Marianites elect new leadership team

Photo by Peter Finney Jr. | CLARION HERALD
The new leadership team of the Marianites of Holy Cross: From left, Sister Ann Lacour, congregational leader; Sister Stephanie Brignac, first assistant; Sister Chris Perrier, assistant, and Sister Marie Noel, assistant.

    In the midst of prayer, Sister Ann Lacour, a native of New Orleans, was elected the congregational leader of the Marianites of Holy Cross by the 26th Congregational Chapter.
     Sister Ann served as a vibrant member of the last administrative team and has served as a local house coordinator.
    Noted for her high energy, ingenuity and ready smile, previously, she has served as a classroom teacher, principal, diocesan director of religious education, director of Maryhill Retreat Center in the Diocese of Alexandria, development director for the Marianites and for Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, and superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Alexandria.
    For the last five years, she worked as part of the International Session in Holy Cross Spirituality in LeMans, France, for the Family of Holy Cross and its collaborators in ministry.
    “Those experiences deepened my devotion to our founder, Blessed Basil Moreau, and enlivened my appreciation of Mother Mary of the Seven Dolors, our first superior general,” Sister Ann said.
    Three other Marianites were elected as assistants to the congregational leader:
    ➤ Sister Stephanie Brignac, first assistant: A native of Ville Platte, La., Sister Stephanie taught math at Archbishop Blenk High School in Gretna, the Academy of Holy Angels in New Orleans and Teurlings Catholic High School in Lafayette. After a year of ministry in Monterrey, Mexico, she served as principal of St. Edmund Elementary School in Eunice and later taught math and was an administrator at San Juan Diego Catholic High School in Austin, Texas.
    ➤ Sister Chris Perrier, assistant: A native of New Orleans, Sister Chris has taught at St. Julian Eymard and St. Rita schools and Academy of Holy Angels, New Orleans; Redemptorist High School, Baton Rouge; Notre Dame High School, Crowley; and at Our Lady of Holy Cross College. She was director of religious education at Holy Family Parish in Port Allen, La.; director of Camp Abbey Girls Camp in Covington and congregational treasurer. She was a board member of the Religious Resource Center for Religious Institutes for six years.
    ➤ Sister Marie Noel, assistant: A native of Church Point, La., Sister Marie is a member of the New Orleans Chapter of Start The Adventure In Reading and Our Lady of Prompt Succor Healthcare Cooperation Board. She served on the Board of Regents for Our Lady of Holy Cross College. From 1968-94, she was a teacher and principal at Christ the King School in Terrytown, St. Andrew the Apostle School New Orleans and Academy of Holy Angels and St. Rita School in Alexandria.
    She began working in the Orleans Parish Public School system in 1995 as a  teacher,  staff developer and literacy coach. Since Katrina, she has served as assistant principal of Benjamin Banneker Elementary and Middle School.