About Us:
Our Leadership

The four-member Congregational Leadership Team is composed of the President, Sister Catherine Howard, and three Councilors: Sister Michaela Connolly, Sister Ann Daniel Young, and Sister Joan Agro. Together, these Sisters share the administrative, pastoral and planning responsibilities for the entire Congregation. They work collaboratively, with each member of the Team assuming responsibility for a specific area of the Congregation's life and mission.


Sister Catherine Howard, O.P.

As President, Sister Catherine's role is to serve as the spiritual leader and unifier of the Congregation. It is her responsibility to lead and challenge the members in their efforts to live the gospel message and facilitate their response to the Church's mandate of mission and service.

Sister Catherine served in the Peace Corps in the West Indies where she met the Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt. She entered the congregation in 1976. Sister Catherine spent many years working in different capacities with homeless and HIV infected adults in New York City as a social worker. She received a Ph.D in Social Work from Fordham University in 2001. She has been on the faculty of the College for Human Services for fifteen years and was an adjunct faculty member at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service before being elected to the Leadership. Sister Catherine also taught at Dominican College in Blauvelt, NY and served as the Director of Development for the Sisters of Saint Dominic in Blauvelt. Most recently, Sister Catherine served as a Councilor on the Leadership Team.


Sister Michaela Connolly

Sister Michaela is originally from the Bronx, New York. Sister Michaela attended St. Luke School where she met the Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt. Entering the congregation in 1963, Sister Michaela initially served as an elementary school teacher. After receiving the M.S. in Education in Administration and Supervision from Fordham University, Sister Michaela ministered in the field of administration on the college, parish, and high school levels. She served as Director of Development at Dominican College of Blauvelt, N.Y.; pastoral associate at St. Margaret's Parish in Pearl River, N.Y.; and as dean and principal at St. Raymond Academy for girls in the Bronx, N.Y. She also served as a councilor on a previous Leadership Team. Most recently, Sister was coordinator of the HIV/AIDS Programs for the Dominican Sisters Family Health Service South Bronx Office.


Sister Anne Daniel Young

Sister Anne attended St. Mary School in the Bronx, where she met the Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt. She entered the congregation in 1959. Sister Anne spent her early years as a nurse at St. Vincent Hospital and at St. Dominic's Home, where she cared for elderly sisters, as well as resident children. In 1969, she transitioned into the ministry of education as a teacher at St. Denis/St. Columba School in Hopewell Junction, NY. There she served as teacher for thirteen years and as Principal for twenty-eight years. She received her Master's Degree in Community Psychology from Marist College in 1978. Most recently, Sister Anne has been on a year-long sabbatical, during which she has assisted in various committees for the congregation.



Sister Joan Agro

Sister Joan is originally from Long Island, NY. She attended St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY She taught at St. Margaret School in Pearl River, NY, where she met the Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt. She entered the congregation in 1983. Sister Joan has spent her life devoted to the ministry of education and received a Master's Degree in Reading from Manhattan College, followed by a Degree in School Administration. She has been a teacher and Principal at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School in Tappan, NY. Most recently, Sister Joan has served as Principal of Our Lady of Victory Academy, an all-girls high school in Dobbs Ferry, NY.