Musings of a Discerning Woman

On Retreat

2008-08-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

One of the "perks" of religious life is the requirement that you take an annual retreat each year. In what other "line of work" do you have to spend a week away with God every year! This is one requirement I fully endorse! I'll be back next week.

Peace Out
Susan

PS: Congratulations to my Jesuit friend Jason and his fellow Oregon Province novices who profess vows today! And to my friend Amy who professes her first vows as a Sister of Christian Charity today as well!

Revgalblogpal Friday Five: Fall Transformations

2008-08-15T19:28:00.003-04:00

This week's Friday Five:

For this Friday's Five, share with us five transformations that the coming fall will bring your way.

Bonus: Give us your favorite activity that is made possible by the arrival of fall.

I spent last fall in London, where the season is more commonly known as "autumn." This fall has some different changes in store for me:

Moving from New Jersey to the Seattle area. While I called the Pacific Northwest home for 16 years, I lived 4 hours south in Portland. Seattle will be a new town for me, at least as a full time home. Familiar but different.
New living community. I am going to spend a few months living with our retired sisters at St. Mary-on-the-Lake in Bellevue, WA - more commonly known on this blog as west coast groovy sister hq. I've never lived at St. Mary's. I'm really looking forward to spending time with the wisdom women who call that forested corner of Lake Washington home. Not to mention living with the trees for a bit!
New ministry. In a few weeks I will start my new ministry position at the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center in Seattle. IPJC is sponsored by 16 religious communities (including my groovy sisters) in the Pacific Northwest. They work to promote just structures in the church and world. I'm very excited about the opportunity to work with this group!
Vows. On October 11th I will be professing first vows as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace.
Vows. Did I mention that I'm professing vows this fall? I think that's a big enough item to warrant TWO entries on my transformation list! Aside from entering the community in the first place, vowing poverty, celibacy and obedience is likely to be the most transformative experience not only of this fall, but my entire life.
The bonus question. Since I'm returning to the Pacific Northwest just in time for fall, I'll be able to partake in one of my favorite past times ... walking in the rain! Yes, I am a northwesterner at heart.

Margaret Anna Fridays

2008-08-15T06:38:00.000-04:00

Every Friday, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack. This week’s installment …

Woman has a right, then, to an education which shall cultivate her intellect without blighting her spirit, which shall lead her up from nature to nature’s God; and which shall teach her both to cultivate and to use her powers of mind for God who gave them.
-Margaret Anna Cusack

planning

2008-08-14T22:32:00.003-04:00

I am a planner by nature ... I don't like to be stressed or rushed, and so I try to plan enough time to get things done and enough time to rest and enjoy life. I must say, I'm very appreciative of my planning self at this exact moment.

You see, working backwards ....

I start my new ministry in Seattle on Monday, September 8th.

I fly to Seattle Tuesday, September 2nd. (Which gives me a few days to settle in).

I go on vacation Aug 25 - 29. (I'm spending the days at our retreat house by the shore - my plan is to read, swim and write.)

I go on retreat Aug 16 (Saturday!) - 23. (I'm headed back to the same place I went last year - same director too!).

Which is why I'm happy that I packed and shipped my last boxes today. I've still got some odds and ends to do, but for the most part I can now enter into these days of retreat and vacation fairly worry free. Of course, I can't plan what will happen on retreat - that's up to the Holy Spirit. But I am grateful to my planning self to put my retreat and vacation at the end of this summer. I think it's a good way to transition from the life of the Novitiate House to the life of active ministry and temporary vows.

Speaking of, for those who have been wondering, the big day is October 11th. We met during Chapter to plan our ceremony. There will be three of us professing vows, and I think we managed to craft a liturgy that fits all of us.

Exciting times!

vows on the mind

2008-08-13T21:33:00.004-04:00

I suppose I've got vows on the mind, seeing as they are less than 2 months away! Saturday I'm headed on retreat, where I plan to reflect a bit on the vows I'm planning to take. I've ordered my profession ring, which is being engraved at the moment, and I've been looking to no avail for a simple classic dress to wear on the big day. Fashions are generally hideous at the moment, in my humble opinion.

