Vocation/Formation

Collaborating into the Future

By S. Monica Gundler

At the end of August 2019, the Community shared in the celebration of first vows for S. Whitney Schieltz. It was a wonderful opportunity for Sisters, family and friends to gather. S. Donna Steffen also completed her term as novice director. We are grateful to S. Donna for her many years of service to not only the Sisters of Charity, but also to the Cincinnati area formation directors and the Sisters of Charity Federation.

In addition to S. Whitney’s first vows, S. Annie Klapheke renewed her temporary vows in a lovely ceremony at Visitation House last fall. S. Tracy Kemme prepared for final vows to be professed in July of 2020. S. Andrea Koverman has also

In August 2019, S. Whitney Schieltz (second from left) celebrated her first vows with Sisters, family and friends at the Motherhouse, including S. Donna Steffen (right) who completed her term as novice director at the time.

S. Annie Klapheke (front, right) renewed her temporary vows with the Community in a ceremony at Visitation House at the end of 2019.

begun preparation for final vows. Sisters Romina Sapinoso, Annie Klapheke, Andrea Koverman, Whitney Schieltz and Tracy Kemme continue to contribute regularly as writers for both Update and E-Voc, the monthly e-newsletter on discernment. S. Andrea Koverman continued to coordinate the AVE (After Volunteer Experience) program at Casa de Caridad before the pandemic. The Future of Charity gathering for those in all stages of formation in the Sisters of Charity Federation gathered in november 2019 over All Saints/Souls weekend at the House of Charity in new Orleans, Louisiana.

In November 2019 the Future of Charity gathered in New Orleans, Louisiana, for a weekend of fellowship, prayer and planning.

This year was an active one for the Sisters of Charity Federation. At the Gathering of the Whole in June 2019, a committee of the Company of Charity Formation Personnel (CCFP) was convened to implement the next steps of a collaborative vocation and formation process for the Federation. A video presentation to all the Federation Leadership teams gave further direction and asked for feedback to continue moving forward. In January 2020, the Sisters of Charity Federation vocation ministers hosted an annual gathering of young adults at the House of Charity. Sisters and young adults were present as S. Monica Gundler was the presenter for the Facebook Live reflection to highlight the Feast of Elizabeth Seton.

At the beginning of March, the annual CCFP meeting was held in new York. The committee for the collaborative formation program gathered more information and stayed after to continue work on the stages of formation. This was the last in-person gathering as members returned home to the news of the emerging pandemic. The work has continued and further implementation will be presented to the SC Federation Board in the fall. The Religious Formation Conference (RFC) is also looking at developing opportunities for collaboration in emerging realities of religious life. At the RFC national gathering in Louisville, Kentucky in October 2019, Being Signs of Courageous Hope, Father Bryan Massingale and S. norma Pimetel, MJ, urged us to care for those in most need and to respond to the emerging needs of our time, especially the call to racial justice, climate change and the growing concerns of divisive nationalism. Formation for the future calls us to provide opportunities for immersion into ministries addressing the signs of the times. In addition, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious has described the future of religious life as mission driven, cross-cultural and crosscongregational. The work with the Federation has used these as a guide in planning for our collective future. Although the pandemic has caused some interruption in activities for vocation outreach, the ability to connect online with discerners has been a blessing. Several young women have remained in contact and have participated in a variety of opportunities over the past several years including retreats, service trips and online events. Vocation promotion and outreach continue both within our congregation and through the Sisters of Charity Federation.

S. Monica Gundler (front, left) serves on the SC Federation’s Company of Charity Formation Personnel (CCFP) committee, formed to implement the next steps of a collaborative vocation and formation process.