Meet our Board of Directors

Sr. Sara Dwyer, A.S.C.

Sister Sara Dwyer, A.S.C., is a member of the international religious congregation, Adorers of the Blood of Christ, US Region, for 56 years. She was a member of the U.S. Leadership Team for 6 years. Sara was the Coordinator of her Congregation’s Justice and Peace Office for over 10 years. She celebrated her Golden Jubilee of Profession in 2021.

Sister has always been engaged in adult faith formation in parish and diocesan ministries. Sara served as the Associate Director of Formation for the Paulist Fathers and as the Director of the Spiritual Life Institute at St Ann’s Parish, both in Washington, D.C., for 8 years (2008-2016). Earlier, Sara served in parishes in Colorado and Oklahoma, and as the Director of Ministries for the Diocese of Tyler, Texas. She was a facilitator for STEP, Notre Dame’s online adult certificate program, and taught in the Education for Parish Service program at Trinity University (DC).

Sister Sara served as the Director at the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement’s Washington Retreat House, in DC, for 8 years (2016-2024) before accepting a congregational assignment to serve her Sisters in Columbia, PA (2025). Sara continues to offer retreats and workshops.

Sara recognizes that her most meaningful education is always unfolding through prayer, study, and her relationships with people. She also received a Master’s degree in Theology (St. Mary’s/San Antonio) and Theological Education (Boston College).

Sr. Karen Elliott, C.PP.S.

Sister Karen Elliott was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. She attended Julienne High School (now Chaminade-Julienne) and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education with an emphasis on Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders from Wright State University in 1977, a Master’s degree in Theology from St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont in 1993, and a Doctor of Ministry degree with a concentration in Sacred Scripture from Barry University in Miami, Florida in 2004.

In 1980, she became a member of the Sisters of the Precious Blood in Dayton, Ohio. Sister Karen has ministered as a teacher, Director of Religious Education, a youth minister, and an athletic director. She has led numerous retreats and has taught a variety of adult education classes on the Scriptures throughout the United States, and Canada. Sister Karen has served as a faculty presenter on Sacred Scripture in the Lay Ministry Formation Program and a homiletics assessor for the Permanent Diaconate Program in the Diocese of Toledo.

Sister Karen is the author of the book, Women in Ministry and the Writings of Paul, published in 2010 by Anselm Academic. Additionally, in 2012 Sister Karen had the opportunity to be a visiting professor for the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne in Mumbai, India. In July 2015 Sister Karen gave two presentations to the Australian Catholic University’s Campus Ministry Team who gathered in Melbourne. She is a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America and the Catholic Biblical Association of America. In a non-theological aspect of her life, Sister Karen was inducted into the Dayton Amateur Softball Commission’s Hall of Fame in September 2006 in recognition of her softball career. Currently, Sister Karen serves as the Chief Mission Officer at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Phil Hartke

Phil Hartke serves as the treasurer of the board. He graduated from Wright State University in Dayton, OH with a Bachelor’s in Accountancy and Finance, as well as with a Master’s of Accountancy. He also holds a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in the State of Ohio.

Phil has experience working at a regional public accounting firm, primarily focused on small and mid-sized not-for-profit and for-profit clients. Phil also worked in corporate accounting for a health care system prior to leaving the work-force to care for his son, who was diagnosed with cancer. At the resumption of his career, Phil felt called by God to use his talents to make a greater impact in the world. In 2019, Phil became the Director of Finance for the Sisters of the Precious Blood in Dayton, OH. In addition to finance, he is heavily involved in leading human resources and information technology for the organization.

Phil has previously served on the board of directors for Miami Valley Adaptive Sports and firmly believes that children with special needs are a blessing from God. He is excited to be a member of the PBSI board and is passionate about doing God’s work to the best of his abilities. Phil is an active member of his local parish and enjoys working with various ministries and sharing his gifts in the community.

Away from his career, Phil is a father who aims to challenge his kids to be the best that they can be and to seize the opportunities that they are given. Phil is blessed with a loving and supportive wife.

Rosemary Niedens

Bio coming soon

Sr. Diana Rawlings, ASC

Diana Rawlings is a member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, U.S. Region for more than 45 years. She has served her community in leadership, vocation ministry, and on the planning committee for both the Second Precious Blood Congress, 1993, and the Third Precious Blood Congress, 2005.

Other ministries include Assistant Communications Director, Archdiocese of Omaha, NE; Bishop Carroll High School, Wichita, KS., Bishop McGuinness High School, Oklahoma City, OK; Women’s Initiative Network (WIN), a community sponsored ministry working with women survivors of domestic abuse. Currently she is co-director of Community Life at the Wichita Center.

Fr. Daniel Torson, C.PP.S.

DMin, MA Liturgy, MDiv, & BME

Father Daniel Torson has taught Theology for years at Lewis University (Romeoville, IL, sponsored by the Christian Brothers) with specialties in Catholic Studies, Liturgy, Sacraments, and Christian Ethics. Father Torson’s pastoral experience includes chaplaincy at four universities and is a weekly presider for weekend Masses at parishes in the Joliet, IL area. Fr. Torson is a native of Friend, Nebraska (outside of Lincoln) and is a former member of the Nebraska Cornhusker Marching Band, and the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command Band (Omaha, NE). He is an avid sports fan of both college and professional athletics with a passion for men’s and women’s volleyball. Fr. Torson currently serves on the Board of Directors for The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) in Will and Grundy Counties of Illinois, and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) in Joliet, IL.

Terry Walter, C.PP.S

Sister Theresa (Terry) Walter is a Sister of the Precious Blood, Dayton, Ohio, and a member of the congregational leadership team. She ministered in Guatemala for 25 years. She founded a mental health program there, as well as co-founding a residence for young rural women who studied at the University. She has written articles as well as given retreats and workshops on Precious Blood Spirituality.

Denis Wilhem

Denis is a married, a father of three, and a grandfather of five. He retired 35 years after working in the Architectural Millwork/Retail Interiors Industry.

He says that although his career did not prepare him for Precious Blood Spirituality, his life has. He feels blessed to have been born into a Precious Blood family with one great aunt, three aunts, and five cousins, all Most Precious Blood Sisters.

Denis has served as an associate (Partner in Mission) with The Most Precious Blood Sisters of O’Fallon, Missouri for 12 years.