Convening/Assembly Minutes April 23-24, 2016 Facilitators: Srs. Betsey Van Deusen and Susan Jasko. Sr. Susan Jasko welcomed all to the spring 2016 Convening, a gathering for information, discussion, and feedback. Sr. Mary Anne Heenan explained the difference between the convening and the assembly. Because there is so much to discuss we started using the convening in order to provide time for discussion. The Assembly only acts on policies that need to be voted on. The Assembly is the voting body; the convening allows everyone to give input. The assembly will begin on Saturday afternoon due to the number of nominees for the committees. The voting will require at least two ballots. Prayer: Led by Srs. Jeanne Marie Gocha and Lin Neil, contemplative time followed by shared dialogue on quotes from Laudato Si. The prayer was a response to our chapter call to action in regard to the Church. Government Committee Presentation: Sr. Lucille Theroux reviewed the journey of how we got to this proposal. This was in response to many questions in regard how we got to this point in time. Sr. Lauren Van Dermark did a PowerPoint presentation on the government committee report. She did a review of the selections process. We are looking at communal discernment of the whole to select the next Province Leadership. Her PowerPoint emphasized that all members participate throughout the process. Ways of participation include: Assembly/Chapter delegates will participate in all aspects of the communal discernment and vote for the election of the Province Leadership at the Province Assembly/Chapter. Collaborators will participate in as many aspects of communal discernment as possible, but they do not vote in the election of the Province Leadership. Spiritual participant will participate as they are able, but do not vote in the election of the Province Leadership. The process will give the framework for the selections board, leadership and facilitators. The Selections board will work on the timeline understanding the concepts of the process. During the fall 2016 and spring of 2017 the forums and the assemblies will be discussing the roles of leadership and the numbers and composition of the leadership. Lauren s PowerPoint presentation illustrated the similarities and the differences in concepts between the proposed selection process and the current selection process. Her presentation helped clarify the proposed process. 1
Sisters discussed her presentation at tables and raised these concerns: 1) Will there be an overlap for discernment for provincial and congregational leaderships? 2) When is the decision going to be made if we are going to be individual units or one whole unit? 3) Are we the only province who wants to become one? Extraordinary Congregational chapter of 2017 will make that decision. Questions/comments. Grateful for the work of the government committee; grateful for clarity in today s presentation; discernment is already in process among us. Open Mike: Sr. Carol Rohloff gave a development accountability report; we netted $30, 928.73 from the Carondelet confections event. This was $10,000 less from last year. We sold fewer tickets this year and an April snowstorm affected the number of people who attended. There was a shortfall income for the journal book and the big money raffle. It was made up because we had the Triskele event that netted $8,821.77. You can help by soliciting ads for the journal and for selling the raffle tickets. Support our dessert providers: Bella Napoli and Century House. The Golf event is May 16. We recently received two large donations from estates. Sr. Honora Kinney raised the question of the purpose of Open mike. Is it just for announcements or could it be adjusted to share issues that we are concerned about? Sr. Doreen Glynn reminded us to participate in Bread for the World offering by sending letters this spring to ask Congress for $230,000 for maternal and child nutritional international programs. Prepared letters were available for sisters to sign to the state Senators. Sr. Fran Dempsey asked us to give the social justice committee a statement on how we have supported the province focus during the past two years. Sheets were passed out so we could write down our actions. Sr. Sean Peters asked us to pray for six CSR students on May 14 who will be going to Guatemala on a mission project; she invited us to write a short note to a dear traveler to encourage them on their journey. Sr. Kitty Hanley announced that she and Sr. Joan Lescinski are leading another group from Avila College to LePuy on May 18. If you would like to have her bring back lace from LePuy contact her. 2
Sr. Jeanne Marie Gocha announced that 5 women are discerning entering into candidacy; two in LA; one in Albany and two in St. Louis. She asked for our prayers for these women. PLT SUMMARY OF RESPONSES TO THE MID TERM REPORT The PLT sat as a panel and reported on each goal of the PLT and addressed specific concerns from the forum responses. Sr. Barbara Dreher CLT Liaison Moving Toward Oneness as a Congregation Barbara Dreher was presented with a special gift in honor of her 50th Jubilee. She then reviewed the process outlined in the letter sent to everyone in the Congregation by the CLT on the decision for action for governance across the congregation by 2017. We will be called from seeing and reflecting to reflecting and acting. A special Congregational Chapter from April 21-25, 2017(tentative dates) will reach a decision in regard to governance across the Congregation. We are being asked to consider these questions: What is the Spirit calling me to, calling us, now? What appears to be the best direction to take at this time? How can we begin to reshape our relationships to foster life and mission? We are called to enter into this process as fully and as much as possible. Re-imagine our collective power for mission. 3
