Dear Brothers,
Planning process and province direction
At the Province Assembly this past summer, the incoming council indicated that consistent with the recommendations made in the responses to the consultation conducted by the superior general prior to our appointment, we would initiate a planning process focused on a three to five year time horizon. Its goals are to be statements of overall strategic intent, that is, a
Province Direction Statement.
At the meeting of the council with the directors and area coordinators in October, we presented our working proposal for this process. We received many helpful suggestions, affirmations, and cautions. In particular, they affirmed that while there is a part of this work that is for the province in itself, at the same time, it needs to be in the context of the entire Marianist Family and so the steering committee should include a Marianist Sister and lay member of the Marianist Family.
As currently envisioned, the Province Direction Statement will include three components:
•
Reading the Signs of the Times–four to seven statements which indicate what are judged to be the most important opportunities and challenges facing the province as seen through the lens of the Marianist Charism, the 2018 Province Assembly affirmations and the 2018 General Chapter documents.
•
Description of Our Desired Future–a brief statement of what we as a province wish to be in five years both in ourselves and within the Marianist Family in light of our
Reading the Signs of the Times.
•
Statements of Strategic Intent–three to five goals that we judge are necessary to achieve, if we are to attain
Our Desired Future.
I am very pleased that the following persons have agreed to serve as members of the steering committee.
•
Bro. Reinaldo Berríos
•
Ms. Katie Gushoney
•
Sr. Nicole Trahan
•
Bro. Tom Wendorf
•
Bro. Jack Ventura
•
Bro. Ed Violett
Mr. Tim Fallon will be the committee’s facilitator and I will be its chair. The goal is to have the Province Direction Statement ready for adoption at the March 2020 meeting of the provincial chapter.
To truly be “owned,” the manner in which the Province Direction Statement is developed must be broadly consultative and formulated in a manner that is:
•
inclusive without, though, failing to make choices;
•
educative in the sense that participants are required to see the province
beyond their local situation;
•
elicits commitment to taking the personal actions required by the
directions set.
In the near future, the steering committee will hold its first meeting with a goal of mapping out the consultation process through August 2019.
Thank you in advance for your participation and support as we continue the work of reimagining the dream as brothers of hope and joy.
Pastoral assistance coordinator
