Chapter of Election - Day Four Update

After the gathering prayer, facilitator Joyce DeShano CSJ, gave a bridge from yesterday to today. Delegates continued communal discernment and discussed possible team configurations. After a lunch break they returned to complete discussions and elect two more of the Congregation Leadership Team members: Kristin Funari CSJP and Coralie Muzzy CSJP.

After singing Come! Live in the light! Sheila Lemieux presented the new Congregation Leadership Team asking each the following: ________ (name of Leadership Team Member), do you accept the service of ministry as Congregation Leadership Team according to our Constitutions? Response: I, ______________, do so accept this call. Margaret Byrne, as newly elected Congregation Leader, then addressed the assembly. Delegates and the new Congregation Leadership Team did a co-commissioning promising the following: Chapter Delegates to Congregation Leadership Team: In your service as our Congregation Leadership Team, will you commit yourself to live and lead the Congregation according to our charism and Mission and wholeheartedly embracing the acts of the 21st General Chapter? Response of Team: We do accept this call. Congregation Leadership Team to Membership: Sisters, holding us and one another in full membership in this Congregation,will you commit yourself to living according to our charism and missionand wholeheartedly embracing the acts of the 21st General Chapter? Response of Team: I, ______________, do accept this call. Sending Forth Confident of God's faithful love, go forth, then, to face the future with gratitude and hope. (Constitutions # 12) All sang "We Are Called." Sheila and Terry thanked the Chapter Planning Committee, Ann Rutan as Chair of the committee, all the sub-committees (Transportation, Environment, Nursing, Hospitality, Liturgy, Communications and Secretarial as well as those who helped take photographs) and Chapter facilitator Joyce DeShano CSJ. Sheila officially decommissioned the Chapter Planning Committee and closed the Chapter of Elections 2009 with the Seeds of Peace Acts accepted and the new Congregation Leadership Team elected. There was a Mass followed by dinner and a social. Departures will be tomorrow morning.

Chapter of Election - Day Three Update

After the gathering prayer, facilitator Joyce DeShano CSJ, gave a bridge from yesterday to today. Delegates continued communal discernment and differentiating between the nominees for the Congregation Leadership Team.

Nominees were formally recognized and thanked for their generosity and willingness to stay in the process and available to the Congregation during the long communal discernment process. The Congregation is blessed to have eight strong, intelligent, gifted women as nominees.

After lunch Sheila Lemieux instructed the delegates on the voting rules and procedures and read Constitutions 93 and 94. The first Congregation Leadership Team member, Congregation Leader, was elected. As she was 25 years ago Margaret Byrne CSJP was unanimously elected Congregation Leader by acclamation, followed by a formal written ballot.

Delegates continued communal discernment and differentiation in preparation for the next votes. After a break and Mass, they returned to elect two more of the Congregation Leadership Team members: Terry Donohue CSJP and Anne Hayes CSJP.

There will be an evening social tonight after supper. Voting of two more Congregation Leadership team members will take place tomorrow.

Prayer of Gratitude to Nominees (Mary Ann Mulzet SSJ)

Andrea, Anne, Corky, Kristin, Margaret, Maureen, Norah, Terry, We thank you and our God for your openness and your willingness to continue in this election process. We affirm the gifts of leadership that you exhibit daily as well as your continued discernment. We promise you our ongoing prayer and support as you continue to serve the congregation, the church, and the world through your presence and God's activity through you.

Song: The God Within You by Denise Ann Roberts May the God within you keep you safe. May the God within you give you peace. May the God within you hold you close And fill you with the love and strength you need.

Chapter of Elections - Day Two Update

Greetings from San Alfonso Retreat Center. After the gathering prayer, facilitator Joyce DeShano CSJ, gave a bridge transitioning from yesterday to today. Delegates then had their second small group sharing with nominees. After the lunch break, Joyce spoke some more about communal discernment and moving the process forward. She reviewed the concept of "radical receptivity," of accepting now whatever the unknown outcome will be while holding and being okay with the uncertainty until clarity crystallizes. There was quiet reflection as delegates considered the question: "Where do I notice clarity within myself around the nominees?" Delegates began the process of determining which nominees might be emerging as members of the team. They also shared candidly what qualities they hope might be balanced among the team members. The evening session will be a ritual of gratitude for outgoing Congregation Leaders. Please know that the Congregation is held closely in our hearts as communal discernment continues in preparation of electing the Congregation Leadership Team.

