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!

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!

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!

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.

Saturday: A View from the Tent at Oakwood

This morning the grass appears grey with the glint of moisture from overnight rain, the trees around this green square are still and silent except for a slight quiver in the topmost leaves. This early, the birds are singing, but there is little evident movement from them as if they are reluctant to intrude on the awakening beauty of the day.

Behind me, Oakwood Hall, our dorm, is already alive to the new day - early comings and goings, the fragrant aroma of freshly-brewed coffee and the quiet purr of a Trasna Transport Trolley waiting for its first passengers. I am surrounded by tranquility as I let my eyes follow the patterns made by the ever-brightening sun on the building across from me. In a few places my eyes are assaulted by the fire-red glow in the windows of Redwood Hall, then as I move my eyes to the front of the building I see the five saplings closest to me - they are bursting with life and vibrant energy. Because there are so many older trees around, the young trees remind me that we, too, are in the process of unfolding, of becoming, growing stronger now that we have realized our deep-felt hope of being a Congregation without Provinces.

The sun, rising above the corder of Redwood Hall, suddenly touches the top of the telegraph pole on Cedar Avenue and I’m totally entranced by the spidery cobwebs between the wires, all sparkling with a thousand diamonds, sending lasers of red, blue, green, purple into the surrounding trees. Surely the beauty of Creation is surrounding me this early morning. Thank you, God!
by Eileen Byrne

Friday: Our Home Away From Home

Monmouth University has been our home morning, noon and night this week. We have enjoyed the wonderful service of the dining hall staff, the friendly smiles of passers by and the beautifully manicured gardens. All in all, we have felt very welcomed.

You might find yourself wondering about this place – just as they are surely wondering about those Sisters of St. Joseph of “The” Peace (as the digital welcome sign says!).

Monmouth College was founded during the Depression in 1933 to provide higher education to those local students who could not afford to go away to college. In 1995, Monmouth was granted university status by the State of New Jersey. Today Monmouth offers 29 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs on a small personal scale – the average class size is only 21 students. Students come from near and far, with students from 23 states and 31 foreign countries.

In 1993 Dr. Rebecca Stafford became the first female President of Monmouth, a post she held for 10 years. The student center where we have been meeting is named after her.

Martin Luther King spoke at Monmouth in 1966. The focus of his speech was that we had “come a long, long way; but ... that we still have a long, long way to go…” (was he talking about Trasna?).

In 1981, the building which has been host to our lovely evening concerts, Wilson Hall, became the home of Daddy Warbucks in the movie Annie. When Annie first enters the opulent mansion, she says “I think I’m gonna like it here,” a feeling which each of us most likely shares.

The formal gardens of Wilson Hall, a Beaux Arts castle
built by Woolworth President Hubert Parson.

Suzanne Golas makes a selection
from the well-stocked salad bar.

Mary Ann Wallen, Sue Vadas and Laurette Bergin
enjoy the variety of good cooking offered in the dining room.

Video: Where "Annie" was filmed

1981, Monmouth University’s ornate and historic Wilson Hall became the setting for the opulent mansion of Oliver Warbucks in the John Houston film Annie.

Monmouth University's Website has a video clip shows the wonder and awe experienced by Annie as she arrived at the manor for the very first time. Watch it here.

Thursday: That First Chapter

Do you remember your first Chapter experience? For some, it may have been the 1984 Chapter, which was marked by that electric moment when Margaret Byrne was acclaimed as Congregation Leader. For those experiencing Chapter for the first time at this moment of Trasna, what has the experience been like so far?

Connie Fraser was invigorated by Nancy Sylvester and John Dear and excited for the rest of the Chapter. “I am very confident that this wise and learned group of women will make the right choices,” she said.

Chero Chuma has been having a great time meeting sisters and associates from the UK who she had only interacted with via e-mail before. She also felt personally challenged by Nancy’s presentation to “be compassionate and accept my fears in a different way.”

Frank McCann shared that he is still learning what it means to be an associate - building relationships and making connections. “This is my fourth conference in two weeks,”
he added, “but this one is the most personally fulfilling and focused.”

Lois Jablonski said that as an associate, she feels very included. “I feel like we’re able to make a statement along with the sisters about releasing our charism.”

Dorothy Verna has “enjoyed meeting the sisters and associates from all 3 provinces, spending time and conversing with them.” Susan Francois echoed this sentiment. “I am in awe at the timing of this Chapter in my own journey,” she added, “What a wonderful capstone for my two year congregation experience of the first congregation novitiate. I feel very blessed.”

Thursday: Associates Meet and Greet

The 29 Associates attending the 2008 Chapter met for lunch on Wednesday, and found the “meet and greet” opportunity exciting. Our reporter met with Audrey Kettell, Lorraine Casey, Kathy Allard, and Mary Thelwell, who said that it was great to put names to faces, to enjoy lunch together and to have their picture taken. For some it was a chance to meet up with some of the friends they had made at the last Chapter in London or on one or other of the Congregation Programs of the past two years, and, for Audrey, a welcome return to the joy she experienced when she visited both US Provinces some years ago. All four associates spoke about how comfortable they are with each other, how freely they can talk (even more freely than with their friends who are not CSJP associates) and how exciting it is to feel so close.

They are incredibly appreciative of the inclusion and acceptance they feel in relation to all of the CSJP community. The associates new to Chapter are really experiencing the wonder and surprise of having an opportunity to reflect, to know the power and effectiveness of contemplation – and to realize this is something they will take home with them.

There is a feeling that this is a different Chapter from 2002, with a different tempo, free and exciting – this may be due to the fact that we are all wide-eyed and wondering where
we are going!

Wednesday: Virtual Chapter

As we gather in the Chapter room each day, we see colorful ribbons with the names of each sister & associate who is unable to be physically present with us due to ministry, family or health concerns. We have certainly felt the power of their prayer carrying us through these first days.

Did you know, however, that even though they are not here with us at Monmouth College, they are able to follow the Chapter closely via the internet? Our 21st General Chapter is also our 1st “Virtual Chapter.” Our communications committee has set up a Chapter blog called “The Crossing Place.” You can access the blog by clicking on the Chapter logo at the bottom of
our CSJP website. It contains articles from the daily “Crossings” newsletter, audio recordings of our keynote speakers (called “podcasts”), short video clips of prayer rituals, and pictures of our Chapter events.

The Chapter blog has received more than 50 visits (or “hits”) each day of the Chapter, from familiar places such as Federal Way, Jersey City, and Derbyshire. Bob Chambers has even accessed the blog from Kuwait where he is currently on a business trip!

Angie Picardo sent these words by e-mail from Everett, Washington: “I LOVE the Chapter on the internet. ... I feel I am participating with you all even though I am not there physically. Now I am not only with you in Prayer and Spirit I am with you on the internet.”

Welcome to The Crossing Place

Welcome to The Crossing Place, the blog for the 21st General Chapter of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. The Chapter Communications Committee plans to use this web page to communicate the happenings at the Chapter. Beginning July 27, you will find here ...

• Daily Schedule (posted one day ahead)
• Daily Chapter Newsletter
• Pictures of daily events
  
• Podcasts (short audio recordings of presentations and conversations)
• Video (short video recordings from the chapter; DVDs of the presentations will be mailed to each province office)
  
• And other assorted odds and ends.

Until then .... Peace!