Minutes of Telephone conference on Tuesday May 1, 2007 -- 5: 15 Pacific time.

Present: Elinor Sevigny facilitator, Mary Breiling, Carol Hallmeyer, Bernice Gignac,
Dolores Quinn minutes.
We met for one hour. Prayer, some introductions, and then followed the proposed agenda.
Assignments:
Mary B.:make a copy of Chapter report on Membership and Alternative groups and send
it to us.
Carol: contact Planning Group for chapter and see how we interface wjth them.
Dolores contact Lorraine and her committee on alternative belongings and how we can interface with them.
We began by giving reflections on Richard Rohr's paper.
This led us to questions and discussion of:
I. What types of altemate belongings do we have? What about temporary vows.
Dolores explained the Consecrated Life with Private Vows that she works with. Noted that Lorraine is working on the alternative groups we have at present.
2. What is the place of Religious life in the world? What is fundamental to our life?
3. What about a temporary commitment with just the initiation piece?
Look at the statistics. Over half of those who entered our community have left. Noted that most use deepening and expansion of the initial training for their families and their service to others. They are bonded to each other, to us, and our spirit. What does this tell us?
4. Mary suggested we consider discussing and planning for an alternative kind of process for living and ministry. She called it "birthing a non-canonical cell." This would be a new approach and in addition to being would non-canonical, it would be separate from our congregation. This was affirmed by the group.
Other comments related to all this and were accepted by all of us.
Jesus called his disciples and prepared them by having them with Him as he ministered. This followed by discussing and teaching. Then they are sent out and come back to learn more. Their commitment to this intensity was not for ever.
Mother Rose worked with the sodalities and the women to effect a deeper life.
We are all called to live the Gospel. The vows are one way of expressing the following of Jesus. All Christians are called to the life that Jesus had.
We must be open the Spirit.
Where is God in all this? Use discernment
Those who complete the RCIA initiation need the continuing support from the Community of Believers. So too, do others.

FOR NEXT TIME:
 ELINOR, COORDINATE; MARY SECRETARY; PRAYER CAROL OR BERNICE?
Suggested reading for next time: The second paper we received written by Maher.
Mary suggested reading selections from, D. O'Murchu's book on Consecrated Religious Life. She will select some parts for us. Other reading suggestions are wanted.
NEXT MEETING IN 3 WEEKS. ELINOR WILL SEND OUT A MAILING.
Dolores, secretary.
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, U.S.-Ontario Province   home   site map   donate now   contact us