Fall Formation Brings Ministries Together
For the first time in three years, leaders and staff from each of the five sponsored ministries gathered in person for Peace Ministries’ annual Fall Formation program. On November 1, around 50 people gathered at the Marriott at Glenpointe in Teaneck, N.J., for the daylong event. The theme for this year’s program was “Hearing the Call of the 23rd Congregation Chapter & Fostering Organizational Cultures of Inclusion.”
The day began with prayer followed by a morning presentation with Susan Francois, CSJP, Assistant Congregation Leader, and Sheena George, CSJP, the regional Congregation Team Representative. During the presentation, the sisters explained what a Chapter is and the role of Chapters in the governance of the Congregation. They also gave an overview of their most recent Chapter, which was held in multiple sessions due to the pandemic and culminated in March 2022. Sister Susan presented the outcomes of the Chapter, specifically the call “To Be Who We Say We Are”—by committing to cultivating and practicing peace through justice; addressing, healing and being present to the wounds and broken relationships among ourselves and all of God’s Creation; resisting every form of war and violence; and making a place for everyone at the table.
The main presenter then followed. Dr. Erica Torres, PeaceHealth’s System Vice President of Mission Integration, provided a three-part session on diversity, equity and inclusion with a focus on facilitating belonging through inclusive conversations. Dr. Torres described herself as a bilingual/bicultural Chicana/Latina clinical psychologist with an extensive background serving individuals who have experienced posttraumatic stress reactions associated with racism and other forms of complex trauma. She provides training in cultural humility and accountability, team building and group process.
During her session, Dr. Torres presented guidelines for cross-cultural interactions, how to interrupt our implicit bias, and how belonging is at the center of diversity, equity and inclusion. She had those in attendance take a closer look at power and privilege and discussed how we identify within target and non-target groups to better understand the experiences of others. The day also consisted of table discussions, opportunities for personal reflection and creating a mind jar—a meditation tool made with water and glitter used as a focal point when feeling stressed or upset.
Dr. Torres concluded her presentation with a video of author Dr. Kenneth Hardy challenging each of us to commit to talking about race, pointing out that “it may not be our job, but it should be our work.”