A Woman in the Structure of the Church
Growing up in a very small town, my first somewhat official involvement with the clergy and the structure of the Church was when I was in eighth grade.
Victoria Vondenberger, RSM
Victoria Vondenberger, RSM, JCL, served for more than 30 years as Tribunal Director for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati – usually serving as the Defender of the Bond – and continued to work full-time at the tribunal as a Judge until her retirement in October 2025. She has also served in a variety of capacities related to canon law. Since 1990, she has served as Promoter of Justice and Canonical Advisor for the Church. She taught canon law at Mt. St. Mary of the West Seminary in Cincinnati to seminarians, lay people, and religious sisters and brothers seeking to become certified procurator/advocates. Vondenberger has served on the Board of Governors of the Canon Law Society of America (CLSA) and on numerous CLSA committees and task forces. She is the author and editor of several canon law books and has presented at many regional, national and international events. In 2017, she was honored with the Role of Law Award from CLSA, its highest honor.
A Sister of Mercy since 1963, Vondenberger was a high school teacher (English and theology) as well as an administrator for twenty years before studying canon law. In addition to her areas of study and ministry, Vondenberger is also an avid musician and singer. She plays organ – she has been a parish organist since 8th grade of school – piano, guitar, and mandolin and has also accompanied and sung in parish and symphony choirs, occasionally directing choirs as well.
Growing up in a very small town, my first somewhat official involvement with the clergy and the structure of the Church was when I was in eighth grade.