PROVINCE ASSEMBLY Saturday, April 23, 2016 Roll: 77 members present. Excused: Sisters Robert Rita Graham, Joan Killoran, Rose Cassalano, Patricia Cairns, Chris Pologa, Marilyn Vassallo, Maureen Moffitt, Patti St. John, Mary Ellen Shirtz, Mary Denise Linehan, Margaret Vincent, and Kate Arseneau. Assembly called to order by Sister Mary Anne Heenan at 3:45 p.m. Action on Minutes from the Fall Assembly was approved with one change - a grammatical correction: Mary Anne asked the Assembly FOR (not on ) a leaning Motion put forth by Mary Ann Rodgers, seconded by Martha Larkin. Selection of Members for Province Boards Board Selections Process (First ballot): Sisters voted for membership on six committees. Closed at 4:15 p.m. with a prayer adapted from Teilhard de Chardin brought to us by Barbara Dreher. Sunday, April 24, 2016 The proceedings of the Assembly resumed at 10:15 a.m. Morning Prayer was led by members of the Vocation Committee. Roll: 78 members present. Excused: Sisters Robert Rita Graham, Joan Killoran, Rose Cassalano, Patricia Cairns, Marilyn Vassallo, Maureen Moffitt, Patricia St. John, Mary Ellen Shirtz, Mary Denise Linehan, Margaret Vincent, Kate Arseneau, Jacqueline Power, Monica Murphy, and Francine Dempsey. The selections committee shared the results of the first ballot and sisters cast votes on a second and third ballot for members of the six committees. Report from Long Range Planning Facilitated by Sisters Mary Anne Heenan and Eileen McCann. 4
Decisions about care of our sisters (Mary Anne Heenan) Care of our Sisters-options: 1) Use our own licensed facility: To renovate our present building or build a new facility is not feasible licensed beds are difficult to acquire, very long pay back on investment if at all, zoning issues, loss of control; can t save beds for sisters; subject to government regulations and inspections; still be responsible for administration and upkeep of the plant. Reimbursement rates insufficient to cover costs of using our own facility. 2) Use another licensed facility area nursing homes under Medicaid cost saving, ministry to other residents, living at a number of different facilities. Must work with several facilities. 3) Continue to use an unlicensed facility That is where we are now. 4) Licensed home care PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly), PACE under Eddy and SPHP (St. Peter s Health Partners). PACE provides care in the person s home, medical expenses are paid by Medicare/Medicaid; family is responsible for meals and upkeep of home. PACE provides professional caregivers, medicine and durable medical equipment and supplies; medical specialists, vision, hearing, dental and PT; hospitalization; other medical services; transportation to medical appointments. Eligibility criteria: 55 or older, live within defined service area, Medicaid /Medicare eligible; safe in community with services provided, Score 5 or Higher on NY Uniform Assessment Tool. Define service area currently licensed in Schenectady County; original proposal to expand to Albany Country denied due to extensive capital needed; possibility of partnering with us to expand into Albany and Rensselaer Counties using our facility; could be a win/win situation. Advantage for SPHP expansion into Albany County and parts of Rensselaer County; expand client base making it more cost effective; no need to build facility. Advantages for CSJ remain at home, shift significant cost to third party; strengthen our mission of service to the dear neighbor. Need to explore: in-depth financial analysis for PACE; Zoning change; NYS approval to expand; renovations and changes needed to accommodate program here (use of space, schedule, etc.). 5
Future possibilities for use of the PH (Eileen McCann) The PLT has contracted with GAR Associates for a real estate appraisal and market analysis in order to have a second opinion in regard to the value of our property. GAR representatives will be walking through the house and our property and a report will be given to the PLT by the end of May. Mary Anne asked us to keep this to ourselves but if word does get out and if people start asking us if we are selling our property we can say: Due to our demographics and increasing costs of living we are exploring all the possibilities for the use of our property, the care of our sisters, for furthering our mission. Discussion and action on Government Committee Direction Vote: The proposed process from the Government Committee for Communal Discernment in selecting the next Province Leadership was passed unanimously. Final selection results for committees: Finance Committee Anna Mae Collins. Lifelong Development Jane Comerford. Long Range Planning- Lynn Levo. Mediation Maureen D Onofrio, and Mary Salvaterra. Selections- Fran Dempsey, Pat Conron, and Mary Jo Tallman. STEP - Mary O Brien, and Rene Adamany. Thanks: Sr. Mary Anne thanked all those who worked to bring about our two-day meeting and helped make it a success. Sr. Mary Ellen Curtin motioned to adjourn; seconded by Sr. Madeleine Powers. The Meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m. Minutes Submitted by Sisters Jane Comerford and Mary Salvaterra. 6