I also had a dream a few weeks ago where my mother (who passed away almost 4 years ago) mailed me a number of different wedding dresses to choose from! Like I said, I've got vows on the mind (and heart). Perhaps that's why I found this quiz appropriate!

What Your Ideal Wedding Dress Says About You

Your Personal Style:

Modern and simple. You like clothes to accentuate who you are, not overwhelm you.

Your Ideal Wedding:

A small ceremony at an old church with a beautiful flower garden

Your Philosophy on Marriage:

You can have a deep commitment without marriage. It's only a piece of paper.

Your Perfect Marriage:

Simply loving each other a little more every day

The Wedding Dress Test

For the record, there will be NO wedding dress involved. Prior to Vatican II, our Sisters wore a wedding dress when they were received as a novice. I wore a nice simple blue dress at my reception, and am looking for a nice simple (non-hideously-patterned) dress for vows. Like the quiz says, I'm looking for a dress that accentuates who I am rather than overwhelms me.

transitions

2008-08-12T13:26:00.004-04:00

I've sorted through all but one drawer of my desk. In the bottom of the top drawer, I found the handmade card I received at my work going away party two years ago - it's handmade by a friend and has everyone's wishes for my adventure inside. It's a treasure that I think I'll be keeping for a bit longer ...

Sorting through my possessions and finding mementos like this one has me thinking about what's been and what's to come. It's almost been two years since I closed up shop at work and my apartment and moved to NJ for the adventure of novitiate. On the one hand, it seems like eons ago. On the other hand it seems like just yesterday. And in just three weeks from today I'll be flying back to Seattle for the next phase of the journey!

I say flying "back," but really this will be my first time living and working in the Seattle area. I've got good friends 4 hours south in Portland, and groovy sisters & associates in the Seattle area. But for the most part, it will be a new place for me - new living situation, new ministry, new everything.

Including, I think, a new me. In the midst of my sorting through stuff, I found notes from one of our classes during our first year of novitiate on personal integration with Don Bisson, FMS. My notes tell me that "formation creates a new person to the outer world" that needs to be reintroduced to others and is associated with new life patterns and energy of service.

At the time, I don't think I paid much attention to that bit - I was focused more on what I was going through at the time (the messier bits). But now that I find my self at this juncture, ready to move from the novitiate to active ministry I find that it rings true. I'm still me, but I'm more me if that makes any sense.

In any case, this transition is more peaceful internally than the last one. I just reread my mid August 2006 blog entries. There was a melancholy mixed with excitement. Now, there's more a sense of rightness and readiness for what lies ahead!

My own private universe

2008-08-11T14:14:00.004-04:00

I'm busily working through my sort/pack/purge project. I hope to be mostly finished by tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime, I give you a silly olympic themed blog quiz:

You Are Swimming

You are an interesting set of contradictions.

You are peaceful yet competitive. Graceful yet strong.

You exist in your own private universe.

What Olympic Sport Are You?

Not that I've had much time to watch the Olympics.

What Olympic sport are you? Feel free to leave your quiz results in the comments!

Peacemakers: Franz Jägerstätter

2008-08-10T19:25:00.005-04:00

One of the major decisions of our Congregation Chapter was to commit ourselves to grow more deeply toward a non-violent way of being and acting as peacemakers. One aspect of this commitment is to study the history and people of non-violence.

Yesterday was the Feast Day of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter. I must admit that until last fall (when I was working at Pax Christi in the UK), I was not very familiar with his story.

Franz Jägerstätter was executed on August 9, 1943 at Brandenburg Prison for his conscientious objection to serving in Hitler's army.

