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.