Responses to Chapter Coordinating Committee Questions

Responses to Chapter Coordinating Committee Questions

From: DMB [mailto:
Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2013 7:33 PM
To: Chapter Feedback
Subject: Not enough time

We will not meet as a mission group until right after Easter-- beginning of April. Therefore we will not be included in feedback. S Dolores

From: ancilla maloney [mailto:
Sent: Saturday, March 09, 2013 12:20 PM
To: Chapter Feedback
Subject: From Ancilla and Eileen

Congratulations to each of you. Wehere in Sicuani support the Chapter`s choice of you to guide us through this challenging chapter. Eileen and Ancilla (our group)

a. What ismost importantto you from the summary? and b. Relationship among these questions?

Response: We chose the first of the power point notes.

In light of new circumstances, new questions, and new challenges, how do we want to be together and what do we want to do together?

It seemed to us that the second item would have to be included in any discussion of the first IF we achieved a faithful, communal sharing of life and prayer together with some kind of consistent corporate presence, THEN we believe the third item of seeking new members would follow. Vocations can`t be the first item of importance because we believe that vocations won`t happen if we do not address the deeper issues of community life and how we live together. This statement is reflected in the CARA study -the chief items we mentioned are the seekers`desires for faith sharing and communal prayer, living with 4 to 8 members,etc. The 6th item "How do we want to be etc. we also believe dovetails with the first.We discussed the ideas of transparency (not sure what is meant) and transformation which we believe needs to continue to take place on all five developmental levels: spiritual, social, intellectual,psychological and physical. This item includes the idea of being risk takers. Not all folks are risk takers - for a variety of reasonsbut they also must be ready to allow the risk takers to move forward, trusting in their prayerfulness and listening to the Holy Spirit in their lives. We heard the word "contemplation" often in the course of the weekend. Contemplation is a gift, but fidelity to prayer and religious commitment opens the space in each of us to receive the gift. Re: letting go of our fears, we need to name them first.

Staying with the power point list first, we believe that, relative to number 4, our own leadership inour Congregation and in LCWR has modeled a new way of being church. Eileen gave the example of when OLP was about to be dedicated and it wasn`t ready. The whole Council was down there washing windows, scrubbing etc. One of the articles suggested for Chapter reading referred to leadership needing to be listeners and then executers of the will of the body. We also believe that applies to our past and present Councils and to LCWR`s recent response. When an elected Sister`s term of office ends, she moves back into the sisterly body of community members.

Relative to the 4th point "What will be the future shape, we referred to the Sponsorship workshops that have been going on for several years, the wonderful work of Jeanne Louise and the Associate program`s growth, our openness to including them in Chapter and other meetings. In identifying priorities, we need to look to our charism and be faithful to it. Our Associates here just finished studying the life of St. Alphonsus. We were struck yesterday with St. Alphonsus`s rejection of the modificationofpartof his rule according to royal pragmitismtofocus moreon service to therich and powerful rather than on the main purpose of the founding of the Redemptorists -to serve the poorwhile focusing on religious life, even when papal approbation was given to this rule. The change negated the root of religious life as Alphonsus saw it. We also believe that God has blessed us with excellent, dedicated and wise stewards of our finances and that wemust continue to believe in Divine Providence.

We are also concerned with the number of Sisters moving now and in the near future into their 70s and 80s and who wish to continue in ministry, to the extent of their abilities. We think that working with a group of folks from the Scranton community we could identify possible volunteer activities for our "elders".

Relative to: points added, the first about our unique passion, we believe it is "joyful, loving service". It has distinguished us for years from other groups of religious. Relative to "What is the new life we are yearning for" Eileen expressed it this way:

Some of the challenges that we as religious are facing today seem to be reflected in a modern parable suggested several years ago by Mark Link, SJ called "The pilgrims and the settlers" As a pilgrim church, there is a need to respect those who are "settlers" because of age, rank (place in the family or temperament) and, according to the CARA study, most young people are looking for a settled place to belong in community. Therefore, it might be interesting to re-read Mark Link`s analysis and discern, among ourselves, to which group each of us is inclined and from there, work at forming strong base communities which would welcome new members while strengthening their wings to, one day, move to the margins where a crying need exists, if the response is according to our core values and basic charism.

Relative to connecting the questions from last chapter to these points, we believe that number 1 included them.

Blessings on your work and planning,

Ancilla and Eileen

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:
Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2013 9:31 PM
To: Chapter Feedback
Subject: Response to Co-coordinating Committee

Dear Sisters: Here is my response to your questions sent in the recent e-mail. I do not have access to other IHM's so I am responding on my own. Nancy H.