A Universal Greeting from the Gandhi Foundation (provided by Mary Ann Mulzet SSJ and used at Chapter on Monday, January 26, 2009) I offer you peace (Face palms forward, elbows bent) I offer you friendship (Cup hands palm to palm, elbows bent) I offer you love (Draw hands forward from heart) I hear your needs (Cup hands behind your ears) I see your beauty (Cover eyes with hands, then uncover) I feel your feelings (Arms cross chest, fingertips to shoulders) My wisdom flows from a higher source. (Move right hand, palm down, from head past face to meet upfacing left palm at chest, fingertips forward.) I salute that source in you (Palms together in prayer position) Let us work together (Fingers interlocked as two-handed fist)

Thursday January 29, 2009 - Chapter of Elections Agenda

8:15 a.m. Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Gathering prayer
Bridge from Wednesday
Overview of the day

Invitation to quiet reflection and journaling

Continue to elect members
of Leadership Team

Review of team configurations
Opportunity for reflection/journaling
Table conversation

12:00 noon LUNCH

2:00 p.m. Continue and complete election
Celebration Ritual

BREAK

4:00 p.m. Celebrative liturgy

6:00 p.m. Dinner

7:30 p.m. Social

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - Chapter of Elections Agenda

8:15 a.m. Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Gathering prayer
Bridge from Tuesday
Overview of day

Prepare for electing first
Member of Leadership Team

Individual reflection/journaling
Table conversation

Election of Congregation Leader

Blessing and celebration

12:00 p.m. LUNCH

2:00 p.m. Gathering mantra

Review of team configurations
Opportunity for reflection/journaling
Table conversation

Election of second team person

4:00 p.m. Liturgy

6:00 p.m. Supper

Social

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 - Chapter of Elections Agenda

8:15 a.m. Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Gathering prayer

Bridge from Monday
Overview of day
Communal reflection on
prior day’s work

BREAK
Interaction with Nominees in
large group

12:00 noon LUNCH

2:00 p.m. Gathering mantra
Prepare for creating straw
Team configurations

Begin table work on configurations

4:00 p.m. Liturgy

6:00 p.m. Supper

7:00 p.m. Continue work of afternoon

Social

Chapter of Elections - Day One Update

After a gathering prayer, Congregation Leader Sheila Lemieux reconvened the 21st General Chapter at 9:00 am at San Alfonso Retreat Center in Elberon, NJ.

Sheila recalled the powerful Trasna theme for us and noted that, "We have chosen to walk together into that which we cannot see. We chose as one body to embrace the unknown road believing that we are being led by God's spirit."

"The invitation before us at this Election session of the 21st Congregation Chapter is to discover how and where the Spirit of God is leading us today as we select the leadership who will embrace and shepherd us through unknown paths as well as challenge us for Mission during the next six years."

Sheila thanked the eight nominees "who have demonstrated by their lives and ministries a passion for the Mission of the charism."

Sheila and Terry did the roll call of the delegates. Nominees were called forth.

Joyce DeShano recalled highlights from the summer Chapter and then reviewed the basic components of communal discernment. Ann Rutan, Chairperson of the Chapter Planning Committee, recalled the decision of the Chapter this summer to become a Congregation-without-Provinces. She also highlighted the two Seeds of Peace: 1) Growing in Nonviolence and 2) Care of Creation and Climate Change. She reminded the delegates of the Qualities for Elected Leadership agreed upon at the Chapter this summer.

Sheila reviewed the Chapter Procedures that were approved in August and reminded delegates that election of the leadership team would take place by absolute majority.

Each nominee responded to the four questions below. Included also are brief summaries of some of their responses.

As you reflect on the decisions of the Chapter, including the decision to become a congregation without provinces:

What two primary challenges will this place on the newly elected team?

• Remain open to possibility; invite participation in substantive, meaningful ways, leaving no one behind
• Strike balance between time and energy of nuts and bolts of structure with inspiring to act on Seeds of Peace
• Create adequate communication-foster feedback
• How we care for another
• Furtherance of living our mission, of Seeds of Peace
• Call forth to greater interdependence
• Creation of a leadership team that will work well together
• Commitment to contemplative stance requires tremendous ongoing discipline
• To make this serious new moment, almost a re-founding, a moment of life in the Congregation
  

How does the team model a new way of leading in the Congregation and in the world?

