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!