Vatican News: Pope appoints Sr. Barron as Adjunct Secretary of Dicastery for Evangelization
Pope Leo XIV appoints Sister Mary Teresa Barron as Adjunct Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization and President of the Pontifical Mission Societies, beginning on January 4, 2027.
Vatican News – link to article
On Thursday, Pope Leo XIV appointed Sr. Mary Teresa Barron, N.S.A., as Adjunct Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, in the Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches, with responsibility as President of the Pontifical Mission Societies.
Currently Superior General of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, Sr. Barron will assume her new duties on January 4, 2027.
Biography
Sr. Mary Teresa Barron, N.S.A. was born in Donegal, Ireland, on 7 November 1968.
She holds master’s degrees in Public Healthcare Administration from the Institute for Public Administration in Dublin and in International Development from the Kimmage Institute in Dublin, Ireland.
From 2022 to 2025, she served as President of the Service of Documentation and Study on Global Mission (SEDOS), and from 2023 to 2025 as President of the International Union of Superiors General in Rome, Italy.
She has been Superior General of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles since 2018.
Sr Mary said the appointment was “completely unexpected” and that she accepted it with “a heart filled with gratitude, humility, and trust in God’s providence”.
She expressed thanks to Pope Leo for the confidence he placed in her and for the opportunity to serve the Church “in this important missionary ministry”.
The appointment represents a continuing shift toward integrating qualified women into top leadership and administrative roles within the Roman Curia.
Reflecting on the historic significance of the appointment, Sr Mary acknowledged the many women whose lives have shaped the missionary life of the Church.
“As the first woman to be entrusted with this responsibility, I receive this honour with humility and with a profound awareness that it is larger than myself. I see it as a recognition of the countless women, Religious and lay, who have dedicated their lives to proclaiming the Gospel and serving God’s people in every corner of the world”, she said.
“This year my own Congregation celebrates 150 years of missionary service, especially in Africa. Thousands of OLAs have gone before me, paving the way for our missionary engagement from one generation to the next. I honour all of them by accepting this role.”
In a statement, the Donegal native spoke of the special significance of representing the rich missionary heritage of Ireland in her new role.
“As an Irish missionary, I am particularly conscious of standing within a remarkable tradition that has contributed so much to the life of the universal Church. For generations, Irish missionaries left their homes and families to serve communities across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Oceania, and beyond.”
She said that through their dedication, sacrifice, faith, and courage; Irish missionaries had brought the Gospel, established schools and hospitals, supported local communities, and helped build vibrant local Churches.
“This appointment is, in many ways, a tribute to the countless Irish missionaries, past and present, who have given so generously in service to God’s mission. I carry their example with me and hope to honour that tradition by continuing to foster a spirit of missionary solidarity and service throughout the global Church.”
She asked for prayers for the mission of the Church and for all those engaged in missionary service throughout the world.