Thinking Together about the Future

Srs. Eileen Keane, Angie Picardo and Alexandra Kovats (with back to camera) meet in a small group to say how it feels to be preparing for the new moments that may come with this summer's Chapter meeting.

Sr. Rose Marie Nigro, Associates Kathy Allard and Linda Anderson, and Sister Carmel Little talk about their responses to a list of assumptions about changes that may be coming.

Congregation Think Tanks on January 12th and 13th, 2008 gave Sisters and Associates a chance to talk about the big question before the Congregation Chapter this summer: will we decide to become a Congregation without Provinces? Participants - about 20 on each day - worked their way through some assumptions about how such a change would work. Then in meetings in smaller table groups, we brainstormed some ideas about what this might mean. How would health care needs be met? How could we insure that community life and pastoral care continued to be strong? How would administrative and financial decisions be handled? And, most important, how would we insure that our mission and charism remain vital in the West?

Faciltator Jean Alvarez stressed that these Think Tanks, held in each of the three current Provinces, are a step in the process of generating ideas and possibilities. She reminded us that letting go of present certainties is difficult, but a necessary step before we can let the future come into reality.

Congregation Leader Sheila Lemieux and Assistant Congregation Leader Terry Donohue joined us for both days to hear the lively discussion and ideas that popped up from all who participated.

Congregation Leader Sheila Lemieux (standing) was one of our table facilitators in the "World Cafe."

Srs. Carmel Little, Pauline Dibb and Angie Picardo put their comments in writing.