SSND has been attending ecumenical prayer services in Ferguson

Sister Cathy Doherty, SSND, has been attending ecumenical prayer services in Ferguson. She was recently featured in the St. Louis Review, which is published by the Archdiocese of St. Louis. You can find this excellent article here: http://t.co/cadEyAdAbz

Sisters show up in the most interesting places!

Did you know that a sister was recognized by President Obama at the announcement of his clean power plan? LCWR executive director Sister Joan Marie Steadman, CSC was present for the occasion because of the help she provided in getting sisters across the country to push for solutions to climate change. You can read more about the event and Sister Joan Marie's involvement here on the LCWR page. Neat!

Day 6 Leading from Within

Summer 2015 Book Discussion

Parker Palmer—Let Your Life Speak

Chapter 5, Leading from Within, opens the conversation about leadership. Each of us possesses qualities and gifts that enable us to excel in life. Almost daily we are called into “actions” that require us to lead sometimes from within and sometimes externally and in a variety of capacities…our homes, or work place, communities, government…etc.  How we chose to engage in these capacities, our actions and attitudes, are an insight into how we encircle our lives. Do we look at all aspects and move forward or do we sit back and wallow and wait for others to take action.  Palmer then reminds us that often in areas that see the most darkness, leaders arise who are most worthy of respect and credibility. Perhaps leaders are most respected when they can rise from the dark, acknowledge where they or a situation has been and note how to build upon and move forward into the light. In a world built upon community, leadership is never easy. However if we encourage ourselves to look deep into ourselves and our gifts we will note our capacity to lead or to encourage others to do so. 

1.     “A leader is someone with the power to project either shadow or light into some part of the world and onto the lives of people who dwell there.” (page 78) Can you name a person or persons who possesses the gift of leadership?    
2.  “Good leadership comes from people who have penetrated their own inner darkens and arrived at the place where we are at with one another, people who can lead the rest of us to a place of “hidden wholeness” because they have been there and know the way.” (page 81) Do you find it important for a leader to understand their personal inner darkness and lead others to do the same?

Guest Post: Sister Carol Ann Prenger, SSND

This weekend's post is a reflection from Sister Carol Ann Prenger, SSND, whose tenure on her Provincial Council comes to an end this Saturday. Not only is it a powerful statement about the nature and importance of community life for consecrated religious, it is also a beautiful insight in to the spiritual reality of her experience of leadership. Grab a cup of tea and take the time to prayerfully read her thoughts below!

Community Life Through the Lens of Leadership

During these last days of this “term of office” on the inaugural Council for the Central Pacific Province, I reflect on the meaning of leadership – what it has been for me and us, and what it may be for future leadership. It is a broad scope – bigger than I ever could have imagined. It is “big” because it concerns the lives of our precious Sisters who have given and continue to give of themselves for the Mission as SSND through community, ministry and prayer. We are 2 North American Provinces; we are international and we are “affected and challenged by the many divisions in our world and church today and by the social, economic and ecological crises of our times”. (Directional Statement) Personally, it has been a world of opportunities and human experiences: to laugh, to cry, to plan for the future, to collaborate within the team, with staff, Sisters, committees, departments, ministries. It has been being one-with individuals, communities, and the larger congregation. It has offered challenges and accompaniment, sensitivity and risk taking. 

I ponder how leadership is different from any other Sister’s call to ministry. Each of us has the same “mandate”, but there are different ways of being called to live it out.  Our constitution lays out a framework for Provincial Council. Within this leadership there are responsibilities and decisions to be made, ability and necessity of having a broader view/perspective and service of the whole. 

Leadership has involved mutual trust of the team with whom I have worked as well as with the Sisters and staff throughout the province and beyond. It also has involved being entrusted with precious lives and stories and realities of our sisters as well as the future of our religious life. It has been collaboration with other provinces and cultures within SSND as well as other congregations (LCWR). 

SSND leadership has been a privilege and a grace for me. I say “privilege” because it has been an awesome responsibility and honor to accompany, challenge and work with our sisters in this capacity. It has been a “grace” because only with the grace of God have I been able to respond to the personal and magnificent tasks to which I have been called. 

By its very nature community leadership is administrative – there are tasks above and beyond what the majority of Sisters may “know” because of confidentiality and the greater good. The team has been responsible for the implementation of General Chapter decisions, setting the direction of the province and that of initial formation. Together we have been charged with the acceptance and admittance of those in formation. After personal and communal discernment followed by dialogue with Council, Sisters have been missioned. For me, another inspiring responsibility of the Council has been visitation with Sisters in their homes or ministries. This has facilitated getting to know Sisters personally, uniting the province. Responding to legal and canonical aspects of religious/provincial life has been another serious duty of this type of leadership. 

For the most part, my experience in provincial leadership has been joy amidst the challenges. Because it has supported relationship as well as unity (in diversity), the love I/we share has brought to fruition our Gospel values. Only with care,concern and love of our Sisters and broader congregation, Church and world can the primary responsibility of the Council,which is spiritual, be fulfilled.

I am grateful to God for the initial call to leadership through my Sisters. I have often been told that I and the rest of the team have been prayed for daily by name. At this time of transition to a new team, I offer my daily prayer for each Sister on the Council, and for our province and international community. What an awesome task is before them! I offer my trust and support to them as so many have trusted and supported me. 

Carol Ann Prenger, SSND 

Provincial Councilor 

Central Pacific Province 

2011 - 2015