New president for Leadership Conference of Women Religious

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Sister Sharlet Ann Wagner, CSC

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Sister Sharlet Ann Wagner, CSC, first councilor of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Ind., inaugurated her presidency of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious on Aug. 10.

The LCWR, an association of leaders of women’s Catholic congregations in the United States, has 1,350 members who serve as representatives for nearly 80 percent of the women religious in the U.S.

Sr. Sharlet has served in ministry with the Sisters of the Holy Cross for 27 years, celebrating her silver jubilee in 2016. Born in Omaha, Neb., she later moved to Texas, where she earned her Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Texas, Austin. She taught high school in Utah and later served at a Holy Cross health clinic in Uganda, Africa.

Returning to the U.S., she earned her law degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, Calif. As an immigration attorney, she served with Central American Resource Center, Los Angeles, and at Holy Cross Ministries in Salt Lake City, where she later worked as Immigration Department director.

She served as general secretary for the Congregation’s General Leadership Team prior to her position as first councilor, which she will retain during her LCWR tenure.