Sister Helene Lentz, CSJ
Sponsors Council

Sr. Helene Lentz, CSJ, currently serves as a member of the Sponsors Council of Ascension Health. Previously, she served as President of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita, Kansas, before it became part of the new Congregation of St. Joseph

Her ministry experience began in education in Paso Robles, Calif., where she taught first and second grades for two years. She also taught fifth and sixth grades for two years in Coffeyville, Kansas. Believing she could help other teachers by serving in an administrative role in the elementary school, she began work on a master’s degree in school administration at Emporia State College, Emporia, Kansas. Sr. Helene was asked by her religious congregation to prepare for formation ministry to work with women who wanted to become Sisters, and served as Director of Initial Formation for the Congregation from 1975 to 1990.

In 1990, Sr. Helene became the Vice President of Mission Development at St. Joseph Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas. She continued to serve in this role after being elected Vice President of the Sisters of St. Joseph Wichita Congregation in 1992. Sr. Helene was instrumental in initiating discussions with the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother which resulted in the merger of St. Francis Ministry Corporation and CSJ Health System forming Via Christi Health System. She became the Senior Vice President of Mission for Via Christi Health System in 1995, and served in the role until her election as President of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita in 2000.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the former Sacred Heart College in Wichita, Kansas, now known as Kansas Newman University, and a master’s degree in religious studies from Mundelein College, Chicago, Ill.

Sr. Helene has served on the Board of Via Christi Health System since its inception and has served as a board member for Via Christi Wichita Health Network, Via Christi Senior Services, Catholic Care Center and the Mother Mary Anne Clinic all in Wichita. She currently serves on the Sisters of St. Joseph Congregational Boards of Sheridan Village in Wichita; St. Joseph Adoption Ministry in Kansas City, Kansas; and Sisters of St. Joseph Dear Neighbor Ministry in Wichita. She has previously served on the Boards of Via Christi Our Lady of Lourdes Rehabilitation Hospital in Wichita; Health Partners, Wichita; Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center, Wichita; Salina Regional Medical Center, Salina, Kansas; Mt. Carmel Medical Center, Pittsburg, Kansas; St. Joseph Medical Center of Northern Oklahoma in Ponca City, Okla., Hospice, Inc. in Wichita; The Lord’s Diner, Wichita; A Better Choice, Wichita; and Center for Health and Wellness, Wichita.

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