Sr Kari Hatherell OSU Elected President of CRA

22/09/2026

 

Sr Kari Hatherell OSU, Provincial Leader of the Australian Ursulines, has been elected President of Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) at the 2026 CRA National Assembly, held in Melbourne from 3–5 August.

More than 150 leaders and members of leadership teams from Religious Congregations across Australia gathered for the Assembly, whose theme was “Our Adventure of Love, for the Life of the World.” Inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s words that the religious vocation is “an adventure of love with God,” the participants reflected together on religious life, communion, hope and healing in today’s world.

Sr Kari succeeds Philippa Murphy FDNSC as President of CRA. In accepting this new responsibility, she expressed her hope that CRA would continue to represent the prophetic voice of religious life in the Church and society, and to serve religious life and mission into the future.

We congratulate Sr Kari on her election and entrust her new ministry to God, that her leadership may continue to bring hope and a spirit of communion to religious life in Australia.

Based on information from catholicreligious.org.au