From June 15-19, the Sisters of Charity Federation of North America held its Annual Leadership, CCFP & NGO Meeting in Emmitsburg, Maryland. One hundred leaders gathered representing two provinces of the Daughters of Charity and eleven congregations of Sisters of Charity in the U.S. and Canada.

Highlights include:

• Susan Gatz, SCN, President of the Federation Board, presented the President’s report, emphasizing the rich and thought-provoking Preamble of the Federation Strategic Plan 2012-1017, and ending with Vincent’s challenge to be “inventive to infinity.”

• Sister Teresa Kotturan, SCN, Federation NGO Representative emphasized the absolute necessity to move forward collaboratively to create a new paradigm as Federation and as Vincentian Family, raising over two million voices to speak with one voice at the UN. Collaboration as a pattern for our ministry comes to us from Vincent who urged, “enlist the help of others.” Teresa reminded the Federation that its commitment to bring systemic change to our ministries is a commitment to collaboration and partnership. She concluded by challenging the Federation to consider avenues of collaboration.

• Three NGO liaisons, Brenda Gonzalez, SCN, BettyMarie Dunkel, DC-W, and Father Terry Moran for SC-StE, offered bold choices and suggestions to further Federation collaboration. This was followed by video presentations on efforts of seven congregations to bring about systemic change.

• Sister Mary Jordan, Facilitator, provided directions for table reflection and further discussion on key questions:
  • What are the one or two bold new choices that will impel us to our shared future as a Federation?
  • What do we as Federation need to embrace and to let go of to move us in that direction?

• Sister Julie Cutter reported on the many activities of the Federation during the past year, including the Future of Charity blogspot and the Federation collaboration with the Vincentian Family in the U.S., Canada, and internationally.

• Kristen Blacksher, Social Media and Web Content Specialist for the Federation explained how she uses Facebook and Twitter to tell the stories of all that is happening in the Federation.

• Videos were shown of women discerning their future religious life in the charism of Charity [Ex. See the video of Sister Tracy Kemme, SCC here].

• The Federation affirmed its deepening relationship with Seton Heritage Ministries and the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton at a Eucharistic celebration with Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore on Saturday, June 18 at the Basilica in Emmitsburg.

To view the photo album of the Annual Meeting, click here.

For more information, contact Sister Eileen at emcgrory@scny.org. For more highlights and meeting notes, visit the Sisters of Charity Federation Website