• Releasing the charism, Seeds of Peace in the world
• Inviting connections within the Congregation
• Re-engage the excitement and spirit of Chapter that led to the decisions and the Seeds of Peace
  

What part of the unfolding responsibilities for the new team do you find absorb the greatest part of your reflection and discernment?

• Congregation-without-Provinces decision means making major changes in how we do things day-to-day and in light of economic and environmental realities in the world today
• We must find new ways to invite and incorporate new members in this new moment
• How do we keep our hearts and minds engaged with one another to lead us to new possibilities we haven't visualized yet?
• There are many unknowns now and for the next 6 years and beyond. Having patience as we move forward knowing we will not have all the answers
• There is no blueprint, but our founders did not have one; trust that it can be broken down into steps and that answers will reveal themselves
• Potential for development of relationships internally and externally.
• The reality of our diminishment does not diminish our mission, our spirit.
• Technology needs to be brought up to speed so it can be more of a tool, an asset.
• This is about all of us, emerging stronger, more vibrant, more attractive to other people committed to doing good things.
  

What do you hope for from the leadership of the membership achieving the decisions of Chapter?

• All Sisters and Associates will be active participants in this change.
• Call to faithfulness, listening, hearing, doing
• Decisions of Chapter are the responsibility of all members
• Leadership resides in the heart of its members; deepest hope is full engagement of all
• Hope to maintain momentum, work is just starting
• Release charism far and wide
• Keep alive the Spirit of the 21st General Chapter-increased love, care and concern, mutual respect
  

What else is in your heart and mind that you want to speak to?

• Willing to do whatever God calls me to
• "We face the future with gratitude and hope." Good things lie ahead.
• Open to serving in leadership, but also more than willing to serve the Congregation in any way
• Hopeful, confident, excited
• We are on the threshold of a new moment; part of the whole, of something bigger we can align with.
• Our Chapter Acts are so relevant and needed in our world today.
• Deep belief that grace of office goes to elected leadership and those in membership. Whoever is elected, the team will work.
• Conflicting feelings of hope, joy, energy, opportunity and challenges, pain of realities that will be part of leadership
• Honored to be invited and part of the process
  

Delegates shared heartfelt gratitude, awe and love to the nominees for their willingness, their honesty, their courage and their strength. Each nominee brings different gifts. All are highly valued and respected.

There was time for Mass and for quiet table sharing and reflection.

The delegates will have the first small group session with nominees this evening.

Monday, January 26, 2009 - Chapter of Elections Agenda

8:15 a.m. Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Gathering Prayer

10:00 a.m. BREAK

10:30 a.m. Overview of Chapter days
Procedures
Chapter Decisions
Setting context
Introduce focused sharing by Nominees
Sharing of Nominees around
prepared questions
Closing mantra

12:00 noon LUNCH

2:00 p.m. Gathering mantra/song
Continue focused sharing by Nominees
Time for individual reflection,
journaling, table conversation
Preparation for small group
conversations with Nominees

Ritual prayer

First session with small group

4:00 p.m. Liturgy

6:00 p.m. Supper

7:00 p.m Second session with small group

Social

Sunday January 25, 2009 - Chapter of Elections Agenda

3:00 p.m. Arrival of Delegates
6:00 p.m. Supper
7:30 p.m. Evening social

Keeping our Chapter in Prayer: Supporting our Nominees & Delegates

Greetings from the Raisins CSG in Bellevue! As we gathered this morning for our CSG prayer experience in anticipation for the Chapter of Elections, we were inspired by the reading from Passover Remembered:

Set out in the dark.
I will send fire
to warm and encourage you.
I will be with you in the fire
and it will be with you in the cloud.

You will learn to eat new food
and find refuge in new places.
I will give you dreams in the desert
to guide you safely home to that place
you have not seen.

An Invitation

Each of us has (or will) participated in the January CSG prayer process in our 3 geographic areas. Meanwhile, our nominees and delegates are themselves continuing this communal discernment process and preparing for the Chapter of Elections in just two weeks.

Given our distance from one another, the Raisins CSG thought it would be a nice idea to open up a conversation using the Internet as a way to share our hopes and prayers with each other easily across the miles.

Please join us here for this conversation over the next two weeks. The comment box is open! You can leave a comment on the blog and read the others as well. Our idea is to offer our prayer and support to the nominees, delegates and entire Congregation. If you don't see the comments below, click here or on the comments link at the bottom of this post.)

