January 2024 Issue of Response

January 2024 Volume 11, Issue 21

Forward . . . sancta unio

Impelled to respond anew in Mission, together we engage with the diverse changes in our world.

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United States Area Leadership Team

Director's Letter

Mary Lou Sullivan & Kathleen Corrigan

Kenneth Gustin Director of Mission Advancement and Communications

Dear Friends, Greetings and blessings in the New Year which call us to a new “leap” forward in trust and faith.

First of all, we, Kathleen Corrigan and Mary Lou Sullivan, are the new Area Leadership for Holy Union in the United States. We form a new team, but you, who have been with us for a while, may recognize us from our service as members of previous leadership teams. We look forward to sharing with you something of our Holy Union journey and hopes in each edition of Response.

You may have noted that we referred to ourselves as “Area Leadership.” As of our Collegial Assembly in Italy this summer our governance structure has become simpler, with each geographical part now named an Area, instead of our former designations of Province, Region, or Mission Unit. In this time of new beginnings on behalf of the US Area, as well as the whole Congregation, we extend our deepest appreciation for you, and your ongoing, faithful, prayerful and generous support of our mission.

In our last issue, we spoke of our Collegial Assembly, an international gathering of delegates with our Congregational leadership that occurs every six years.

Through a process of prayerful discernment this body articulates the vision and calls for us for the next six years and elects Sisters who will serve as our General Council to lead us forward in light of them. In this issue we are delighted to offer you more information on our 2023 Collegial Assembly, as well as introduce you to our new General Council.

In conclusion, one part of our new vision statement speaks of the boldness of Mary’s response to God’s call, “going forward in haste” to be a presence and a sign of God’s faithful, compassionate care to respond to her cousin, Elizabeth. Let us, together, with courage and love, go forward as a prayerful presence and an active sign of God’s love especially in responding to the needs of the most vulnerable and the urgent cries of creation.

Union of heart,

Dear Friends, I was so excited when our Sisters returned from Rome this Fall after their Collegial Assembly, with a refined Vision to respond in haste to the urgent cries of humanity and Creation, guided by their charism of Union.

The continual battling over cultural and political issues has become so pervasive, I’m not sure how much more I can take, and frankly, I’m exhausted.

I must confess that when I arrived on the scene here almost five years ago, I struggled to understand the significance of this charism. But the events of our time bring into brilliant focus the absolute necessity of recognizing our kinship with one another and how our very existence depends on it. I pray that God will give me the strength and the grace to follow the Sisters’ example, and to see God in the face of those with whom I disagree.

If we can allow the light of God’s love to shine through us, it will inspire others to do the same. It will be a beacon lighting our path forward, and bridging the divides which have opened before us in our world.

We are one.

jubilarians 2024

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This year we’re delighted to be celebrating two Jubilarians: S. Gertrude Pare and S. Mary Catherine Duerr, who are both celebrating their 70th Jubilee. We asked them to reflect on the following question:

“How has living the Holy Union charism evolved since your early years as a Sister, and what is it calling you to today and tomorrow?”

S. Mary Catherine Duerr

S. Gertrude Pare

In my early years as a Sister, I don’t recall hearing the word “charism”. On our original Holy Union cross were the virtues silence, simplicity, charity, and obedience which became a very significant part of my life. Also, on our cross was the “Eye of God”, symbolizing that God was always watching over me, and I was in His loving care. That is what guided my vocation, and what I would have been living as “charism”.

When I entered Holy Union, I didn’t know what charism meant. But in the early days our lives centered around following the rules, so to speak. Which suited me well, as I was always a rules follower. Which, in hind sight, seems a bit like living a charism. I was trying my best to live as a good Religious.

Sometime after Vatican II, the word Charism emerged. In the first article of our Constitutions we are “called to be at the heart of the world revealing God’s love”.

I pray that it has become a very significant part of who I am at this stage of my religious life.

With Vatican II there was a great deal of new language and ideas, and I began to see this new term “charism” as meaning the essence of who you are, which for me, was someone who wanted to follow everything I was taught. And that remains true to this day.

