The Commission

Sr. Jane BERTELSEN, F.M.D.M.

United Kingdom

Congregational Leader

Congregational Leader of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood, an international Congregation present in 10 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. As Franciscan women our primary ministry is one of presence within the local community wherever we are sent.

Sr. Jane has been a member of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood since 1977. 

She qualified as a teacher and was involved in education in both New Zealand and Australia before being asked to take formation responsibilities in the Australian Region of the Congregation in 1989. During this time Jane gained a degree in theology through the Melbourne School of Divinity. Jane worked in parish and diocesan pastoral ministry for 10 years. She was called to leadership in the Congregation initially in Australia in 1999 and then in England from 2002 before being elected to the Congregational Leadership Team in 2007. She was elected Congregational Leader in 2013. 

Jane has been involved in safeguarding work since the late 90’s when she was in pastoral ministry in Melbourne, Australia. Her main areas of interest have been policy development and formation of Church members in safeguarding. 

She served as vice-chair (representing Religious Life) of the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission in England/Wales from 2007-2013. She currently serves as the religious representative on the Southwark Archdiocesan Safeguarding Commission in London.

In 2018, Pope Francis nominated Sr. Jane as a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.