Some suggested Conversation Starters

What are your hopes at this time in our history?

What prayers/words of encouragement do you have for our nominees and delegates?

How will you continue to prepare and participate in the second session of the Chapter?

Please join us in this online conversation.

In Love & Peace,
The Raisins CSG

(present at our January 10 meeting - Julie Codd, Margaret Dimond, Susan Francois, Carmel Little, Doug Johnson)

TIP: If you want to leave a comment, click on "post a comment" in the comments section. Write your comment - don't forget to sign your name!. Then, select "anonymous" from the available options, and click "Publish your Comment."

Chapter Review

The Crossing Place Chapter Blog will continue to be available so folks can review the happenings of the Chapter. Here are a few shortcuts to some of the posts you may want to read/listen to/watch:

Listen to podcasts of our 3 main keynote speakers:

• Sheila Lemieux's Talk
• Nancy Sylvester's Talk
  
• John Dear's Talk

Watch videos:

• 2003-2008 review video from Sheila's presentation
• Lest We Forget video of Sisters & Associates who died in the past 6 years

Newsletters from the Chapter can be downloaded to the right in the sidebar.

Thank you, everybody!

Our hope-filled, joyful experience of The Crossing Place is the gift of so many - of each of the committees that worked so hard to make this a hospitable, beautiful time, of each Sister and Associate who brought energy, truth, and openness to the spirit into our gatherings, of our gifted facilitators and all the Chapter staff.

Thanks to all, but most especially Thank you! to Sheila, to Terry and to the Chapter Planning Committee and Subcommittee for leading us as we made the crossing to our new life as One Congregation!

Our Gifted Musicians

Our gifted musicians, Mary Ann Mulzet, Annie Welch, Carmel Little, Mary Therese Breuning, Charlotte Davenport and Maureen Brennan kept us tuned and prayerful. A CD of songs written for the Chapterby Annie, Carmel, Mary Therese and Rosalie McQuaide will soon be available.

Peace Presence at the Great Lawn

Who could have prepared us, the non-natives in this part of the U.S. for the setting of our Peace Presence on August 6th? We were to be at the Great Lawn for this service which would honor our commitment to Care for the Earth and remember the atrocities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Instead of standing on a grassy lawn, we were seated in a tiered arena in front of a platform framed between two lowsized square turrets. In the framed background we had an ever changing ocean view with sail boats, speed boats and even a far-away tanker passing through.

Alexandra Kovats, Terry Moran and Annie Welch led us through songs, prayers, readings, poetry and a litany of peacemaking, all of which were exceptionally relevant and truly touching. Cindy Zipf of Clean Ocean Action spoke movingly of the imperative to protect the great and beautiful oceans of the world. We sang “We shall overcome” to the wonderment of Boardwalk passersby and completed our liturgy by singing “Peace before us” as we looked at the peaceful and endangered ocean.

Becoming a Discerning Congregation

On Thursday morning, Facilitator Joyce DeShano led us in a wonderful reflection on what it means to become a discerning congregation. A condensed version of her presentation will be shared as a DVD in the September CSG process, along with written materials.

Joyce shared that our nomination and election process will require a mind shift in light of our Chapter decision to become a Congregation without provinces. “It’s no longer just about the women you know best,” she said. Drawing from her personal experience with her Congregation’s
merger, she suggested that we try to avoid thinking in terms of “my province” when surfacing names for potential leaders. “That’s hard to shift.”

Communal discernment is both an attitude and a process. Joyce listed three attitudes required for communal discernment: radical receptivity, openness to the spirit, and deep trust. As a process, communal discernment is a choice among goods, never about winners and losers, and always about a CALL.

She encouraged us to call ourselves to create a discerning congregation for the next six months. “This responsibility applies to everyone, Sisters and Associates,” she said, “not just delegates and nominees.” There was a great deal of discussion at tables and in the larger group about how to
go home and communicate the spirit and experience of the Chapter to those unable to attend.

In the afternoon, we began to consider what qualities might be needed for leadership in the next six years. “Keep in mind,” Joyce said, “the qualities you need now may be quite different than what you’ve needed in the past.” She invited us to consider qualities in four categories: relationships, organization, vision, and team building.

On Friday, we will review the drafts of the Chapter Act documents on nonviolence and care for creation. We will also review the nomination and election process that we will use over the next 6 months through our CSGs. There will also be an opportunity to begin surfacing names of
potential nominees.

