Congratulations, Sr. Barbara Spears

Sister Barbara Spears, SNJM, is a Sister of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM), a congregation of women religious dedicated to education. It was founded in Longueuil, Quebec, by Eulalie Durocher (Mother Marie-Rose) on October 28, 1843. Sister Barbara currently serves in a non-governmental organization at the United Nations for her congregation. She is also the current Mid-Atlantic regional coordinator for the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. She has a rich background in education ministry, serving as a field representative in the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Washington and as a principal and teacher in several schools in various archdioceses/dioceses in the USA. Sister Barbara served as the associate superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

She received the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Award from the Archdiocese of Baltimore and an honorary doctorate from Loyola College of Baltimore. In 2023, Sister Barbara began her service as ASEC (African Sisters Education Collabora-tive) Board Chair. This past summer, Sister Barbara attend-ed the graduations of the program participants in Ghana and Nigeria.

While in Ghana, Sr. Babara had a wonderful experience. She says,” Oh, I will have so much to share. I have just walked our Ancestors' path to the River of no return. I could put my hands in the River and say a prayer. I spoke to the Ancestors. Oh, what a Blessing. I wish you were all here. There is so much more to who we are than what we have been told.”