Sister Donna Geernaert

Congregational Leader, Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Halifax, Campaign Co-chair

A Sister of Charity for more than 40 years, Sister Donna Geernaert was recently elected to a second six-year term as Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Charity-Halifax, which works on behalf of the local and global poor.

Sister Geernaert has served as president of the Canadian Religious Conference and chaired the Canadian Council of Churches’ Faith and Witness Commission. She has worked with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and was instrumental in bringing the CCCB into the Council of Churches.

Ongoing themes in her work include the rights of women and aboriginal people, raising the visibility of religious life, and understanding and cooperation among faiths. She has collaborated with Canadian and international Christian, Jewish and Muslim organizations. Based on her contributions to ecumenism and interfaith understanding, the Atlantic School of Theology awarded her the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity in 2009. Sister Geernaert holds a PhD in Theology from the University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto, and she has taught at a number of Canadian universities.