Patricia Mullen, SFCC*
Theresian National and International Ministry, 1968 - 2002

The first Theresian Conference, hosted by the only Theresian unit then in existence, took place in the fall of 1962 in Pueblo, Colorado, the birthplace of Theresians. Among the 1,500 persons who attended that first conference was Patricia (Pat) Mullen, who was then a Sister of the Precious Blood, teaching eighth grade in a Catholic school and serving as Regional Vocation Director for her community in Denver.  Following the conference, she initiated, with the guidance of Virginia Siegle (O’Donnell) a Pueblo high school-then-college student, a high school Theresian unit.  Virginia Siegle continued to assist in the establishment of high school Theresian units throughout the U.S.

In 1966, Msgr. Voss invited Pat to serve on the national board of consultants for Theresians .  At the same time, Pat assumed the position of Director of Instructional Service for the Catholic Education Office of the Archdiocese of Denver.

In 1968, Pat became a full-time member of the small Theresian staff in Pueblo, Colorado. She was originally hired to oversee the publication of the quarterly Theresian magazine, guide Theresian communities nationally and in Canada in their transition from pre-Vatican II to post-Vatican II ecclesiology, and assume directorship of Theresian national conferences, a task previously carried out by Msgr. Voss and Virginia Siegle. In the spring of 1969, Pat and Msgr. Voss, because of increased international inquiries about Theresians, designed an action plan for creating the Theresian World Ministry.  They began the execution of that plan in the summer of 1969, with the advice, wisdom and moral support of others who could see the potential for Theresians to play a role in the enrichment of women’s lives on every continent.  Pat believes that Theresians’ broadening of purpose in 1969 made Theresians, which now proclaimed the Vatican Council II vision of embracing the vocation of the laity, the first national, and ultimately, international organization to name the role of the laity in the church and in the world for what it is: a vocation.]. 

It was not until 1979, when Pat was named International Director of Theresians, that she began her eleven years of international “Theresian travel. ” She did so always in community with at least one other Theresian. Over the years her principal travel partners, presenters, listeners, challengers, and affirmers included Rita Metyko of Houston, Patsy Borgesen of Phoenix, Maesel Yelenick of Denver, and Maesel’s daughters Mary and Ann Yelenick.  These visits to international Theresian communities always included visioning process workshops, (a form of goal-setting for the next three to five years), a day of reflection focused on the Five Dimensions of Theresians, and women’s spirituality. Many other Theresians (notably, Rita Metyko, as director of extension) also visited members of Theresian communities outside the U.S when traveling for pleasure or business.

In her 22 years with Theresians, in addition to travel, and with the advice of the consultant’s board, Pat oversaw the production and implementation of the revised leadership manual, the newly designed community prayer manual, the new-member manual and most of the national conference publicity and program materials.  She served as conference director, working in tandem with the consultant’s board, the local hosting communities, the executive board, and Msgr. Voss.

Pat gave inspirational talks; wrote articles about Theresians for publications, met thousands of people in her travels; welcomed numerous Theresians and their families to the Theresian Center and home in Arizona; covered gazillions of miles in a crowded car; told great stories, etc
Contribution of Mary T. Yelenick – See last paragraph of E.C. Voss.)

When asked, upon her retirement from Theresians in 1990, what had motivated her to share her gifts and energy for twenty-two years with and among Theresians, Pat responded that it was her consummate “belief in the power of women of faith to recognize in their vocations a call to grow spiritually and intellectually, in community, for the purpose of influencing the direction of society and church.” She said also, “Theresians, as an organization, is most unique in its vision, its structure, and in its power to influence the lives of the members themselves, their families, the world around them.” Pat had always felt strongly about justice in church and society and to that end, had worked very closely with Theresian leaders to sponsor conferences which were prophetic calls to justice, and which were celebrations of the lives of women of faith. [

*Since 1979 Pat has been a member of the Sisters for Christian Community, founded in 1969, a non-canonical community of over 500 women, ministering throughout the world.