In keeping with the spirit of Francis and Clare, the Companions of Clare have a guardian of the spirit, the house and the daily operations of the group. She is not known as superior or reverend mother. Realizing Francis and Clare are the founders of a special charism, the Guardian is an overseer of the widening of this entity to older women.
Currently, the guardian is Courtney Haase. Courtney spent 16 years as a Poor Clare and owes so much of her spiritual growth to her formation in the Monastery. Courtney was the first woman Select Person in her former town. She was the Overseer of Public Welfare for 22 years (each year being reelected). She ran a very successful goat dairy- Nunsuch Dairy and Cheese and was the first woman in the US to be nominated as an Ashoka Fellow candidate for agriculture. She initiated and ran the Small Dairy Project for 11 years, non-profit to help small farmers become licensed dairies.
Come and meet her in person!