“My dearest, beloved wife, and all my children,” he wrote on the morning of his execution, “Many actually believe quite simply that things have to be the way they are. If this should happen to mean that they are obliged to commit injustice then they believe that others are responsible... For this reason I am convinced that it is still best that I speak the truth even if it costs my life... These few words are being set down here as they come from my mind and heart. And if I must write them with my hands in chains, I find that much better than if my will were in chains.”

Franz Jägerstätter was declared "Blessed" by the Catholic Church on October 26, 2007 during a ceremony in Linz, Austria. His wife Franziska was present at the Beatification.

Learn more about him here, here and here.

If this is true

2008-08-10T14:19:00.003-04:00

You Are Not a Pack Rat

You're not a pack rat - and there's probably no rats in your home.

You have a living style that's totally minimalist. You're definitely not attached to stuff.

Are You a Pack Rat?

If this is true, why do I feel overwhelmed with the amount of stuff currently covering the floor of my room here at the Novitiate? Perhaps it is because everything is out of its hiding place, waiting to be packed into a box or put into a give away pile by yours truly.

I certainly feel like a pack rat. Do I really need all those craft supplies? Or books? Or shoes for that matter? I used to have many, many shoes. I now have under 10 pair (I think). But still, I have 2 feet. Why do I need so many shoes?

By the end of this week my plan is to have everything sorted, packed and shipped. The following week I'm on retreat and the week after that on a little vacation prior to my return to the world of active ministry (and the task of unpacking once I'm settled in my new digs).

Well, no time like now to get started. The piles of paper on (and under) my desk are calling to me!

Chapter review

2008-08-08T21:56:00.003-04:00

Today was the last day of our Chapter. Actually, it was the last day of the first session ... we suspended the Chapter and the delegates will return for the Chapter of Elections in January.

All in all, this has been an amazing heart expanding experience. We made three major decisions at the Chapter.

To become one Congregation without provinces
We adopted a framework on contemplative non-violence for the next 6 years (more on that later)
We committed to focus our actions for justice in the next 6 years on the environment and climate change.

Aside from the joy and wonder of being together with over 100 Sisters & Associates from the across the Congregation, I have been fascinated and heartened by the way in which we made decisions. I have never really participated in a communal discernment process on this scale ... it was truly amazing and spirit filled. Everyone has commented on how peaceful this entire Chapter has been. We sought and found consensus on all 3 of our major decisions.

We often say that religious life is counter-cultural. This experience definitely brought that home to me, but in a new way. I can't help but wonder what our world would be like if governments and other leaders took the time to deeply listen and try to seek consensus!

Tomorrow it's back to the novitiate for a busy week of sorting, packing, purging and shipping my stuff to Seattle. I should have time for blogging, though. But for now, peace (and thanks for all the prayers for my groovy sisters and our Chapter!)

Margaret Anna Fridays

2008-08-08T06:36:00.000-04:00

Every Friday, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack. This week’s installment …

The question of right too often Develops itself into the question of might.
-Margaret Anna Cusack

We Remember

2008-08-06T06:29:00.002-04:00

63 years ago today (August 6, 1945), on the Feast of the Transfiguration, a US bomber dropped an atomic bomb called "Little Boy" on Hiroshima. "Little Boy" had an estimated equivalent explosive force of 12,500 tons of TNT. It is estimated that 140,000 people died. Hiroshima became the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack.

On August 9, 1945, a second atomic bomb called "Fat Boy" was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. The original target city, Kokura, could not be reached because of weather problems and Nagasaki was selected as the alternative target. Estimates generally put the number of deaths around 80,000. "Fat Boy" was more powerful than "Little Boy," but was accidentally dropped on the outskirts of the city, lessening the amount of deaths.

It is estimated that out of every 6 deaths in the bombings, 5 were civilians and 1 was military.

On a visit to Hiroshima in 1981, Pope John Paul II said: "To remember the past is to commit oneself to the future. To remember Hiroshima is to abhor nuclear war. To remember Hiroshima is to commit oneself to peace."

