The Leadership Session for the Leadership Teams of the Provinces of Central South United States, Mid-North America. Montreal, New York, and Toronto began in Carrollton, Ohio, United States, on April 9. The participants arrived throughout the previous day and were warmly welcomed by our Sisters in the Carrollton Community in Ohio. The warmth and hospitality of our Sisters here have been extraordinary and their attention to every detail, remarkable.
On our first full day together we were welcomed by Sr. Brigid Lawlor, who also introduced Srs. Elaine Basinger and Susan Chia, the leaders of the session. Also present were core team member Srs. Evelyn Fergus and Secretary Glynis Mary McManamon as well as CLT members Srs.Barbara Beasley ,Jude Ellen Golumbieski, and Teresa Pomar.
In her opening welcome Sr. Brigid described our time together as an Emmaus moment, inviting us to journey with one another in the middle space of what is our NOW moment – called to be leaders in this time between death and resurrection, seeking God’s presence with us, energized by the blessings of the call of the Spirit. In the Sacred Space that was created around the centerpiece we shared together our desire for open hearts and minds and an appreciation of the truth each of us held. As the day progressed we expressed our hopes of developing a more relational style of leadership, increasing our collaborative opportunities with our Mission Partners, and keeping our focus on the mission of Jesus – that is ours.
On the following day, we met together in our individual teams to share on the experience of how our team was evolving in our leadership role and in our experience of one another. We focused on this time in our journey as an “in between time” which is not unlike a Holy Saturday experience in which we wait amidst the chaos and shifting movements for the transforming moment in our lives, the Holy Ground moment, where we wait for the revelation of Jesus in our midst. We ended our day by designing a ritual using water and a basin that expressed the experience of our team in our call to discipleship.
On our third day, we were held in prayer in the experience of Mary and Elizabeth and the advent of Jesus into their lives and the world - recognizing that they were never again the same. And recognizing what that says of our own experience of Jesus’ presence among us. We then explored what evolution and the changes evidenced in our Congregational history teach us about leadership. Our sharing pointed to a need to discern the kinds of changes we want to make and a greater expression of the desire to develop an atmosphere of co-responsibility among our Sisters and to design systems that respond to the current needs of our Congregation and our Mission.
On day 4, we reflected on Jesus’ response to the social/cultural world of His times. The subsequent discussions of our own reflections on our current world experience reflected a deeper sense of our call to go beyond the margins, to design ministries that address the realities and challenges of our times, to meet the Jesus who is on the margins, and to be global in our reaching out.
On day 5, each Province shared the direction they hoped to take as a team. This involved conversation about restructuring how we work together in the region so that we can make the best use of our resources for the sake of Mission. The desire to care for our elder Sisters was primary. In addition themes of developing ways to share administrative tasks, working together in ministries,developing team leadership across the region, designing a formation/vocation program for Sisters and Mission Partners, and encouraging a spirit of co-responsibility among all of our Sisters and collaborators. The spirit of the group was marked by hope, a willingness to face challenges for the sake of Mission, and an energy inspired by the Spirit who calls us to “risk together for mission.”
Sister Mary Thomas More Fahey
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