Dear Sisters, Associates and Partners in Ministry,

   The CPC held their third meeting May 10-11 at St. Clare's, Tampa.

The committee reviewed the feedback from all the Assemblies with regard to what are the deep conversations that we need and want to have at our Chapter 2020. We are grateful for those who attended and participated in these very important Assemblies. The table responses were insightful!

   Four Common Threads have emerged: 

   You recently received an email from the CPC with a letter and "raw data" feedback from the Assemblies, Round 1 Consultation - New Table Responses, regarding these four Common Threads. Also with that email we sent the presentation by Sr. Teresa Maya, CCVI to the Union of International Superiors General (UISG) which was held on May 10, 2019 in Rome, Italy. The title of her Plenary presentation is "A Vision for the Future of Religious Life." Teresa's talk is challenging, hopeful and energizing. The CPC believes this will be helpful for personal reflection as we continue to prepare for Chapter.

   In our recent email, there is also a Reflection and Response form for your use with your cluster, local community and/or Self Organizing Group (SOG). We ask you to pray with and reflect on these materials as preparation for the Round 2 Consultation at the next set of Assemblies. Hopefully, we will identify and finalize the content for the Chapter of Affairs as a result of these two consultations with the Congregation, Associates, and Partners in Ministry.

   We are happy to announce that we have a Chapter theme and a graphic artist is working to design a logo that incorporates our Congregational logo. The Chapter theme is:

"Behold, I Am Doing Something New...Listen!"

   The Chapter Planning committee believes that this theme resonates with the Communal Discernment process that we began at the Assemblies and will continue to use in our preparation as well as throughout the Chapter.

We are grateful to all of you who submitted suggestions for the theme and designs for a logo. While each was inspiring, in the end, the CPC felt that this quote from the Prophet Isaiah invites us into deep listening and beckons us toward the future with hope and trust in the Spirit's guidance.

  

Sr. Mary Ann Mulzet SSJ

During our meeting the CPC also discussed volunteer opportunities, modes of Chapter Participation, the use of Table Facilitators and the Process for the Election of Leadership. We will continue to work and develop these items at our next meeting which will be July 17-18, 2019 at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, New York. Our Chapter Liturgist, Sr. Mary Ann Mulzet SSJ, will be joining us in July to begin planning and to see our chapel and meeting space. We will also welcome our Chapter Facilitator, Sr. Connie Gilder SSJ. Although she has been meeting and working with the committee, this will be her first visit to Allegany.

   Prior to our July meeting in Allegany, we will have a CPC Zoom call meeting on Friday, May 31st to continue planning for Chapter.

   We ask you to mark your calendar and hold the dates of July 26 to August 2, 2020 for General Chapter.

 

  We are grateful for this opportunity to serve the Congregation as we work together. We also express our thanks and gratitude to the Sisters at St. Clare's, Tampa for their warm and gracious welcome and hospitality.