And so I urge you to remember on this 63^rd Anniversary:

Read John Dear's weekly column marking this anniversary.
Research what the US Bishops say about nuclear weapons.
Read this article on the Myths of Hiroshima.
Make a Virtual Visit to Hiroshima. The Kids section is especially worth your time. (Make sure to click on the button for the English version of the page!)
Make peace cranes to send to the Children's Museum in Hiroshima.
Most importantly, remember the victims of these bombings and all violent conflicts in your prayers.

Loving God. You have loved us into being. Help us in turn to love all our brothers and sisters. We remember especially today all those members of our global family who have died in conflict and war. Grant us the strength and wisdom to use our gifts, so that together we may transform our world through the bonds of peace and the love that comes from you.

Amen. Shalom. Amen.

Greetings from Chapter

2008-08-04T16:18:00.003-04:00

Greetings from the mid way point in our General Chapter meetings. Yesterday and today were well deserved free days. I went to Ellis Island with one of my fellow novices and an Associate from England. The weather was great and our tour guide Dennis was excellent! Today I took it easy and went swimming in the pool at our retreat house, which is 2 miles away from the college where we're having our Chapter. Again, the weather was great. I'm feeling quit relaxed.

Tomorrow we start up again. Before Chapter, I was thinking that 2 weeks was an awful long time. But now I see how very busy we are each and every day, and considering we meet like this only once every 6 years, 2 weeks isn't that long a time. Last week we voted to become one congregation without provinces! Very exciting. This week will will spend two days looking at what our focus will be for these next 6 years in addition to that restructuring.

I most likely won't be back to visit the blog this week. Please continue to keep my groovy sisters in your prayers.

Peace,
Susan

In Annie's footsteps

2008-08-01T22:17:00.002-04:00

We're having our Chapter meetings at Monmouth University in New Jersey, about 1 mile from the Ocean. When I heard our Chapter would be held at Monmouth I was very excited ... because on the grounds is the mansion that belonged to Daddy Warbucks in the Annie movie from my childhood.

As an aside, I distinctly remember singing "It's a Hard Knock Life" in some elementary school talent show!! I LOVED 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.

Margaret Anna Fridays

2008-08-01T06:35:00.000-04:00

Every Friday, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack. This week’s installment …

If the world is to be converted, and souls are to be won, and if God’s kingdom is to be advanced, it will be by deeds and not by words…
-Margaret Anna Cusack

Persistent Peace

2008-07-31T14:04:00.001-04:00

We were blessed to have John Dear with us yesterday here at the Chapter .... my head and heart are still processing everything he shared and challenged us with.

He has an autobiography coming out tomorrow (Friday). I just got an email from him via Pax Christi regarding the book that I'd like to share with you here:

As you may know, my autobiography, A Persistent Peace, (440 pages with a foreword by Martin Sheen) is being published this week, on Friday August 1st, by Loyola Press. I've spent many years working on it, and hope it will inspire others to embark on the spiritual journey of peacemaking and Gospel nonviolence. The times are terrible, but there are signs of hope everywhere, and I hope more and more people will take up the nonviolent struggle for justice and disarmament, and spend their lives working to abolish war, poverty, nuclear weapons and global warming, in order to welcome God's reign of peace in our midst.

So I'm writing today to invite you to consider a few ways you can help me spread the word about A Persistent Peace:

1. Buy the book this Friday! A Persistent Peace will be available on Friday, August 1st at www.amazon.com as well as major bookstores. If you purchase the book at www.amazon.com on August 1st, it will help bump it up on the best- sellers list enabling more people to learn about it and major papers to review it.

2. Write a Review. If you enjoyed the book, please write a review of it at www.amazon.com , or in any journals, newsletters or other places. That would be a big help.

3. Tell your friends. Please consider telling your friends, relatives, and networks about the book. You can read about it at: www.persistentpeace.com. Perhaps you might send this email out to your friends, relatives and networks, and ask them to order the book on August 1st as well.

