Pennsylvania woman elected national minister of secular Franciscans

Published: 2003-11-24

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (CNS) -- Carol Gentile of Monaca, Pa., has been elected national minister of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States, making her the first woman to head the 17,000-member U.S. branch in more than 20 years. Her election to a three-year term took place during a national meeting at Mission Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara. Professed in the secular order in 1984, Gentile has served as a representative for Franciscans International to the United Nations and at a wide variety of international gatherings. She and her husband, Louis, have three children.

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