Our Board

Theresa Jasko

President, Founder

My name is Theresa Jasko and I am currently the President of Leonie’s Longing. I studied Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Michigan and I currently work in the private sector. My previous jobs have included working in film as a Production Manager, doing constituent relations for a State Senator, helping manage the office of a web hosting company and being a cashier at a thrift store. I spent quite awhile discerning religious life and I entered a community for a time. Transitioning back to lay life was very difficult for me and I looked everywhere for resources and support. As I prayed and asked God to help me during this time, I came to realize that He was asking me to help others who were experiencing the same situation. Thus Leonie’s Longing was born. I pray that you find it helpful.

Penny Renner

Vice President and Secretary

I joined Leonie’s Longing as the blog mistress in May 2014, ten months after I left the convent. The friendships I’ve made through the apostolate have been an incredible support through the ups and downs of life since then, and I feel honoured and grateful to be part of this work.

What else is there to say about me? I’m Australian, I’m a Dominican at heart, and I have so many books that I’ll probably die in an avalanche of them one day, but somehow that never stops me from acquiring more.

I still manage our blog to this day, so if you have an idea for a blog post, or something else that you’d like to find a way to express to our group of supportive readers (truly, no one understands the experience of leaving the religious life like other women who have been through it too!), please get in touch at blogcontact[at] leonieslonging.org, and I’ll be delighted to chat with you!

Kim Ferguson

Treasurer

In late 2022, I met Theresa in the confession line of my now parish home. In getting to know her and her beautiful soul, I learned about Leonie’s Longing and how it came to be. What a blessing to the world it is! For a while now, God has been nudging me toward helping Him lift up the hearts of my sisters in Christ. I feel privileged to be able to use my organizational skills behind the scenes to further this mission.

I am a mom to two adult sons, a retired school teacher, and a small business owner. I enjoy being active and creative which means I have a lot of hobbies. These include gardening, knitting, crocheting, sewing, reading, baking, hiking/walking and many more!

Daily, I lean on this quote by St. Josephine Bakhita. “I am definitely loved and whatever happens to me – I am awaited by this Love. And so my life is good.”