Approved by the Vatican Dicastery for Institutes for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in December of 2022, Holy Names Educational Ministries (HNEM) is designated by the Vatican as a Ministerial Public Juridic Person (MPJP). This designation allows the schools sponsored by HNEM to maintain their Catholic identity, which has been a central value throughout the process of planning for future sponsorship. This Catholic identity is also shaped significantly by the ministries’ commitment to the core values which are at the heart of the charism, life, and mission of the Sisters of the Holy Names. HNEM is further enriched and strengthened by ongoing relationships and communication with local bishops and archbishops in dioceses where SNJM sponsored ministries are located.

SNJM member schools are:

• Academy of the Holy Names - Albany, New York
• Academy of the Holy Names - Tampa, Florida
• Holy Names Academy - Seattle, Washington
• Holy Names High School - Oakland, California
• Holy Names Music Center - Spokane, Washington
• Next Step Learning Center - Oakland, California
• Ramona Convent Secondary School - Alhambra, California
• St. Mary’s Academy - Portland, Oregon

Currently governed by a Board entitled the Sponsors Council, a group that will be composed of both committed lay colleagues and Sisters as long as possible, HNEM will eventually become entirely lay led. Sisters and lay persons on the Council are appointed by the Province Leadership of SNJM and are persons who have an understanding of Sponsorship and the role of Canonical Stewards as well as a deep commitment to the mission of Catholic education.

Careful preparation for this moment has been in process for several years. Now the moment has come for the transition to and implementation of HNEM. A formal transition ritual will take place in October, and on campus rituals will occur at each sponsored educational ministry over the next few months.

Sister Maureen Delaney, Province Leader, made the following statement:

The Sisters of the Holy Names of the U.S. – Ontario Province are very excited and hopeful about this new form of sponsorship and believe that it will ensure a vital, mission-focused future for our beloved educational ministries. The establishment of HNEM ensures that the charism and values of the Sisters will live on in ministries that are thriving and vibrant, while the day-to-day operations of the schools such as finance, governance, and academics remain the responsibility of the school administrators and boards. Our Sisters will continue to be present to and support these educational ministries for as long as we are able. When that is no longer possible, we will be able to confidently entrust them to our extraordinary and committed lay partners.