At its 2021 AGM on June 23rd, Misean Cara welcomed three new members to its Board of Directors: Sr. Franca Onyibor; Fr. Seamus O’Neill; and Ms. Sandra Neville. Their appointments follow on the recent departures from the Board of: Chairperson Justin Kilcullen (who stepped down after six years on the Board, including two as Chairperson), Vice-Chair Fr. Brendan Carr, Sr. Liz Fletcher, and Fr. David Kenneally earlier in 2021. Kevin Carroll, who was appointed to the Board in 2019 takes over as Chairperson.
Please read below to learn more about our three newest Board members:
Sr. Franca Onyibor
Sr. Franca Onyibor is a Missionary Sister of the Holy Rosary. She has over 20 years of mission experience in Zambia and Nigeria. While serving in Zambia, she pioneered the ‘Education for Social Transformation Program’, which combines the teaching of science with ‘Training for Transformation’ programmes for students and teachers. With a background in counselling, spirituality and non-violent communication, Sr. Franca introduced a ‘Non-Violent Communication for Social Change’ programme in Nigeria, establishing support systems for dialogue and peace building in partnership with national and international teams. She also pioneered ‘Drinking from a Common Well’ a project to promote inter-religious dialogue in communities with both Christian and Muslim populations. Sr. Franca has also worked on the rights of children in the inner city area of Chicago, and also with international teams tackling child labour. With a background in the An Tairseach programme at the Dominican Centre in Wicklow, Sr. Franca is passionate about ecological and environmental issues, and works to create environmental awareness in Nigeria and beyond. She is currently in her third year serving as the Congregational Leader of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary and has also served in leadership and administration of the congregation for over 12 years, including the formation of future missionaries for over 25 years. She joined the Misean Cara Board in June 2021.
Fr. Seamus O’Neill
Fr. Seamus O’Neill joined the St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan in 1967 and was ordained as a priest in 1974. He has worked extensively as a missionary in Turkana, Kenya first in the 1970s and again in the 1990s, later serving as the Chancellor of Lodwar Diocese in Kenya until 2002. Fr. Seamus undertook post-graduate studies in philosophy at Fordham University, New York in 1977, and later taught philosophy and directed the congregation’s Student Formation Programme in Ireland. In 2002, he was appointed the Congregational Leader of St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, continuing in that role until 2014, and currently serves as the congregation’s Bursar General. Fr. Seamus joined the Misean Cara Board in June 2021 and is also the Chairperson of Misean Cara’s Financial Oversight, Risk & Audit Committee (FORAC).
Sandra Neville
Since 2007, Sandra Neville has worked primarily in the area of safeguarding, serving in a Diocesan setting and more recently with various religious congregations and societies. She was also the Safeguarding Advisor for Misean Cara from 2016 to 2018. Sandra’s work in safeguarding has taken her throughout the Global South as a consultant with many faith-based organisations and NGOs. She has also completed training in CHS (Core Humanitarian Standards) investigation and has undertaken investigations in Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Sandra’s background is in nursing and midwifery and in this capacity has worked in Zimbabwe, DRC, Rwanda, Lesotho and South Africa, both in development and emergency projects. Sandra joined the Misean Cara Board in June 2021.