Francena Dodd, Bridgetta Rooney and Eileen Bryne
work on the next steps.

Terry Reflects

Reflecting on these two intense weeks of Chapter, Assistant Congregation Leader Terry Donohue is surprised, delighted and overwhelmed by our unanimous decision to become a Congregation without Provinces. After six years in office and two years of intense planning for the Chapter Terry says, “I’ve found such energy, such life in us.”

The connections among us are powerful, she says, and the best part of her ministry has been getting to be at home with each of us in each place of the Congregation, learning the passions and people, being touched by how we listen to one another, speak our truth, and are heard.

Terry and Sheila have created a remarkable partnership in ministry that makes use of their very different skills and styles. Terry likes to focus on the details and the doing, to get started on her list of tasks and carry it through. Sheila is more open-ended, tuned to the big picture, likely to come in with an unexpected question or new idea. As we have all learned, the partnership works beautifully. “I’ve learned so much from Sheila,” Terry said, “about flexibility, about
patience, about being a leader.”

The biggest challenge for her as Assistant Congregation Leader was to figure out what she should be doing. “There’s no job description,” she said, “so it has been an experience of learning - learning to trust, learning to listen, learning to let go of what I planned and be open to the moment.”

Terry is still focused on the work to be done before May; when all is completed, she’s considering taking some time to volunteer at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, to help protect this endangered species. She is also hoping to study non-violence, and she would love to spend time with Sisters and Associates in our One Congregation.

Wherever the future takes you, Terry, we are so grateful for your thoughtfulness, warmth and friendship, for all those note cards, as well as for all the tasks you’ve completed so very well and with such openness to the Spirit!

Schedule for Friday (August 8)

Friday, August 8, 2008
Beginning a nomination and election process

7:00 - 8:30 Breakfast in dining room
7:30 Optional liturgy in Anacon room
9:00 Morning prayer in Chapter room
Process for beginning a nomination and election
1:00 Lunch - leisure
3:00 Continue morning work
4:30 Adjourn the Chapter
4:45 Liturgy to open the 125th Anniversary
6:00 Supper

Video: 2003 to 2008

On the first day of the Chapter, Congregation Leader Sheila Lemieux shared a video prepared by Communications Director Paulette Krick that summarizes the years since our 2002 Chapter. You can now watch this video online below.

Talent Night

Abundant talent kept us laughing and singing Tuesday night:

Mary Thorne, Ann Taylor, Barbara Haase and Bridgetta Rooney are the Red Hat Society;


Olivia Killeen, Joan Ward and Barbara Moran are transformed by masks;


Dorothy Verna, Sukyi Hur, Susan Francois and Chero Chuma rap “The Formation Rap”;


and the inimitable duo of Sheila Lemieux and Bridgetta Rooney dance as only they can.

As Sheila Sees It

Congregation Leader Sheila Lemieux has been preparing for this 21st Chapter for the past three years, along with Assistant Congregation Leader Terry Donohue and the Congregation Council. “It began with the initial movement towards being Congregation,” she said. “The 2002 Chapter Act on governance called us to explore possible changes in governance if our lived experience warranted it.”

Three years is a long time to be working towards “being congregation.” Perhaps that is why she was so surprised at how quickly the Chapter came to consensus on the issue. “Although, to put it in context,” she said, “everyone has been faithfully praying to the spirit, so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. When we do that, the Spirit takes us seriously.”

The vote on becoming one Congregation without provinces was the peak moment of the Chapter for Sheila, but she has also been impressed by our coming together in other areas. “We’ve been of one voice and one heart,” she said. She has been particularly impressed by our clarity and energy around focusing on mission.

Sheila’s first Chapter was the 1974 Chapter in Haverstraw, NY where we developed our Statement of Direction. “We got our impetus from reclaiming our foundress which gave
shape to our charism of peacemaking,” she said. She also sees our current Chapter as being marked by tremendous energy around shaping our future. “I’m so proud of our Sisters and Associates,” she said.

Likewise, she is proud of all the work that has gone into making this Chapter run so smoothly. “There was a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes,” she said. “I salute Ann Rutan, Kristin Funari and all the other members of the Chapter Planning Committee for their phenomenal work.”

Sheila is looking forward to a new life after May 1st. “I will be living out our charism by taking care of my dear mother who physically needs my presence,” she said.