4. Support My Fall Book Tour. I'll be traveling the country throughout the fall, using the book to talk about our journey to peace, the nonviolent way of Jesus, and the need to abolish war, poverty, nuclear weapons and global warming. Perhaps you could come to an event near you and bring your friends. For the schedule, check out: www.johndear.org.

Thank you for your consideration, your help, and all you do for peace and justice! I am very grateful for anything you might be able to do to help get the word out about A Persistent Peace. May the God of peace bless us all with every gift of peace!

checking in

2008-07-29T22:56:00.001-04:00

Hello there everyone! I've been busy here at the Chapter, visiting with old and new friends, listening to speakers and engaging in the process, and writing content for our newsletter and other odds and ends for the communications committee. It's been a grand time, as our Sisters from the UK would say. So much to reflect on and savor, so much I could write, but I quite honestly don't have the time.

Please continue to pray for our Congregation Chapter.

Peace,
Susan

homecoming

2008-07-28T06:32:00.002-04:00

Howdy everyone! It's been a whirlwind of a few days, getting everything ready here at Chapter for the festivities (which officially start today) and catching up with old friends. We've had some challenges, like amazing thunderstorms and airline delays/cancellations, not to mention to most annoyingly stubborn firewall I've ever seen that keeps me away from the internet (although for some reason 2 people have no problem - weird). Hopefully that will be cleared up today.

In any case, it's just amazing to be here. I feel like I know everyone, and really since I've been in all 3 provinces I basically do. But it's a joy to see them all together, someone from England reminiscing with someone from Seattle, someone from New Jersey laughing with someone from Alaska. Really, even though this college campus is new ground for all of us, by coming here we have come home.

Very cool.

ready to go

2008-07-25T21:24:00.007-04:00

Well, my bags are packed and I'm leaving in the wee hours of the morning to drive down to where we're having our Congregation General Chapter for the next two weeks.

Since the years just after our founding, our Congregation has had three geographic centers: the United Kingdom, the East Coast mostly centered around New Jersey, and the West Coast mostly in the Pacific Northwest. We call them provinces ... after this Chapter, who knows what we'll be calling them. Regions makes sense to me, but time will tell.

In any case, as I've written before our Congregation Chapter is held every 6 years. The location for the Chapter rotates. In 2002 it was in England. 1996 it was in Washington State. 1990 it was in New Jersey. 1984 it was in England. (Do you get the picture?). That way each group of Sisters gets the chance to play host, and everyone doesn't have to travel so far every time. I think it's a pretty good set up.

This year the Chapter is in New Jersey. Hence, all able bodied folks in the vicinity get to drive down early in the morning and help set things up. It will be a busy, busy day. Some folks from England & the West have already filtered in as they are on committees and will be there early to help set up as well. The rest of the folks will be arriving Sunday, and the festivities begin Monday.

We've already had a few little reunions with some of the Sisters and one Associate from England who came early and have been staying next door. It's been so great to see them, and makes me realize that I'll get to see so many of those I was with in England and so many of those I know from the West and so many of those I've gotten to know here in New Jersey. It's like a homecoming of sorts!

I'm really quite excited. Just now I was thinking about the excitement, and what it reminds me of. I feel like a little kid the night before Christmas, wanting morning to come early so I can open all the presents! Except in this case the presents are dear and wonderful people I get to spend 2 whole weeks with. Lucky me!

I am planning to blog here a bit during the Chapter to share my impressions of this experience. Understandably I'll be busy, what with all of the visiting and, of course, the business of the Chapter itself! So, most likely it won't be every day but I will try to check in from time to time over the next two weeks.

Please keep our community in your prayers during this time.

Peace,
Susan

Friday Five: What You Absolutely, Positively Can't Leave Home Without

2008-07-25T06:45:00.005-04:00

After an early birthday breakfast with my house (our Chapter starts on my birthday Sunday so we're celebrating today), I have a busy day planned with packing - both for the two weeks I'll be at Chapter and of course for the move. With this in mind I checked to see what the RevGalBlogPal Friday Five was this week, only to find:

We will be at a chaplain's convention when you all are answering the Friday Five Questions. I'll look forward to reading your answers next week when I get home. At the moment we are trying to get the car loaded so we can hit the road, so this will be a simple F.F. This running around madly in order to leave has me wondering: what are the five things you simply must have when you are away from home? And why? Any history or goofy things, or stories?

