"Creating a positive future begins in human conversation. The simplest and most powerful investment any member of a community or an organization may make in renewal is to begin talking with other people as though the answers mattered."
Adapted from Who Will Tell the People by William Greider

Rich prayer experiences were shared throughout the weekend

What can we do together to move this process forward and create our preferred future? * Continue our attentive listening to one another. * Accept who we are. * Keep connected. * Nurture our zeal to serve. * Continue to hope. * Stay focused on the fact that we are rooted in God and connected to one another... we are not alone. * Go back to our roots and live in trust

Conversations continued through break time and meals

A program on the vow of poverty, “We Are the Change,” was offered by the Religious Formation Conference (RFC) in the summer of 2006. Two IHM Sisters attended and shared their learnings. Group sharing on the question, "What attracts us and why? * The vow frees us from the attachment to material things. * It highlights our interdependence * It inspires responsibility both globally and congregationally. * Living the vow enhances a simplicity of lifestyle. * Poverty invites us to constant self-awareness. * The vow of poverty porvides us with gifts that come from radical dependence on God. What do we resist and why? * It involves messiness: lack of comfort and safety. * Asking what do I want vs. what do I need. * We can resist the desire to live simply.

A "Progressive Dinner" Concluded the Day

Sisters gathered for a meal and conversation at Shalom House

Some sat around and talked...

And some lay around and talked!

Dessert is Served!

The Sisters at 1440 College Avenue hosted a party of
cordials and desserts.

The largest gathering of Sisters was in the very small kitchen.

There is no power greater for change than a community discovering what it cares about. -Margaret Wheatley

Using a process based on the World Cafe, Sr. Terry O'Rourke facilitated the gathering of 48 IHM Sisters who are under the age of 57, at a gathering at the "Maxis Cafe" at the IHM Center. The following photos and notes capture some of their sharing.

What are our best hopes for this weekend? * We hope to build good relationships. * We hope to uncover a common vision. * We want to work for open and honest communication. * We hope for a commonality that is beyond and deeper than age. * We hope to feel better about ourselves as a result of this weeekend. * We want to recognize and honor the group's wisdom. * We hope to reverence and respect our differences and recognize our reality as vowed women religious. * We hope to identify issues facing religious women today. * We'd like to have FUN! * It is our hope to be able and willing to take risks together.

Taking opportunties to know each other a bit better

Six Sisters responded to the following questions: * In recent months or years, what about your life/ministry inspired passion for or renewed your commitment to religious life? * How does that experience shape your vision for the future of religious life? * How does that experience shape your vision for our IHM future together? How did these presentations challenge us? * We need to find common values and vision in a diversity of personal experiences. * We need a willingness to risk the move into a new vision/future together. * We hope to be with each other at our most vulnerable times. * We need to listen to each other and pray for each other. * Let's remain faithful to the process of conversation. * All expressions of our common vision are important. * We must be open to making mistakes as we take risks and live into the future. * We are called to embrace the marginalized and be open to becoming marginalized as religious. * We have to continue to find ways to keep meaningful connections alive among us. * We are called to be prophetic and we need to become more comfortable living on the edge.

Sending Forth and Anointing
As she anointed the forehead of each Sister, Sr. Mary prayed the following:

"You are a daughter of Theresa Maxis. The world needs you and your particular gifts to serve the people of God. Go and witness to the redeeming love of Jesus in all that you do."


Sr. Mary offered a blessing to each sister as she anointed each with oil.

Suggestions for Continuing the Conversations * Gathering on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 for conversation and a meal. * Meeting in the summer at Newton Lake. * Gather at a retreat house. * Take personal responsibility for connecting with others in the group. * Gather in geographic areas around the Theological Reflection questions in the Reflection Journal.