About the team

When you contact the office by phone or e-mail, you will often reach either Sister Dorothy Dunbar or Sister Karen Flottmeier.

Sister Dorothy Dunbar, co-director, maintains initial and on-going contact with women interested in FSPA membership. Her background includes membership ministry, secondary teaching, academic advising, inner-city social work, clinical pastoral education and spiritual direction.

Sister Karen Flottmeier, co-director, coordinates outreach programs for FSPA. Her ministry experiences providing adult enrichment at spirituality centers, dioceses and parishes have helped her coordinate several busy student retreats on college campuses and in high schools in the tri-state area. She helps women discerning God's call meet other FSPA and share in FSPA events.

Sister Katie Mitchell lives in Chicago, Ill., where she teaches elementary school. Using her media and education background, she edits the membership newsletter, Sharing, as one of many efforts to share information about FSPA with women who have expressed interest in the congregation.

Sister Patricia Tekippe welcomes women in Minnesota who have inquired about FSPA. Small group retreats, prayer evenings, ministry exploration and chats over coffee are some introductory activities. She accompanies women to the motherhouse for further discernment with others who have an interest in religious life. Sister Patricia combines membership work with ministry to homeless people. With a background in teaching, hospital chaplaincy and parish ministry, she can respond from her experience to many questions about religious life.