Better Together: Sharing our Journey

During an opening discussion at the Resource Center for Religious Institutes conference last Fall, a speaker referred to the following gospel selection (Luke 3:1-3):

Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, 2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

In doing so, he highlighted the idea that the women were supporting and providing for the apostles. He found that particularly relevant as women religious are still today going forth and offering support, stewardship, and ministry. As the speaker said, “Women have always been taking care of things.” 

So, as women religious today need to face a changing and uncertain future, they are called to “take care of things,” to provide support for themselves, each other, and those who benefit from their ministry. Sisters must make decisions, develop plans, and take actions to ensure that their legacies live on and all women religious can continue living a meaningful life of purpose and ministry until their final days. The beautiful part is that women religious are absolutely capable and prepared to chart this new course. Sisters have been charting a course their whole lives. From founding congregations, to the evolution of causes and ministries, to new ways of managing congregations, sisters simply get things done. 

As we face new challenges ahead, we all—vowed and laity alike—can draw on the strength, history, and perseverance of women religious everywhere. We can stand on the shoulders of those who have made difficult decisions and put their trust in God and each other to find a new way. We can move forward confidently knowing that women religious have been taking care of things all along.

In celebrating Easter this year, the gospel story of the disciples at the empty tomb, not knowing where Jesus might be, spoke deeply to my sad and anxious heart. Maybe you also are wondering where Jesus might be, not sure if the Risen Christ of Easter is delaying to visit us during this global pandemic.

Is the uncertainty in my heart perhaps an invitation to a uniquely transformative experience of Easter, a call to move forward into the darkness of the unknown? Perhaps only in our own doubts will we be greeted by the Risen Christ, as the disciples were; or as Mary Magdalen was as she raised her heart wrenching voice in John’s gospel, ‘They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put him.’

Easter was different this year. Can it also raise for us a different and challenging experience of the Risen Christ as we look ahead to a newly emerging future, different than any of us anticipated?

A Catholic theologian, Ilia Delio OSF, poses a uniquely relevant call:

“The burden of the future is on us, and our task today is to surrender ourselves to the power of Divine Love. This is the heart of the gospel message: if we want a different world, we must become a different people."

So, I ask myself and I ask you to consider, how are we becoming different, becoming transformed by this experience of a global pandemic? Can our encounter with the Risen Christ in this new and different way this Easter Season transform us? That encounter certainly transformed the earliest followers of Jesus from a frightened and disbelieving group huddled in a closed upper room into the bold and committed disciples of the Risen Christ who changed the world with the proclamation of new life emerging from death. It can do the same for us. 

 
In Word and Mission,
Sharon Glumb, SLW Kris Vorenkamp, SLW Carrie Miller, SLW
Congregational Leadership, Sisters of the Living Word

Women religious are called to dedicate their lives to the church, and through a process of learning and experience and commitment, take sacred vows. That calling and the corresponding commitment is a singular, incomparable experience. However, many of the lay staff working with these sisters have experienced their own calling. We don’t commit in the same way, but we share the passion and dedication and hopes and worries that accompany the uncertain and changing future for women religious. 

As I interact with many lay staff, I find that each person has a story behind their journey to their role with a religious institute or a deep, caring passion for helping their sisters find ways to manage forward so they can continue with their various ministries. From the lawyer who committed to law school only after discovering she could make a difference for religious institutes, to the finance manager who saw how he could put his many years of corporate experience to use in improving efficiencies and business management so the congregation could continue with their ministry that otherwise would have been discontinued, to the congregation director who comes back day after day with a deep breath and big smile to nudge forward practical and efficient management practices to a hesitating community, these lay staff are inspired and inspiring. 

Some years ago, I redirected my career to work with professional associations and nonprofits. In 2017, I earned my Certified Association Executive certification granted through the American Society of Association Executives. I dedicated the rest of my career to working with these mission-driven, volunteer-led, staff-run organizations. Knowing that what I did every day was contributing to the organization’s mission and having the privilege and honor to work with volunteers passionate about that mission made me work harder, try more, and do better. 

There came a time when I wasn’t feeling that same enthusiasm and wasn’t feeling particularly inspired by mission. Having moved on and searching for a more inspiring organization, I responded to a posting for a role within a congregation. As I met with the hiring committee of sisters, I felt myself finding a home. These women were so smart, the work they were doing was so important, and I wanted to help! 

After the second interview I got a phone call letting me know they were declining to offer me the position because they felt I was overqualified. However, the sister who called me said she might know of something else on the horizon. I thanked her for the opportunity convinced nothing would come of it. Soon after, though, she called back and told me about this new entity called the Wisconsin Religious Collaborative and asked if I might be interested in applying as the executive director. She sent me material to review. With each additional paragraph I grew more and more excited. I just couldn’t believe I could be a part of something like this! 

Of course, I applied for the job and met more amazing sisters through the hiring process. I jumped at the offer and dived in immediately, reading everything I could get my hands on and I’ve been loving the work every single day. I truly believe I was called to this role. Too many things had to line up for this to happen to believe it was anything but meant to be. I get to apply all my previous experiences and training to expand on what nine trailblazing sisters started. I am invited into the broader conversation of what will be an evolution of women religious. And I get the honor and privilege to work with these women and many more people, both vowed and laity, who are called to face the future together.