Union, our official charism, to me has meant working together, and being mission-minded. It includes being alert to things After spending so many years happening in the world including at St. Leo’s in Baltimore, I came S. Mary Catherine Duerr and S. Gertrude Pare things like the climate, or even to know the people and actually politics. Today, our work in these areas is mostly focused became part of this Parish Family. I felt affirmed. That on prayer. But for many years our focus was on our affirmation continues to this day as we keep in touch mission, which for me was teaching. I tried to be very through prayer and phone. aware of the kids and where they were coming from, and I pray that here in the Prosper Community where I now becoming more aware of their problems or challenges live, I strive to carry out a ministry of presence among made me a better teacher. As time went on, I became a the elder residents as a Holy Union Sister, “revealing principal which required me to be a bit more extraverted, God’s love”. in order to deal with the parents. These qualities even As I think about tomorrow, I see myself having a prayer helped me to deepen and grow my relationship with my ministry. Since my abilities to move about and do own family, understanding them better, and accepting physical things begin to diminish, suffering becomes a them as they were. None of us is perfect. part of my joint experience living in an Assisted Living I am now at this stage of my life where I cannot do all the facility. Together we can be here to support one another, things I would like to do. However, I still can share my to be in communion with each other. charism by my presence among the people I meet daily.

Growing older is a blessing and it is a gift to be put I can take the time to listen to people who need to share in a position to be able help each other endure the their stories, visit people who do not have company, limitations as time progresses. I pray that God will allow console people who need consoling and share my joy by me the health to be able to continue being present in my being who I am. And so, my journey continues. efforts to be true to our charism of union and revealing God’s love here in the present.

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Forward in union The last week of July into August 2023 the Holy Union Sisters, represented by delegates from every Area of the Congregation where we are missioned, gathered for the Collegial Assembly in beautiful Nemi, Italy.

As a community of discernment, we were called together to articulate a vision, make necessary decisions and to elect a superior general and council to lead us for the next 6 years. We were invited to pray boldly and to trust boldly as we reflected on where we’ve been and where our charism calls us in response to the current needs of the world, the Church, and the urgent cries of creation.

The image on the cover of this issue of Response is the logo which was created specifically for this Collegial Assembly. It’s meaning can vary depending on the viewer, but one way to interpret it is Holy Union as an element of the forward movement of Creation. We invite each of you to reflect on this logo of color and movement, that it may inspire and impel you forward in mission. The logo is pictured on the Collegial Assembly card of our Vision and Calls which show the fruits of our labor.

Our new General Co (l to r) Sisters Yvette Sam, Annemarie Egan, Caroline Nja

S. Ilsa Jofré gets a hug from the Pope!

Finally, our audience with Pope Francis, who seemed so happy to see S. Ilsa Jofré, an old friend from Argentina and former general councilor, was a blessing for us all. He was very gracious in accepting the gift we presented him, a framed copy of the Collegial Assembly Prayer and the theme of the Collegial Assembly from 2017 in Spanish which included a Holy Union cross.

Join with us as we move forward in a spirit of Union to a future of potential and possibility.

(To the right are images from the Assembly.)

2023's C

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sancta unio

ouncil: ah (Superior General), and Michele Totman

The fruits of our Assembly to guide our path forward

The view of Lake Nemi

Collegial Assembly Attendees

Enjoying lunch in a Nemi Café: S. Annette Farrell (Tanzania), S. Annemarie Egan (Anglo-Hibernia), S. Fran Cavey (USA), S. Mary Harrington (Anglo-Hibernia), S. Kathee Corrigan (USA)

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Holy Union

A Year of Transforming Grace We are pleased to be joining with LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious) in its initiative to help bring about unity in our country and in our world during these very polarizing times. This effort is called “Transforming Grace: The Work of Transformative Justice”, and will engage participants on how to live through the US national election campaign in a way that avoids polarization and invites understanding of differences as the country engages in many discussions and debates over its preferred future.

From now through the national elections in November 2024, LCWR will be providing one-page reflections that can be used personally and in groups to look at how we can respond to the challenges of this time in the United States in ways that might create harmony and increase understanding of differences. These reflection sheets can be accessed on this page of the LCWR website: https://www.lcwr.org/transforming-grace.

Celebrating 50 years in Tanzania Holy Union’s presence in Tanzania began in 1973, with Sister Aquinas Botting from our Anglo-Hibernian Province, followed by S. Eleanor McNally of the US Province in 1974. In 1998 Dostea Msenga was the first Tanzanian vocation to Holy Union. Every year since then, several young women have joined Holy Union, and today we have 15 Sisters there who have taken vows, and almost that many more in a stage of discernment or formation.

