LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

November, 2022

This spring, I was selected by my Sisters to serve as the Provincial President, and I look forward to four years of serving the community in this new capacity. For the past five years I served on the Leadership Team alongside Sr. Joy Connealy and Sr. Margaret Hickey and saw firsthand what the Provincial President was responsible for.

As I reflect on this call, I turn to Jesus, who models for us a way of leadership as service. He often said, “I came not to be served but to serve” – to serve in essence is to be attentive to others. What kind of spirit does it take to be a servant leader? For me the words of Micah describe very well that spirit – to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with God.

This past year was one of many changes, and getting back to a new normal after the pandemic restrictions loosened. The Sisters raised enough funds to reach our financial goals, support our ministries, purchase a wheelchair accessible van, refurbish our meeting space in the old choir loft, and get the block-long retaining wall replaced on our historic property. These projects and ministries were made possible, thanks to dedicated partners and donors who still see our work as impactful in the community.

Another change we saw this year was the creation of a new directional statement (read the full statement on page 12). We 30 Sisters will strive to deepen our spirituality, promote solidarity and justice, and fulfill our mission as a Province, developing ways to sustain our work.

Yes, we are certainly living in interesting, chaotic, and challenging times. Sometimes it can feel distressing and overwhelming. One day as I was reading in the LCWR Reflection booklet Creating Space for the Future, I came across a few lines from Howard Thurman’s poem “I Will Sing a New Song.”

“The old song of my spirit has wearied itself out. I must learn the new song for the new needs. I must fashion new words born of the new growth of my life

– of my mind – of my spirit I shall rejoice in each new day and delight my spirit in each fresh unfolding.”

That call reminds me to learn the new song for the needs of the world, just as all of us Notre Dame Sisters continue to meet unmet needs in many ways. The song reflects not only a new world, but also our renewed commitment to service, our new Leadership Team, and many new projects ahead.

Enjoy reading about our accomplishments from this past year and join us in prayer to have a successful 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Sincerely,

SR. RITA OSTRY, ND Provincial President