FRIENDSHIP FOR MISSION - Widening Horizons for Vocation and Formation Ministries
The Vocation Alive article written by Sr. Costanza Romano highlights so well a recent gathering enjoyed by Sisters working in Vocation and Formation ministries from across the Canadian and U.S. Federations. Sr. Costanza along with Sr. Marie Mackey (Brentwood) did a remarkable job in planning and facilitating this excellent workshop attended by all the members of our Federation Vocation Committee.
The gathering described is now held annually. Its context is within an ever-expanding expression of relationships across Congregations and Federations. These relationships might best be expressed as relationships of “friendship for-mission.” There is great energy being released for life from the heart of these friendships within our own Federation as our three Congregations are working ever more closely and creatively together within the Vocation Committee. Not only has this work yielded supportive and empowering relationships between us it is now generating practical steps for moving forward.
Already, fresh new vocation materials have been produced for use by each of our Congregations and in our initiatives together. This past new year, for example, we gathered together to attend the “Rise-Up” Conference in Toronto, a meeting of some 1500 young people. Here, both our combined presence and the newly minted vocation materials enabled us to enter more deeply into the animation of a culture of vocation in Canada. At this time, we are beginning work, led by Sr. Mary Jo Radey, on the development of vocation videos to bring a liveliness to our Websites and to engage others in our becoming anew, “communities of invitation” and “welcome”.
Recently, we saw the first appointment of an Associate to the Committee, Laurie Corrigan. Laurie is a very active associate and senior educator from Lindsay.
Together we have worked closely with Faith Connections (the Toronto Sisters’ ministry with young adults) and have held pilgrimages in London, Hamilton and North Bay. While this year’s scheduled pilgrimage couldn’t be held due to the pandemic it was substituted by a zoom reflection day with the hope of holding the face-to-face pilgrimage in Cobourg in 2021.
These energizing and productive friendships in ministry are also increasingly friendships across borders as described by Sr. Costanza and these relationships are growing exponentially. Notably, the Federation Novitiate Programme, attended by most novices from Canada and the U.S. and held in the U.S. has crossed borders. For the past 2 years Canadian input has joined the existing and rich novitiate content. The fact that this year’s contributions had to be offered by zoom didn’t dampen the spirit at all. During it we were able to add a presentation by Sr. Priscilla Solomon who beautifully deepened the novices’ appreciation for Indigenous Wisdom. In 2019 Villa St. Joseph hosted several days with the novices and their directors with input by Srs. Linda Gregg and Mary Rowell on ecology and the CSSJ charism. A visit to Toronto was also incorporated into the novices’ time here with excellent sessions on our history offered by Srs. Mary Anne McCarthy and Penny McDonald. Srs. Rosemary Fry, Mechtilde O’Mara, Pat Macauly, Dotsy Schweitzer, Betty Lou Knox (all part of the Toronto Vocation and Formation community), and Rosemary McGinn amplified the input and the senior sisters at 2 O’Connor warmly welcomed the novices for dinner and conversations. What gift!
What gift, also the presence of the novices and their dedicated directors – all women of call, maturity of spirit, a diversity of gifts and intercultural and professional backgrounds.
At this time, creative conversations are being held as preparations are made for the 2021 novitiate programme. These conversations invite the thoughts and reflections of many Sisters from across the U.S. and Canada. Notably, Sr. Kristine Fernandes (initially professed in Toronto) is participating with her very thoughtful ideas and experiences. So too is Sr. Mary Rowell in her role as Co-Chair, along with Sr. Sue Dunning (Orange, CA.), of the U.S. Federation Integral Formation Committee.
Now, in her second term of appointment to this Committee of the U.S. Federation, Mary, works closely with Sr. Joannie Cassidy (Philadelphia) and with the two Federation novice directors, Srs. Michelle Lesher (Philadelphia) and Jean Marie Gocha (Carondolet: Albany) in the development and evaluation of initial formation programmes. The mandate of the Committee, however, is wider. Its purpose is to: “Provide opportunities that assist member Congregations in their responsibility to nurture and care for vocations and the various expressions of our shared charism by focusing on the Life-Long Formation of Sisters, Associates and Agrégées.” Even now new opportunities are being created within the Committee for sharing. Membership of the Committee includes Sisters, Associates and Agrégées. Soon it is set to look to new horizons with the inclusion of those involved in the Joseph the Worker programme for young people and with partners in mission. In this “organic moment of unfolding” existing boundaries too are being crossed. Already, novices have experienced sharing the state of the heart with Sisters on global zoom meetings and when professed have themselves initiated similar opportunities. Mission and charism are very alive in friendship! Special thanks are due to Srs. Loretta Manzara and Maryellen Kane (Brentwood), Executive Directors of our two Federations for encouragement and contributions to these vital developments. As the book of Proverbs (7:9) reminds us, “Friendship refreshes the Soul”. For all of those engaged in vocation and formation ministries in these challenging days our growing friendships for mission do indeed refresh each of us and in turn have the capacity to refresh the charism of the family of Joseph for a new day.
Sr. Mary Rowell, December 2020
