, 1984-86
Director, Refuge Aid Project, San Antonio, Texas, 1986-91
Director, VIM, San Antonio, Texas, 1991-94
Coordinating Team Member, Centro Mujeres De La Esperanza, El Paso, Texas, 1994-2003
Councilor, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Leadership Team, San Antonio, Texas, 2014-2018
Volunteer, Interfaith Welcome Coalition, 2018-present.
About Sister Jean Durel: Throughout my life I have heard God’s call in varied and persistent ways. I am very grateful to my religious community for the many opportunities I’ve had to follow that call. I grew up in New Orleans, in the time of segregation, and though I didn’t realize it at the time, the seeds of a future life direction were being planted both by the injustice I was conscious of and by that which I unconsciously imbibed. The first years of my religious life, were spent in teaching. While chemistry still fascinates me, I felt God’s tug towards justice and peace ministry. The justice ministries that I have been involved in for the last 40 years have been quite varied and each has been rich in blessings and in learnings. The two years I spent in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico, working with CCVIs as part of a pastoral team were life-changing ones for me. Likewise, I feel very blessed for the years I spent on the U.S.-Mexico border working with sisters from other communities, in St. Louis working on a neighborhood project in south St. Louis, and now volunteering with the Interfaith Welcome Coalition in San Antonio, welcoming migrants on their journey. Finally, I am so grateful for the many friends I have — from hiking to yoga to social justice issues — who have stretched me and inspired me by their example to be and to do more than I thought I could.
Sister Helena Monahan
Birth name: Marilyn Ann Monahan
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1960
First profession: 1963
Final profession: 1968
Education: Bachelor’s in English, Incarnate Word College, 1968
Doctorate in English, Saint Louis University, 1972
Doctorate of jurisprudence, University of Houston, Texas, 1996
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Dismas School, Florissant, 1964-66
President, Incarnate Word Academy, St. Louis, 2012-16
Project manager, Incarnate Word Foundation, St. Louis, 2016-23
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Francis Xavier School, Taos Missouri, 1963-64
Teacher, Immaculate Conception school, Jefferson City, Missouri, 1966-67
Teacher, Our Lady of the Valley School, El Paso, Texas, 1967
Assistant professor, Incarnate Word college, San Antonio, Texas, 1972-76
Ace fellow, St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, 1976-77
Assistant president, Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Texas, 1977-83
Executive vice-president, Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Texas, 1987-93
Legal counsel, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 1996-2002
Congregational coordinator, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 2002-08
Chancellor, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 2008-12
About Sister Helena Monahan: I am grateful for the charism of our congregation: “To make God’s love a real and tangible presence in our world.” I am also grateful for the many opportunities our congregation has accorded me. I have enjoyed each community in which I served and have met and worked with so many outstanding people.