2023 April Newsletter _ Blessed Sacrament (U.S.) Province

News from the Leadership Team, Sisters, Associates, and Formation!
From Our Leadership Team:
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious has begun a national initiative, Discerning Our Emerging Future, to “support institutes of women religious as we explore together how collectively to organize for mission at a time of dramatic change.” The current phase of the initiative calls for LCWR staff to interview the Leadership Teams of the 290 member congregations to gather input concerning needs and concerns. We are looking forward to our interview, which will take place on May 25th.
We reviewed a new bid for modifications to the main house in Quonnie, planned for a consultation of the Sisters, and then after reviewing their responses made the decision to accept the bid. We also continued our discussion of housing options as well as appropriate staffing for residences.
Certainly the most enjoyable task for our team is giving away money. We are very grateful to all those who submitted applications and to the Donations and Scholarships Committees that studied them carefully and provided recommendations that we were happy to accept.
We approved awarding grants to
• Academy of St. Benedict the African, Chicago, IL for new chairs to create a beautiful learning environment
• Annunciata School, Chicago, IL for portable sink and paints for art class
• Benincasa Community, Guilford, CT for solar panels
• Catholic Academy of Waterbury, Waterbury, CT for Chromebooks
• Children’s Community School, Waterbury, CT for Star 360 Assessment software
• CREA-Centro de recursos educativos para adultos, New York, NY for textbooks and food
• Deignan Institute for Earth and Spirit for restoration of greenhouse & “garden plots” on Iona campus
• Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, Stamford, CT for social work staff
• Hearts of Hope Youth Ministry, Kankakee, IL for materials needed for camp
• JaamRek, Providence, RI for emergency shelter expenses
• Las Senoras de Santa Maria de la Asuncion, Staten Island, NY for training immigrant women
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, Waterbury, CT for security cameras
• St. Ann School, Chicago, IL for table and rugs for small group work
• St. Joseph Parenting Center, Stamford, CT for materials for the parenting courses
• St. Martin de Porres Academy, New Haven, CT for microphone system
• St. Pius V School, Chicago, IL for new tables and chairs for 1st grade collaborative learning space
• St. Thomas the Apostle School, Chicago, IL for Smart board for interactive learning
• Thomas Merton Contemplative Initiative, New Rochelle, NY
• Villa Maria Academy, Bronx, NY for greenhouse supplies
We approved amounts for material and supplies for 6 college students and 54 scholarships to students.

Associate Relationship:
Last month we reported that Sr. Kathleen Dorney and a group of Associates had gathered for the inaugural meeting of a new kind of CND Book Club. Energized by our first meeting, we’d like to share the secret of our success. Here’s what worked for us.
1st, we used a book that was easily parsed into four hourly meetings that took place every two weeks at 7:00 p.m. Consequently, preparation was very manageable and meeting times were convenient for the busiest of us.
2nd, we did NOT discuss the book. We prayed it using the practice of Lectio Divina. Zoom allowed us to break into pairs and slowly read selected sections of the text to each other. We practiced the skills and habit of attentive listening and speaking.
3rd, we then moved gradually to contemplative conversation about the book’s concepts and language. Our careful listening led to sharing personal discoveries.
4th, praying the book was joined with some poignant Scripture, a Celtic version of the Our Father, and personal prayers of gratitude for each other and for our own new beginnings in Christ.
Last, we were so blessed to have Kathleen and her Spirit to guide us! She emailed us an outline of each meeting beforehand; therefore; we were prepared!

BACK TO SCHOOL
CND women showing delight in going back to school at Sacred Heart University! Last year the CND’s were asked to send a “few older” sisters to be part of the work of the campus ministry program. Sisters Mary Ann Rossi, Kathleen Dorney, and Joan Mahoney fit the job requirements: willing, able and adequately aged. Two of the three will facilitate parts of the preparation for weddings and baptisms. The third will help younger Campus Ministers plan retreats. The sisters say that they arrived on campus looking like delegates for “Grandparent Day,” and in true CND fashion immediately became involved as companions for a group of faculty and students making a “Busy Person’s Retreat.” Keep Joan, Kathleen and Mary Ann and all at SHU In your intentions. They think they’ll need it!

Sr. Joann Compagno has found a new way to reach out to those on the peripheries. Guided by a note in the parish bulletin asking for volunteers for Operation Hope, a meal program in Fairfield, Joann prepares a meal once a month in the comfort of her kitchen and delivers her five-star dinner to the meal site. Sr. Terry Martin has also picked up on this idea, and both are now sharing their cooking skills with those facing food insecurity in the Fairfield area.

Book Recommendation from Ann Perrin CND
“The Inner Work of Age. Shifting from Role to Soul” by Connie Zweig, Ph.D
My initial approach to this book was, “I know all about this, I don’t need to read it.” Then I glanced at the table of contents and thought, “Well maybe I’ll read a little.” Now I’m enthused and want to share my find!
Connie Zweig, a retired psychotherapist, calls us to be aware of our shadow, our inner space and our mortality. We are living longer, giving us time for personal and spiritual growth. Our identity is expanding, and we are moving through a new life passage and we can choose to be fully alive, real, transparent and free with the grace of God. I was especially intrigued about our personal and collective ageism shadow. Connie speaks of Divine Messengers, two of which are retirement and life-changing illness. I haven’t finished the book yet, but I already want to share and discuss it with others!

Formation Corner
And Formation continues! It was great to have Sisters Christa and Libby at the recent Formation gathering at Holy Cross Monastery, in West Park, NY. What joy it was to be with other brothers and sisters in formation from different communities and participate in a weekend on the theme of “Mystics of our Times” with Natalie Cain, SSJ!
Maco Cassetta, CND