Fall Formation Reflects on Change of Era

Peace Ministries’ annual Fall Formation brought together senior leaders from each of the five sponsored ministries, St. Michael Villa and the Congregation for a day of learning and reflection. On October 26, around 45 people gathered at the Marriott at Glenpointe in Teaneck. The theme for this year’s program was “Reading the Signs of the Times in this Change of Era.”

After beginning the day with a welcome and opening prayer, Maureen Donohue, the executive director of Peace Ministries, gave a presentation on Change of Era Globally. She discussed how we find ourselves in a place we have never been—experiencing a pandemic, a climate crisis and a global racial justice movement.

“There have been changes in era about every 500 years. This has happened before, but we have never lived it,” Maureen said. Pulling from the thoughts of Sister Mary Pellegrino, CSJ,[1] Maureen added: “The stakes, I would say, in this moment, have never been higher. The human capacity to actually affect the change of era has never been more consequential. Our capacity to co-create a future that we want to see has never been at a higher capacity. Alternately, our capacity to devastate a future has never been at a higher capacity.”

Maureen said real leadership is recognizing this moment and choosing whether to reclaim what was or to respond to a new call.

Assistant Congregation Leader Sister Susan Francois followed by presenting on Change of Era with Religious Life and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace (CSJP). Sister Susan said the Sisters are responding to the signs of the times. “These new times demand a change of heart: to be, think, and act differently,” she said, referencing their 2022 Chapter Act.

Sister Susan said with the changing demographics of the Sisters, they are now relying more on lay professionals and collaborators to ensure their mission continues.

“You may not realize it, but you are key,” Sister Susan told the group. “You are carriers of the CSJP charism. You are bridge builders during this change of era.”

Sister Sheena George, the regional Congregation Team Representative, also discussed Change of Era for the Sisters. She introduced the Two Loop theory, which is when one system culminates and starts to collapse, isolated alternatives slowly begin to arise and give way to the new.

“The Two Loop model gives us a way to recognize and connect the past to the future, which is of huge value,” Sister Sheena said.

Sister Rosemary Jeffries, RSM, served as the facilitator for the event. Throughout the day, she challenged the senior leaders to reflect on how this change of era is affecting them in their ministries, roles and responsibilities.

The day ended with a missioning of the leaders—a blessing over each participant as they carry the mission and charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace into the future.

[1] Sister Mary Pellegrino, CSJ, is the senior vice president of Plante Moran REIA. She presented on the topic of Change of Era at the Peace Ministries board formation day in February 2023.