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Slide 1
I am with you on the journey,and I will never leave you.
I am with you on the journey,always with you.
‐ Kathy Sherman, CSJ
SUNG MANTRA AND STIRRING OF THE WATERS
Slide 2
In the beginning, The spirit of God hovered over the waters. The Spirit of God breathed on the waters. The Spirit of God stirred the waters.
Slide 3
And out of that movement came Chaos Unrest Dis‐ease Disturbance… and
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Slide 4
New life!
Slide 5
This emerging life found its place in the universe, Searched for meaning, Forged relationships and formed community.
Slide 6
Through it all, the Spirit of God was faithful. The Spirit of God did not abandon. The Spirit of God welcomed emerging life, And named it “good”.
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Slide 7
This same Spirit moves among us now. We, too, may be experiencing unrest, dis‐ease, a longing for clear direction as the Spirit stirs the waters of our gathering.
Slide 8 It may be
that when we no longer know what to do,
we have come to our real work.And when we no longer know
which way to go,we have come to our real journey.
- Wendell Berry
Perhaps we find ourselves in the place Wendell Berry describes:
Slide 9
However we come today, we come together in prayer to “listen with an empathic ear to what is…and what is emerging.” (Donna Fyffe)
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Slide 10
We listen to the Spirit. We listen to one another. We listen to the wounds and hopes of our world.
Slide 11
The Spirit invites us to step back; to pause; to reflect on our creation story together. The Spirit invites us to take a look at where we’ve been, where we are at this moment, and where the Spirit may be leading us.
Slide 12
To help us do this, we call on the image of the great Russian pairs skaters. In their program, they take dramatic risks. Their partnership is itself a leap of faith, an unshakable trust that the one with whom they journey will stay by their side.
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Slide 13
Whenever the Russian pairs skaters are about to introduce a new and inventive move into their routine, they always plan to perform it three times in the program.
Slide 14
The first time: To show us what they had created
Slide 15
The second time: To remind us of what they had done
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Slide 16
And the third time: To show us yet again what they had done and to hint at where it might be taking them.
Slide 17
So in our prayer this morning, we’ll follow that process: We’ll re‐visit what we’ve created with God’s grace so far. We’ll remind ourselves of where we are at this moment of creation. We’ll listen for hints of where the Spirit of God might be leading us in the future.
Slide 18 I am with you on the journey,And I will never leave you.
I am with you on the journey,Always with you.
‐ Kathy Sherman, CSJ
And so we gather, as the Spirit of God stirs the waters once again… SUNG MANTRA AND STIRRING OF THE WATERS
Three Types of Chaptersand
Three Works of Art
Let us look to the arts to help us in our understanding of Chapter Types
and where we are on our journey in the Chapter III process.
We visit the art gallery and view three paintings of dance. All are valid
art works. Each is unique in its expression and essence.
Realistic Abstract Expressionistic
(non objective)
Realistic
A realistic painting is clear, concrete, and to
the point. Basically, we all see the same
image.
Type I Chapters are those for which the problem or issue is clear, the solution is known, and the role of leadership is to decide to apply the solution to the problem/issue; to take a clear action.
‐ Barbara Valuckas, SSND
Type I Chapters set the parameters for the daily life of the group as it was to be lived prior to, during, and after the Second Vatican Council.
‐Mary Persico, IHM
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We believe that we are being called by the Holy Spirit to make a concrete response to the following clear issue . . .
AbstractAn abstract painting
is recognizable but leaves room for
interpretation. Some viewers may
“get it” quickly while others may need more time to get
clarity.
A Type II Chapter is one in which, while the question may be clear, the solution is either unknown at the outset or dependent upon many factors that may be clear over time.
- Barbara Valuckas, SSND
Type II Chapters focus on questions regarding community life and ministerial outreach, usually resulting in a direction statement, Acts of Chapter, or other Chapter initiatives. These outcomes are designed to motivate members to act in ways that honor the discernment and vision of the delegates for a certain period in the life of the congregation.
-Mary Persico, IHM
We believe that we are being called by the Holy Spirit to a season of testing possible responses to the following clear issue. . .
Expressionistic (non objective)
An expressionistic (non‐objective) painting is not clear at the onset. It is so profound that the viewer
must observe it not so much with the eyes, but rather with the eyes of the heart in order to enter its mystery. Great patience, courage, integrity,
and collaboration are required to gain insight.
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A Type III Chapter is so complex that the problems/ issues/questions themselves are unclear or unknown. Leadership involves the willingness to risk walking into the unknown and to discover the questions themselves as part of the journey.