What is most important to me from the summary?

The question about the congregation's relationship to the institutional Church is very important to me. It is obvious to me that women religious can assist those men and women who are alienated from the Church...we can also exert an influence with younger people who are not churched. In light of the recent investigation and LCWR accusations I think we need to figure out how we relate to a Church that often acts uncharitably toward women religious.

The second question that matters to me is the one focusing on how we want to be in relationship with each other, and how we behave inclusively, with transparency, supporting unity in diversity. These are qualities I value. I also believe we have a lot of fears and those fears need to be spoken and owned. Once we face our fears they will be less threatening. We can be a support to each other in this process.

What is the relationship among these questions/ideas?

The word fear pops up a lot in these statements, as does the word future. We are obviously concerned about our future and are wondering how to move into this future. There is an acknowledgment that we may have to take risks to move into our future. There are also

affirmations that we need to have strong relationships with each other as we go forward.

From: [mailto:
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 9:50 AM
To: Chapter Feedback
Subject: Questions - Reflection

Beatrice Caulson and Nancy Elder met on Monday, March 11th to reflect and discuss the two questions provided. Following is a summary of our conversation:

1. What is the most important to you from the summary?

We agreed that the first and last questions from the power point were the most important to us. Exploring the “new”, being for and with one another, open to transformation. We talked about the personal growth within, which can be seen and experienced by those with whom we walk each day.

1. What is the relationship among these questions/ideas?

We felt that all the questions reflect on relationship with IHM and with others in some way whether it be potential new members or one another or the church. We talked about the fact that good relationship leads to transparency and a willingness to relate to all those in our midst. It calls us to face our fears, name them and to take risks – all in the name of the Gospel message.

From: Jane Connolly Connolly [mailto:
Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2013 10:42 AM
To: Chapter Feedback
Subject: On behalf of Women Called to Courage Mission Group

Women Called to Courage Mission Group met on Saturday, March 9 with the following members present: Sisters Mary Edward Loftus, Janet Yurkanin, Christina Aldarelli, Maria Peter Kratz, Geraldine Dranginis, Carol Sukitz, Delia McNeirney and Jane Connolly.

There was consensus in the group that what is most important to us is reflected in the question: What is our unique passion as IHMs that shapes our collective identity and connects us at a deeper level?

Conversation concerning the words ‘corporate’ and ‘collective’ brought to light a strong preference for ‘collective’ since it is less likely to conjure a business related image and more clearly reflects who we are as community.

Thanks for all you are doing.

Jane Connolly, IHM

From: michel keenan [mailto:
Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2013 8:08 PM
To: Fran Fasolka
Subject: Questions from Chapter Coord. Comm.

Dear Sr Fran, Would you please forward these responses to the Chapter Coord. Committee --
TO: Chapter Coordinating Committee Members
From: Sr. Michel Keenan
Re: Questions re Follow-Up
A group of six Sisters from Sacred Heart Community (all who were not ill) gathered to discuss the summary provided and to explore answers to the questions. I will provide my personal response as I reflect on the discussion.

1. What is most important to you from the summary? Since the future of IHM is important to me, of course, the question of new members is vital. We discussed this at length, with thousands of reasons coming up as to why we do not attract new members.... all the way from the kind of new culture we live in , the kind and number of broken homes from which the young people come, why some communities are getting members, what the surveys reveal about what the young are looking for.... this was a crucial matter... if they are looking for "Community Life" in the sense of living , praying, working, playing, etc. with a group of women religious, then we have to make Community Life in that same sense a FRONT BURNER ISSUE. Are our requirements of entering persons in need of revision? Are we leaving room, as all past times had to, for growth in the incoming persons? Are we still too unwelcoming in our convents? Are the Priests helping us with vocations as they always used to do, directing girls who showed some signs of a religious vocation, to talk to us about it?Have we asked the Priests to assist us? Why do some Sisters still receive permission to live alone, with no responsibility to living community life? We are aware that sometimes the ministry is located where there is no religious community, but there are many examples close to our center where Sisters are living alone for whatever reasons. We talked at length about spiritual transformation, andI concluded that no one can judge the depth of another's prayer life and that transformation is a gradual, life-long process in any case, which each Sister, helped through community religious life, works at.
2. The relationship is obvious, I believe. I believe in the future of the IHM Congregation because we have adapted over the years to the calls and needs and we will continue to do so. We have great gifts, but in order to continue to respond, new members are a priority. New members desire community and prayer lifeand ministry together as IHM contemplatives in action, so the daily transformation of self, aided by life in community will bring us to that future. The Church needs the gifts our Sisters bring; and we need the Church with its evangelizing message. Maybe we ought to ask the Bishops of the Dioceses where we now are, and the Pastors of the parishes where we are, or could be what do they need to see done -- and perhaps more visibility will attract members to join in that service to God.