The Ladysmith Servite Sisters have found a new way of being community during the coronavirus lockdown. Each Monday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock the Sisters log in to Zoom for an hour of sharing news, coping tips, laughter, and prayer.

I invited the Sisters to the first such gathering on March 23. I wasn’t sure how many would – or even could – show up, since most had never used Zoom before. To my delight, more than half the community logged in, and each week a few more Sisters join. Some gather around the same computer, others participate singly, and a few join by phone.

During the first call Sister Cecilia filled us in on the condition of Sister Mary John, our oldest member at age 101, who was in hospice care. That evening Sister Mary John went home to God. At the next Zoom gathering, we heard from our Sisters in Ladysmith about the private graveside service they held for Mary John. Sadly, we also heard about the final days of our next oldest member, Sister Mary Lucy, age 95. While Zoom could not replace the experience of the community coming together to celebrate their lives, it was comforting to be able to share the stories of their passing and our memories of their time with us.

A little later into the call someone said, “Sister Margaret, tell us a joke.” Margaret didn’t skip a beat. “Did you hear the one about the germ?” she asked. “Never mind, I don’t want to spread it around.”

Sister Dominica told of her neighbors, who stop in from time to time – keeping their distance, of course – asking if she needs anything. Sister Kateri told us, “I’m not bored. I have to be doing something for someone. I made 72 Easter cards for the kids in school.” And Sister Ann Marie announced that she had picked up the guitar for the first time in six years.

Now, after four Zoom calls, the Sisters have become comfortable with the new technology. The conversation at these weekly meetings flows back and forth, with the ease of a friendly living room gathering.  It’s a wonderful way of staying together while staying apart.

Throughout history, difficult circumstances have led to creativity and development. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were not convinced that remote work was feasible, but now thousands, if not millions, of people are working remotely and doing so successfully. Before, telehealth was just emerging and not seen as an everyday option; today, telehealth is emerging as a frontline solution. Factories throughout the world are retooling to address healthcare-related needs, restaurants are redesigning service models to provide meals to customers in a safe way, and teachers and parents are diving deep into their imaginations to create new and entertaining ways to engage with children. 

What is happening now with the pandemic in a way mirrors the disruption seen in the world of women religious. Times are changing. Internal and external forces are affecting the future that was expected by the women religious who took their vows years ago.  These women now have the opportunity to create their own, new future. 

Remote communication that is required today can be used to facilitate enrichment and ongoing formation tomorrow. Efficiencies needed now in this new economy can lead to streamlined and effective processes and partnerships in the future. Personal and intimate leadership desired now can drive behaviors around the necessary change management we all will face in times to come. 

This is our time to unite and collaborate, to see ourselves stronger, to work even harder to forge new paths and create a new future for us all. To help us come together, the Wisconsin Religious Collaborative invited members of our religious communities to share their inspirational readings. Please check out these recommendations at https://www.wrcollaborative.org/resources/ongoing-formation.cfm and share your recommendations as well (send to Lyn@WRCollaborative.org). Together, we can find strength, support, and inspiration for these challenging times and into the future.

Over the last 10 years, I have attended many of the workshops designed by the conferences that serve the needs of religious congregations. While listening to the input in those early years, I was highly aware that my own province was struggling to face our reality. Finally, in 2011, we acknowledged that “we are moving to completion.”

That acknowledgment freed me to listen differently to the input we received from then on. I became fascinated by the idea of covenanting. However, when I heard Janice Bader, CPPS, then executive director of NRRO, present statistics about the median age of communities reporting to the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO), I quickly realized that covenant relationships would not be sustainable. If more than 75% of LCWR communities in the NRRO sample had a median age of 70 or above there would not be enough communities to partner.

“There has to be another way to do this,” I thought. I found myself thinking about what would happen if the communities from my LCWR region (Wisconsin) would band together to create something new. I mentioned to region members my idea that some type of cooperative might help to provide internal management functions if we could just figure out how to structure it.

I realized that to move forward we had to dream together. I invited those who had interest to come to a meeting in October 2015. As a result, five leaders volunteered to form a group to research the possibilities. We were able to get grant funding and spent two years developing the Wisconsin Religious Collaborative. Incorporated in 2018, it has nine member congregations and a lay executive director.

This new beginning gives me energy and spurs creativity in my own leadership. “There has to be another way to do this” has morphed into “There has to be a better way to do this” as my team works with our general leadership to plan the future for our province. 

That perspective spills over into work I do with our diocese and other organizations. Each time I enter into a brainstorming session this new outlook allows and encourages creativity. Grounded in reality, it focuses on the possible and leaves out fear and only tried and true methods. It is an organic way of proceeding that taps our experience but also the positive energy of the group. We are small but we still have something to contribute.

As a result of practicing this way of imagining I am more sensitive to what is happening around me, more confident that there are seeds of newness in even the most dire circumstances and more dedicated to the belief that dreaming and working with others is far more fruitful than going it alone. This enables me to let go of pre-conceived notions and to welcome ideas that spark new options for growth. This stance enables me to look at setbacks as opportunities to learn. I must pay attention. It might demand an admission of failure, but it is never the end of the process. Something new could emerge, another member of the team might see a possibility I cannot see. Together we can find a better way.

Pat is provincial of the USA Province of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross and serves as the president of the board for the Wisconsin Religious Collaborative.  This blog post was first published by LCWR in the Winter 2020 Occasional Papers.