Perfect, so here goes ....

1. We're driving rather than flying this time, but when flying I now must have essentials such as underwear, meds, toiletries, clothes, etc... in my carryon. This was reinforced after my trip to El Salvador last summer when I arrived on Saturday and my suitcase arrived 5 days later!

2. My computer - even if there's no wifi connection, I'm now in the habit of writing on the laptop. I used to journal in actual journals with something called a pen. I now journal on my computer. I'm quite honestly not sure how I feel about that development, but there you have it.

3. Books -I always pack too many, but I'm getting better about that. Something light/fun, something serious, and something spiritual at a bare minimum.

4. Shoes - I always pack too many, but I'm getting better about that too! My feet are rather large, and so are my shoes, so it can be problematic.

5. Alarm Clock - I know, how predictable and unexciting. But even if I'm staying somewhere that has an alarm clock, I don't trust them. Or more accurately, I don't trust myself to set it correctly. I'm notoriously bad at that even with my own clock!

Margaret Anna Fridays

2008-07-25T06:33:00.000-04:00

Every Friday, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack. This week’s installment …

How many girls are driven to a life which they abhor simply to get bread, the bread which is denied to them by those who squander on folly what is due to justice!
-Margaret Anna Cusack

hurricane

2008-07-24T17:23:00.002-04:00

My room looks like a hurricane has rushed through it! I'm trying to get ready for Chapter while simultaneously beginning to pack the boxes I'm going to ship back to Seattle at the end of the summer. Which leaves me with a few questions:

1) Why do I have three boxes packed and a suitcase half packed and my room is still full of stuff?

2) Why do I have all this stuff?

3) Where does it come from?

4) What else can I give away?

As I said to one of our Senior Sisters the other day, I'm not interested in going back to the way it was but there was an awful lot of wisdom in having two habits and one trunk. My goal in life - or one of them - is to be down to the contents of a few boxes by the time I die. I have a LONG way to go!!!!!

On the bright side, at least I no longer have 10+ car loads of personal belongings! There is some progress to be seen.

The Crossing Place

2008-07-24T09:12:00.006-04:00

This is a very exciting (if challenging) time to be entering religious life. Some may be surprised by this statement. What about the decreasing numbers? What about the lack of vocations? What about the closing of some institutions and the passing off of others to lay collaborators? What about the unknown future??

Early on in my novitiate, a Sister who has since passed on told me that she thought I was very brave for entering at this point when so much is unknown. I paused a moment and told her, "But really, you didn't know what you were signing up for either, even though you thought you did. Could you have guessed when you entered where Vatican II and the renewal of religious life would take you and the community?." She thought about it quietly and said, "No, I guess you're right. The difference I suppose is that those of you entering today know that you don't know, whereas we thought we had the benefit of surety."

I've been thinking a lot about that conversation as we move towards our General Chapter this weekend. Like most religious communities - especially in this country - we are facing the reality of an aging population. The large groups of Sisters that entered during the boom years of religious life are getting older (and, if I might add, aging quite gracefully). And even though we do have women entering today, the numbers are smaller. Do the math, and you begin to understand the challenges of this time.

But what excites me is that we, like most other communities, are not just standing idly by. Instead, we are gathering to "choose our preferred future," as our Congregation Leader Sr. Sheila puts it.

Other communities with common roots have joined together in an effort to share resources and responsibilities more effectively for the sake of mission, such as the new US-Ontario Province of the Holy Names Sisters, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, and the Sisters of St Joseph Federation. (As an aside, even though the CSJPs have "St Joseph" in our name, we do not share their common foundation at LePuy, France but have a unique history.) One of the main agenda items at our General Chapter is becoming "One Congregation Without Provinces." In a sense, we've been moving in this direction already. For example, I've been part of the first "Congregation Novitiate" with novices from across the Congregation.