From: Sr Miriam Joseph Reinhardt [mailto:
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2013 10:51 AM
To: Chapter Feedback
Subject: Feedback

TO: The Chapter Coordinating Committee
FROM: The Sisters of St Mary of Mt. Carmel Convent(Sister Tarcisius Tasselli, Sister Jacquelin Servick, Sister Margaret Burke, Sister Miriam Joseph Reinhardt)
RE: Follow-upfrom 1st Chapter Gathering
DATE: March 14, 2013

We felt that the item that will probably affect and guide most of the decisions of the Chapter is:

“What will be the future shape of our mission in light of our changing resources, both personnel and financial? And, in light of the struggles and needs of other? How will we identify priorities?

Comments made and agreed to include the following:

a. Aging affects the future; we need to recognize the fact that the majority of the Congregation have aged bodies.

b.Therefore jobs suggested are often unrealistic for most of us in the Congregation. In addition to our energy, employers do not want to hire someone in our age bracket.

c.For those who are able to find a job, its location sometimes precludes living with other IHM’s, and requires great effort to form a community with IHM’s living reasonably nearby. With the cost of travel escalating, this becomes increasingly difficult.

From: Joan Quinn [mailto:
Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2013 3:16 PM
To: IHM Communications
Subject:

ST. ANN CONVENT: CHAPTER COORDINATING COMMITTEE QUESTIONS RESPONSE FROM SISTERS MARY EHLING, JOSEPHINE CIOFFI AND JOAN QUINN
Here at St. Ann Convent our discussions on the questions focused mostly on the first point: in light of new circumstances, new questions and new challenges, how do we want to be together and what do we want to do together? We decided that these questions pertain to the issue of community. Our suggestion is that we read our Constitutions and Supplement on community to see if there are any needed revisions and/or clarifications in light of new circumstances, questions or challenges we face,e.g., future covenant relationships and/or mergers, living alone and communal prayer.

From: Carrie Flood [mailto:
Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2013 8:59 AM
To: Fran Fasolka
Subject: Our response to CCC

Below is the response of the Sisters of Shalom Community to the two questions posed by the 2013-2014 Chapter Coordinating Committee regarding the summary of questions/ideas that emerged at the March 2-3, 2013 Chapter meeting.

1. What is most important to you from the summary?

We feel that the most important topic/question in the summary is “How can we seek and welcome new members?” Our response to this question is that there needs to be a complete reformation of the vocation discernment and ‘formation’ processes. Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. We feel strongly that the time has come to stop doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results with regard to seeking and welcoming new members.

The reformation we propose must be based on these concepts/truths:

1. Women entering religious life in the 21st century are adults and must be treated as adults.
2. There is a perception among many of our IHM Sisters that women have not approached the congregation in recent years. This is not the case. A number of women have approached the congregation during this time and have been turned away or have been put off by the discernment process.
3. The process by which a woman experiences the congregation and the congregation experiences the woman must change from a ‘formation’ model to a mentoring model. We must ask women what they need during this process and not assume that we know what they need.
4. This mentoring model of communal discernment must be founded on the truth that God has been and will continue to be the women’s and our only true “formator.” We must respect God’s work in the lives of the women who approach our congregation.
5. The structure of the process/program needs to be reformed in the following ways:

1. While respecting and maintaining the right to privacy of the woman in discernment, there needs to be complete transparency within the program itself, including periodic assessments of the effectiveness of the program and of the relationships of those involved.
2. There need to be checks and balances built into the program. There must be a process by which issues can be raised and addressed in a manner that is non-threatening to the woman in discernment.

1. What is the relationship among these questions/ideas?

Other questions/ideas that emerged from the Chapter weekend refer to “moving into the future,” “the future shape of our mission,” “our future role and relationship with the institutional Church,” etc. Unless the issue of lack of new membership is addressed and bold action is taken, these questions and ideas will be rendered moot. Stated frankly, there will be no IHM future.

Respectfully submitted,

Sister Fran Fasolka, IHM

Sister Carrie Flood, IHM