The sisters elected to the Congregational Leadership Team serve with equally shared leadership and authority to assure collegiality, a diversity of gifts and a variety of viewpoints in planning and decision-making for the congregation. The team members work to keep the life and ministry of the congregation contemporary as well as faithful to the spirit of the Gospel and of our founders.
Meet the team
Sister Gail Trippett, CSJ
Gail Trippett, CSJ was received into the congregation in 1985. Passionate about education, she received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Spelman College in Atlanta. Sister Gail then went on to earn a master’s degree in theology and Black Catholic studies from Xavier University in New Orleans as well as a master’s degree in educational administration from St. Louis University.
Gail has taken further coursework in special education, theology and aesthetics. She has also earned numerous certificates focusing on vocation and formation, development, education and leadership. Gail has ministerial experience working in parishes and schools, on councils within the congregation and as a spiritual and retreat director.
Sister Gail has been a member of various boards, including but not limited to the National Religious Vocation Conference, the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations and the Archdiocesan School Board of Education. She has also served both the congregation and the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in vocations and formation.
Sister Laura Bufano, CSJ
Laura Bufano, CSJ was received into the congregation in 1968 and made her first profession of vows in 1970. After completing her undergraduate degree in music education at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, she served as a music teacher at St. Anthony of Padua School in the Syracuse Diocese and St. Luke’s School in Schenectady (Albany Diocese). In the Syracuse Diocese, she served as a pastoral associate at St. John the Evangelist Parish in New Hartford, NY and at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Liverpool, NY and subsequently became the Co-Director for Church Vocations and Seminarians.
With a master’s degree in music education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a master’s degree in liturgical music from The Catholic University of America, in 1993 Sister Laura became the Director of the Office of Liturgy in the Syracuse Diocese and later served as liturgical minister specialist for 8 parishes and a Newman Center in the Cortland area.
Laura Bufano has much experience in leadership, having served on the Albany Province Leadership Team from 1996 to 2004 and on the Congregational Leadership Team as the congregational director from 2008 to 2014. Most recently, as the Vicar for Pastoral Leadership in the Diocese of Syracuse, she was the Director of the Office of Pastoral Leadership and Associate Director for Pastoral Planning. She has also served as a spiritual director.
Committed to lifelong formation and education, Sister Laura received a certificate in spiritual direction from the Spiritual Renewal Center in Syracuse in 2017. She also earned a certificate in church management from the Villanova Center for Church Management in 2021. Recently, she has participated in webinars offered by the Catholic Theological Union, Duke Corporate Education, Georgetown University and the Villanova School of Church Management.
Since 2017, Laura has participated in the Trinity Women’s Poetry Group, an ecumenical group of nine women, who meet weekly to focus on poetry as a spiritual practice. Through it, she discovered the poet within herself and is delighted to share her poetry with others.
Sister Patricia Chang, CSJ
Patty Chang, CSJ was received into the congregation in 1982, after earning her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Hawai`i. In 1988, Patty received a master’s degree in religious education from the University of San Francisco. She received an Advanced Certification in Gerontology from the University of Hawai`i in 1999.
Sister Patty’s ministerial experience includes serving as a Director of Parish Religious Education, a Campus Minister and Records & Admissions Coordinator for Chaminade University of Honolulu and an Administrator for Kupuna Care, a statewide long term care program in Hawai`i. She has also served as treasurer for the Leadership Association of Religious Congregations in Hawai`i.
As a member of the congregation, Patty Chang has served as treasurer for the Hawai`i Vice Province, on the Hawai`i Vice Province Leadership Team and as a healthcare coordinator and provision for her fellow sisters. She has served on various committees for both the Los Angeles Province and the congregation. Most recently, she was the healthcare coordinator for all Sisters of St. Joseph in Hawai`i. She also ministers as a resource for the congregation’s associates (`ohana) in Hawai`i.
Sister Anne Davis, CSJ
Anne Davis, CSJ entered the congregation in 1984, after earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mount St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles in 1981. Anne then completed her master’s degree in clinical and counseling psychology from California State University in San Bernardino. In 1999, she also earned a master’s degree in theological studies from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley.
Much of Sister Anne’s ministerial experience lies in accompanying those in detention facilities. She has served in juvenile detention ministry for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as well as the Archdiocese of Seattle and prison ministry in Perú.
Anne Davis returned to her alma mater, Mount St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles, to work in Campus Ministry and Student Activities. She also spent many years working in vocations and formation. Anne was the Vocation and Novice Director for the Los Angeles Province. She later served as the Novice Director for the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Sister Anne has been living and ministering in Perú since 2015, where she works in prison ministry and serves as a companion for women discerning religious life. Anne also ministers in our afterschool homework program for elementary and high school students. She also serves persons and communities experiencing food insecurity.
Anne has served on multiple committees for the congregation. She continues to facilitate visits from the congregation’s sponsored schools to Perú as well as virtual gatherings for sisters across the congregation.
Sister Eileen McCann, CSJ
Eileen McCann, CSJ was received into the congregation in 1966. After earning a bachelor’s degree in education and mathematics from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, she served as a math teacher for high school and junior high students. Furthering her education, Sister Eileen earned a master’s degree in education with a minor in psychology from the State University of New York at Oswego. In 1995, she also completed a master’s degree in religious education from Boston College in Massachusetts.
From serving as the Director of Youth Ministry for both the Albany and Syracuse Dioceses to serving as the Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Sister Eileen has over forty years of experience in young adult ministry. While working at USCCB, Eileen was also responsible for coordinating the United States’ involvement in four World Youth Days.
Eileen McCann was a member of the Albany Province Leadership Team from 2008 to 2020. Throughout her ministry, she has served on numerous boards and committees both nationally and locally. Sister Eileen also served as Co-Chair of the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph Leadership Council as well as a chair of the annual Albany Province Golf Tournament.
Most recently, Sister Eileen served as the Congregational Vocation Promoter and as the Albany Province Vocation Director. She is currently a member of the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) Board of Directors. Eileen has given presentations on youth and young adult ministry in Europe, Australia and across the United States.
Welcome sisters