On June 24, the Feast of John the Baptist, patron saint of our founder John Baptist Debrabant, the sisters marked this jubilee year with a simple ceremony with four symbolic candles. Sister Annette Farrell carried a candle representing the first sisters who came to Tanzania.

Celebrating 50 years of Holy Union in Tanzania

S. Dostea Msenga, the first Tanzanian vocation carried the second candle. Sister Fides Kimario’s candle represented the sisters who took perpetual vows this year and the fourth candle was carried by a young woman considering a vocation to Holy Union. These candles will be lit in communities throughout the anniversary year. Tanzania is the subject of our first podcast of 2024, and is currently available to listen to from our website: www.holyunionsisters.org.

Rest in Peace S. Cecile Mousseau On June 6, 2023, S. Cecile Mousseau went home to God at the age of 89. Her warmth, loving manner and sense of humor are greatly missed. When asked once how she was living and sharing our Holy Union Charism in her daily life, Cecile’s response truly reflected her life: “I am present and listen and help the people with whom I work, the people I meet in different circumstances, in any way I can. I let them know I care. When I see the sufferings of others, it makes me more aware of God made flesh.” Cecile saw Jesus in every face she looked upon. Join us in gratefully remembering her in your prayers.

S. Cecile Mousseau

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on Updates S. Cecilia Egho Fukah’s Studies in the US Continue

One of our beloved Sisters from Cameroon, S. Cecilia Egho is continuing to pursue her undergraduate degree at Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa, in Theology. During breaks in her academic schedule she joins Sisters Ann Kernan and Una Davey in our Pawtucket, RI community, and visits throughout the Holy Union US Area. We are delighted to share stories, and life experiences with each other. Though our lives are different, our Holy Union charism unites us. In Cameroon it manifests itself in strengthening the social fabric of the community through their works in education, health care, and pastoral ministry. They are a true reflection of the unity in our diversity.

We are learning so much from her and celebrate the work being done by our Sisters there. (l to r) S. Fran Cavey, S. Ann Kernan, Fr. Jean Amegble, SJ, S. Cecilia Egho Fukah, and S. Una Davey

Mother Helena Grant to Caritas Dar es Salaam

Gladys Oning’o with S. Mary Catherine Burns

In August, Gladys Oning’o of the Caritas Dar es Salaam Office in Tanzania came to the United States where she met with S. Mary Lou Simcoe and S. Mary Catherine Burns, chair of the Mother Helena Fund Committee to give an update on the projects supported by the Mother Helena Fund. Each year, Gladys has faithfully submitted the accountability report for the Caritas Project, which has enabled farmers, mainly women in two rural villages, to improve their farming skills, set up a poultry project and establish a community bank.

At a time when sources of funding are dwindling, Gladys noted that being able to count on the Mother Helena Fund Grant has been a blessing. Gladys has recently become a resource for the Holy Union Sisters in Dar es Salaam, visiting a local community and helping the Sisters determine ways to assist the women who live nearby. In October, Gladys was invited to the perpetual profession ceremony of three Holy Union Sisters, and is now a part of the international Holy Union family.

S. Mary Lou Simcoe with Gladys Oning’o

Holy Union Podcast Enters Its Third Year!

“Called to Be…”, the podcast of the Holy Union Sisters and Associates, is entering its third year and our listeners continue to grow! At this writing, we have thousands of listeners, and are receiving encouraging feedback for what we are still considering a new ministry. The project idea came from you, our friends and supporters, who told us that if there was some way to go back to those days in the classroom, you would “listen with new ears”. And clearly you are listening! We have had over 40 Sisters and Associates participate in at least one episode since we began in January of 2021, and we have kept up a schedule of one episode per month since we started. Topics for the upcoming year will include, Forgiveness and Healing, Holy Union’s 50th Anniversary in Tanzania, The Collegial Assembly and new Leadership Team, Synodality, Alumni Memory Lane for several schools, reflections on The Chosen, and much more! You can listen on our podcast page at www.holyunionsisters.org and click on our podcast pop-up link, or you can listen whenever you want on your smartphone on all the major podcast platforms (Apple, Google, Amazon, Spotify, etc. by searching on “Called to Be…”) Please tell your friends! And send us your ideas using the Comments section on our podcast page!

Our Podcast Team Members

S. Nancy Stiles

S. Fran Cavey

S. Alice Michael

S. Barbara Walsh

S. Alice Arsenault

S. Maryellen Ryan

www.holyunionsisters.org The Holy Union Sisters is a 501(C)3 non-profit, tax exempt organization