‐ Barbara Valuckas, SSND
A Type III Chapter will enable us to join generation to generation, to learn from one another, to seek counsel of each member, to discover the WHY of remaining on the safe side of our habits and repetitions and the HOW of moving beyond them.
“We will do so by stoking the fire of our institutional memory and learning what we must do collectively to reclaim the coals of risk, creativity, and freedom for our journey into the future.”
‐Mary Persico, IHM
We believe we are being called by the Holy Spirit to deep learning and deep conversion around . . .
We are committed to this learning because . . .
Realistic Abstract Expressionistic
(non objective)
Pretending to be young is to miss owning the gifts of wisdom,
integration, and influence that come with age and maturity.
‐ Donna M. Fyffe
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What if the work of women religious is to create deeper insight; reframe what is; see reality differently; generate greater consciousness; go to people’s blind spots and uncover values, beliefs, the Christ within?
‐ Donna M. Fyffe
What if their (our) work is one of integrity, being in the place of mystery and grace, so that they (we) can influence social transformation and co‐create with God what is needed for these times?
‐ Donna M. Fyffe Unearthing the Potential of
Uncertain TimesLCWR Occasional Papers
Ultimately, it is the role of Chapters to discover what we can say together for the greater common good on behalf of the Congregation.
‐ Barbara Valuckas, SSND
I am with you on the journey,and I will never leave you.
I am with you on the journey,always with you.
‐ Kathy Sherman, CSJ
On the Road to the Chapter Tools
that we used to grow:
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A theological reflection process The IHM Reflection Journal
Prayer Services Mission Group Discussions
Conversation Circles Scriptural Prayer
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Special talks and presentations IHM Reflection Journal
“We desire to give ourselves more deeply and wholeheartedly
to processes and actions
that will further our fidelity to God, to the IHM Charism
in our time and into the future.”
“I believe we can change the world if we start listening to one another again.
Simple, honest, human conversation.”
Margaret Wheatley
IHM Assembly 2007: Religious Life
for the Life of the world• Sister Merilyn Ryan, SSJ: Theological Reflection
• Sister Helen Maher Garvey, BVM:Religious Life: the Heart of the Matter
• Sister Simone Campbell, SSS: Action on Immigration
Every Voice Needs to be Heard!• Peru• Savannah, GA• Scranton, PA• Altoona, PA• Manhasset, NY• Silver Spring, MD• Our Lady of Peace, Scranton, PA
Regional Meetings 2008
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• Praying and reflecting together• Lively conversation• Sharing our deep stories• Looking at current world, Church and congregational trends and events
• Seeing what is impacting our community
What happened at the meetings? We gathered to explore our hopes, our heritage and our dreams.
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IHM Prayer Companion: With a Profound Commitment
to Religious Life…
Themes: Contemplation, Desire, The Common Good,
Risk, For the Life of the World
“Our lives, lived out from a common, contemplative stance,
have a transformative power.The world hungers for such influence.”
IHM Prayer Companion
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“Contemplation is a long, loving look
at the real.”Walter Burghardt, SJ
Sr. Lynn Jarrell, OSUIHM WorkshopJanuary 2008
“Religious Life in the 21st Century”
Sr. Janet Mock, CSJ: IHM Assembly 2008
“Religious Life for the Life of the World”
Assembly 2008: Main Issues
•Taking a stance on immigration•Housing•Membership issues•The Mission Groups
Early in 2009, we gathered for the 2010 Chapter:
over one hundred delegates and dozens of observers.
“Now is the time, we are the space for the Holy to rise in our midst.”
“Go where the need is.”I am with you on the journey,And I will never leave you.I am with you on the journey,
always with you.
‐ Kathy Sherman, CSJ
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IHM Chapter
Obstaclesto living religious lifein the 21st Century
Old Attitudes
Individualism
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Judging Others
Fear
Too much caution
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Negative energy
Patternsthat do not serve us
well
Living with a futurewe cannot predict
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Nicenesswith one another
Becomingoverwhelmed
Challengesto living religious lifein the 21st Century
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Celebratingdiversity
Risking intimacyin community
Living without answers
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Stayingwith the struggle
Taking responsibilityfor
the common good
Livingmore simply
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Being prophetic
Speaking truth
Movingbeyond fears
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Freeing ourselvesfrom obstaclesthat bind us
I am with you on the journey,And I will never leave you.
I am with you on the journey,always with you.
‐Kathy Sherman, CSJ
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