Welcome, 2026 CSJ Summer Interns!

Every semester, CMN is blessed with interns from all over the country who dedicate their time to the critical work of advancing justice and ending the death penalty. This summer, in partnership with the Congregation of St. Joseph, we are so thankful to have three wonderful interns joining the team: Mariela Allen-Cadet from Loyola University Maryland, Annelise Demers from the University of Notre Dame and Sarah Devine from Providence College all are bringing their particular gifts and talents to this critical work.

These young women participate in the Congregation of St. Joseph’s Internship in Leadership Through Ministry Program. College or university students in this unique program gain hands-on work experience with CMN in addition to spiritual and leadership formation with the Congregation of St. Joseph. This includes one week of virtual orientation and weekly virtual training led by sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph.

CMN’s interns are an integral part of the team. This summer they each have had the opportunity to draft advocacy actions for men scheduled for execution, to support CMN’s presence at workshops and conferences, provide critical research on issues related to restorative justice and the death penalty, and to strengthen tools that staff use daily to ensure that everyone on the team can be more effective in our critical work.

In addition, interns have the time opportunity to meet with and learn from a diverse group of agents in the death penalty abolition movement including capital defense attorneys, leaders of state abolition coalitions, as well as murder victim family members and individuals who have been freed from death row. The presence of interns is also a key component of our mission to engage more young adults with our work. Over the course of several months, interns have the opportunity to learn, dialogue, and reflect on the realities of the death penalty in our country, the Church’s teaching on this issue, and how all of us are called to uphold the dignity of all life and to value healing over harm.

All of us at CMN are thankful for Mariela, Annelise, and Sarah’s dedication and hard work this summer!