Board of Directors

Our passionate team

Brendan Kennealey, Founder and Chairman of the Board

Brendan Kennealey was a volunteer teacher at Nativity Prep in Boston and is the co-founder of Nativity-model schools in New Bedford, MA and Wilmington, DE. He spent 5 weeks in Rwanda teaching at a school run by the Benebikira Sisters and partnered with them to build a 700-student high school. He left Rwanda with a passionate commitment to the Benebekira Sisters and their works and established the foundation with the help of Sister Anna Beata Murekatete. He holds a BA from Boston College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Sister Anna Beata Murekatete, Member, Board of Directors

Sister Anna Beata Murekatate has spent the large part of her ministry working in school leadership, serving as principal for three schools in 18 years. Most recently, Sister Anna worked as principal for Saint Bernadette's, a boarding school for over 800 students in the village of Save. In 2005, she was accepted at Boston College and became the first Benebikira Sister to study in the United States. While studying at Boston College, Sister Anna researched and developed the Ministry of Hope, Healing and Reconciliation to be initiated in the summer of 2007. Sister Anna holds a BA from National University of Rwanda and a dual MA in Pastoral Ministry and Education at Boston College.

Sister Juvenal Mukamurama, Mother General of the Benebikira Sisters, Member, Board of Directors

Sister Juvenal has been a Benebikira Sister for over 36 years. She is currently serving her second term as Mother General of the Benebikira Sisters religious order. She has worked closely with the Jesuit Refugee Services to found orphanages for the survivors of genocide in Rwanda. During her service as Mother General, she has founded four private schools and five health clinics to serve Rwanda and the region. Sister Juvenal holds a degree in school psychology from University of Fribourg in Switzerland.

Sheila McLaughlin, Member, Board of Directors

Sheila McLaughlin currently serves as the Director of the Cardinal Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Sheila was appointed by Cardinal Bernardin as the first lay person and first woman to head the Chicago Archdiocesan Office of Divine Worship. A respected educator and gifted speaker, Sheila serves on the board of directors of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, and the planning board of Form-Reform National Conference for the Building and Renovation of Churches. She is also a liturgical consultant for the Catholic Health Association. In 2001 she received the Pro Ecclesia et Ponfice Award from Pope John Paul II for outstanding service "for the church and the pontiff." Sheila holds a BA from Marquette University and Masters n Divinity from Catholic Theological Union.

Timothy Wesley, Executive Director, Member, Board of Directors

Timothy Wesley serves as Executive Director of the Benebikira Sisters Foundation. Tim has worked in a variety of cross-cultural educational settings, including a stint teaching at Xavier High School in Micronesia as a Jesuit Volunteer. He currently serves on the faculty of Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. He makes yearly visits to Rwanda to work with the Sisters to further identify ways the Foundation can aid their ministry. Tim has received the Harry W. Smith award for excellence in service from Boston College and the Cardinal Bernardin Scholarship from Catholic Theological Union. He holds a BA from Boston College and an MA from Catholic Theological Union.

Dr. Jane Delaney, Member, Board of Directors

Dr. Jane Delaney is a master teacher of 28 years on the faculty of Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. Prior to teaching, Jane was the Project manager at the Family Literacy Project for three years, and also worked as the Chief Financial Officer of the Chicago Fire Department. Jane holds a BA from Marian College, an M. Ed from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D from Loyola University in Chicago.