The 27th Chapter of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan has been hailed as a blessed, enriching, inclusive experience, producing a mission-focused Statement of Directions and a new leadership team, charged with helping to bring the Statement to life, reports The Good Oil.
Sister Catherine McCahill was elected to be the new Congregational Leader, taking up her role at the end of September. She will be supported by Council members Sisters Michelle Reid, Kathleen Spokes, Ann-Maree Nicholls, and Meg Kahler.
Newly elected Congregational Leader Sister Catherine McCahill (centre) with Council members (from left): Sisters Michelle Reid, Kathleen Spokes, Ann-Maree Nicholls and Meg Kahler. PHOTO: @Fancy Boy Photography, The Good Oil.
Outgoing Congregational Leader Sister Patty Fawkner said the Chapter, which was the culmination of more than a year of prayer and discernment, was a wonderful experience.
“It was the most inclusive Chapter we’ve had, even though fewer Sisters attended in person,” she said.
“But the Sisters who weren’t there in person were able to watch the livestream and they were able to submit two names they felt would be suitable for Superior, which gave them real agency and they were delighted with that.”
Guest speakers were former President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, who spoke on the urgency of the climate crisis for the people of his country, and Dr Estela Padilla, a community organiser and theologian from the Philippines, who presented on frameworks for leadership in a time of change and transition.
Patty said the Chapter displayed a real commitment to mission, which was reflected in the final Statement of Directions for the next six-year period.
“People were pleased with the Statement of Directions we produced. I think it will give us a mission-focused direction and some of the words in it are very potent,” she said.
“I’m delighted with it, and I feel that we have a strong, competent and creative team going forward to lead our mission.”
The Statement of Directions for the period 2023-29 says that: “Gifted by our Good Samaritan Benedictine charism, we are committed to living our relationship with God, neighbour and the universe through: ecological conversion which impels; interculturality which transforms; compassion which leads to justice; hope which empowers mission.”
“I think it says that we are women of hope, despite all the challenges we face in our four countries, and that’s our gift to the world and to the Church,” Patty said.
Following the Chapter, Catherine McCahill said she saw her election to the role of Congregational Leader as “an honour and a privilege”.
“There’s a sense of gratitude with the Sisters putting that sort of confidence in me, to ask this of me at this stage. It’s a special gift. The Sisters are allowing me into their life in a different way to act and speak on their behalf, so it’s always a privilege.”
The Sisters of the Good Samaritan Chapter Gathering 2023. PHOTO: Fancy Boys Photography, The Good Oil.
Catherine said the Chapter was an energising time. “As Sisters, we always enjoy coming together, that’s always the first thing,” she said. “Then into that mix came people who are significant partners with us … and that is wonderful too.”
Both Anote Tong and Dr Padilla had delivered outstanding presentations, Catherine said, which helped set the tone for discernment of future directions in the areas of ecological conversion and leadership.
“One of the things about congregational life is that you have to stop at various points and pause, refocus and set new directions,” she said.
“I think our Statement of Directions from this Chapter is a call to action. The challenge to us is how do we keep that alive in what we do in coming months and years, so that it isn’t just words on a paper, but translates into what we do and who we are.”
This is an abridged form of an article by Debra Vermeer, published in The Good Oil, the e-publication of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.