The theme of our Chapter is "The Crossing Place ... Come." I think Sr. Sheila puts it all in great context in her Convocation Letter, so I'll leave you with her words:

In a real sense our participation is a communal response to obedience. In God's providence we are given this particular time in history as blessing and challenge. Your participation is a declaration of your trust in God's faithfulness to work among us. Your participation is a commitment to the Congregation of your desire to join together to cross over to shape our preferred future. We are confident that the strength of our coming together will be robust enough to risk crossing over into the unknown for the next six years. It is in this time, given our present realities, that we are called to make a difference and to influence what is happening to suffering people around the globe and to an anguished planet so that the good news of the Gospel of Peace may be known and embraced. What more important time in the life of the Congregation than now?

Today as I convoke the Twenty-first General Chapter I invite you once again to look and probe the meaning of the Chapter theme in light of the two critical focus areas that have been named. Let the theme, Crossing Place, reverberate through your present reality through a variety of lenses: the transitions in your personal life; the transitions that are happening throughout the Congregation; and the suffering that continues to escalate in our world and on our planet. May we be united daily as we pray the Chapter Prayer and call on the God of new life to walk with us in the days and months ahead. The Crossing Place - Come!

Chapter

2008-07-23T13:15:00.006-04:00

We're all busy getting ready for our Congregation General Chapter which starts this weekend. We're going to be away for 2 weeks, so there's the logistics not only of packing but stopping the newspaper and eating the perishable contents of one's fridge. I'm also trying to work through my giant to do list since I've only got a week between Chapter and my vacation and retreat.

What's a Chapter you ask??? Well, let me quote our Congregation Leader Sr. Sheila from her letter convoking the Chapter:

Because of the wisdom of our foremothers we come together every six years. Our Constitutions describe the Congregation Chapter as the highest decision-making body in the Congregation. They remind us that we gather for several reasons: we gather to witness to our unity; we gather to renew our life and spirit; we gather to reflect together on the call of the gospel and because of that prayerful reflection, we gather to make decisions in fidelity to our charism.

Every 6 years, our Congregation gathers in one place to decide our direction for the next 6 years. Normally, we also elect our Congregation Leadership. We have voting delegates from each province, but everyone is encouraged and invited to attend. There will be over 150 of us gathered from our three provinces in the UK, the East Coast and the West Coast of the US! I'm looking forward to reconnecting with my friends from across the Congregation - including those I lived with in London last Fall. I'm thinking of it like a convention/homecoming.

This will of course be my first Chapter. I've studied the documents from our past Chapters and heard so many of the stories, but I think it's something you just have to experience. I'll share some of my impressions here over the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, I invite you to join with my groovy sisters in praying our Chapter Prayer:

Spirit of God,
you breathed over the waters
and gave light, life and beauty to the earth,
breathe on us now,
drawing us forward to the crossing place,
moving us in hope and trust to that place
where we will encounter you in our Congregation Chapter.
Come with your spirit of wisdom, love and unity;
come with strength and vigour,
with lightness, courage and faith.
Inflame our hearts, enlighten our minds
that our actions, words and decisions
may glorify you and serve your people
with justice and in peace. We ask this in Jesus' name.
Amen.

news quiz

2008-07-22T12:53:00.003-04:00

One benefit of living across the river from Manhattan ... we get the New York Times each day. I also have made it part of my daily responsibilities to read the NYT each day and to "pray the news."

I chalk my score on this quiz from the folks at the Pew Research Center up to my daily practice. Plus, as we've established here before, I'm just generally geeky! :)

Pew News IQ: To test your knowledge of prominent people and major events in the news, we invite you to take our short quiz. Then see how you did in comparison with 1,003 randomly sampled adults asked the same questions in a recent national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center.

Click here to take the quiz.

(For the curious - I scored in the 97th percentile. How did you do?)