On April 14 Sr. Winifred Doherty, the N.G.O. in our New York Justice and Peace Office, and Sr. Noreen O’Shea, the Director of our Spirituality Centre in Angers arrived here in Carrollton. They were warmly welcomed as participants looked forward to being with them and to hearing their presentations.
Picture: Srs. Winifred Doherty and Noreen O’Shea joined us.
We continued our program after a wonderful break day visit to the nearby Amish country. In prayer we were called to address “How we wanted to live out our vision into the future and how can we navigate the changes needed to respond to where the Spirit is calling us.”
Over the next two days we had several enlightening presentations that helped us to respond to this question. Sr. Winifred Doherty described the Transformative Approach to our mission of Social Justice and Peace - having a One World vison and leaving no one behind.
Picture: Srs. Rosalyn Menard, Noreen O’Shea, Maureen McGowan and Debbie Drago after shopping at Lehman’s, an unusual hardware and variety store situated in the Amish country.
The hope was to continue working to end worldwide poverty, transform all lives, and protect the planet. Winifred stated she found in the United Nations a “Gospel Space” where we can work together toward achieving this worldwide transformative agenda of empowering all people.
Sisters Susan Chia and Elaine Basinger shared the presentation on the Mission Development Office sent by Cristina Duranti who was unable to attend. They offered a comprehensive overview of the ministry of the Office, pointing to the gradual shift that has been made from the organization’s initial purpose and function as being simply a fund-raising agent to growing into its wider aspect of Mission development aimed at addressing the global realities challenging the Congregation today.
Sr. Noreen O’Shea later described the progress made in the Spirituality Centre, the plans for its future, and the current status of the Heritage Museum and the Heritage committee. She portrayed the work of the Spirituality Centre as having an increasingly outward focus offering a variety of retreats and workshops as well as employing the use of various forms of communication (translations, technology, videos, etc.) to make the message of the Centre more widely accessible - even to “taking it on the road.”
The overall response to the information we received was one of enthusiastic acceptance of the challenge for all of us - Sisters and Mission Partners – to continue to share and strengthen the integration of our Spirituality, Social Justice and Peace, and Mission Development to support Good Shepherd mission and life into the future. There was also a greater identification and commitment to the desire and need to find ways to share our resources across all of North America. Affirmation for the formation of a “Circle for Life” group for the Contemplatives in North America was also expressed. The inclusion of Mission Partners in all of our efforts was viewed as an essential part of these movements.
We spent the final days of our time together identifying the global trends in society and how they challenge us to respond to our mission. Once again, there was a general affirmation for the call to integrate our Spirituality, Social Justice and Peace, and Mission Development into all of our Vocation and Formation Programs for our Sisters and Mission Partners. The desire and commitment to collaborate in various areas of our life and ministry as a means of making the best use of our resources for the benefit of all those with whom Jesus calls us to journey in our world was embraced.
We began our sessions viewing the experience as an Emmaus journey, knowing we were where we were meant to be but unaware of where the journey might lead us. However, as we continued together, the veil that made our path unclear - as it had for the disciples - dissolved. Like them we recognized the Lord in our midst. “It is the Lord!” Now we go forth in joy and solidarity, as one. Called to a prophetic discipleship, we follow the path the Shepherd has set before us and - WE REJOICE!
Mary Thomas More Fahey
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