Thank you Sheila for your graceful style of leadership. Not to mention your graceful dancing at the Talent Show
Tuesday night!

Filling in the Blanks

After two glorious days’ vacation (swimming, horse races, sight-seeing, sleeping late) we convened as Gathering II, a somewhat smaller group of 111 Sisters and Associates, to fill in the blanks from the broad outlines of our Gathering I agreements.

We began with a historic reflection on how we have released the charism since the 2002 Chapter. Then in quiet reflection and table sharing, we gathered preferences for the Congregation’s action focus for 2008 - 2014. The preferences were gathered and grouped,
discussion in the group as a whole fleshed out the preferences and one major focus point emerged for our work over the next six years:

• Care of the Earth, recognizing a connection between climate change and issues of poverty.

As previously named in Gathering I, contemplative nonviolence will be the framework for our lives together as Congregation.

Two groups of “wisdom weavers” worked on the details of these potential Chapter Acts and, on Wednesday morning, turned the work over to writers.

Meanwhile the remaining group brainstormed about areas that will need attention as we become a Congregation without Provinces: Congregation gatherings; communication and technology; and caring for one another.

Suzanne Golas, Maureen Boggins, Charlotte Davenport and Terry Moran
work on the Care of the Earth statement.

Louise Dumont: All Those Chapters

Louise is one of several Sisters at this Chapter who have the distinction of having been at every Chapter since 1968/69. At the time of the Special General Chapter in 1968, Louise attended the Chapter at St. Michael’s as assistant to Sister Helen Gorman in Our Lady Province. This Chapter was in answer to the call for renewal after Vatican II.

The regular four-yearly Chapter of 1970, held in England at Mary Ward College, was the first that allowed observers. This Chapter made two momentous decisions – Louise says “recognizing Mother Clare as our founder was the most exciting moment of my life,” and the return to the title “of Peace” rather than “of Newark” was close behind.

Chapters in 1975 (Haverstraw, NY) and 1978 (Seattle University) advanced our commitment to justice and began the six-year cycle of Chapters.

The Centenary Chapter of 1984, “Remembering, Renewing, Risking,” was another special highlight for Louise. Margaret Byrne was unanimously acclaimed Congregation Leader and many unexpected talents unfolded in the course of the centenary celebrations!

Chapters in Seton Hall, NJ (1990) and Bellingham, WA (1996) developed significant commitments to social justice. Our London Chapter in 2002, with its emphasis on the Well
of Integrity, Rivers of Peace and Fountains of Hope led to our work here.

Louise says that a Statement of Direction written in 1974 was a significant turning point for us in its focus on peace and justice; concepts which have developed over the years.

Our Constitutions is the most wonderful document, Louise says, bringing our charism to bear on our vows and on every aspect of our lives. Louise feels we continue to grow and build on the themes we’ve developed over the many Chapters, that the Holy Spirit has guides us well and that she’s never come away from a Chapter feeling disappointed, or dissatisfied.

Now as we move into being a Congregation without provinces, Louise sees that our Contemplative Stance, enhanced through prayer and the quality of our listening and association with each other, will guide us well.

Schedule for Thursday (August 7)

Thursday, August 7, 2008
Creating a Discerning Community

7:00 - 8:30 Break
7:30 Optional Liturgy in Anacon room
9:00 Morning prayer in Chapter oom
Presentation on creating a discerning community
1:00 Lunch - leisure
3:00 Continue morning work
5:30 Overview of Friday's work, Closing mantra
6:00 Supper, Planned Entertainment

Tuesday

Our Communications Committee decided to take a short break so that we could enjoy the Talent Show Tuesday night! We'll have pictures later ... let's just say that everyone outdid themselves!

On Tuesday we continued our discussions on Releasing the Charism and broke up into two small groups (Nonviolence and Care for the Earth) and one larger group (Being Congregation) for brainstorming and writing. We will continue this work today.

We will have full content up for Tuesday/Wednesday tomorrow morning (Thursday).

Stay tuned ....

Schedule for Wed (August 6)

Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Releasing the Charism for mission

7:00 - 8:30 Breakfast in dining room
7:30 Optional liturgy in Anacon room
9:00 Morning prayer in Chapter room
Continuing process to Release the Charism for Mission
1:00 Lunch - leisure
3:00 Continue morning work
5:30 Overview of Thursday, Closing mantra
6:00 Supper
7:00 Peace Presence on Great Lawn