We have a FOCUS statement!

Praise the Lord, the all-powerful One!
We, the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon, have arrived at a focus statement! Thanks be to God!
Our time together...beginning Saturday, January 16th, included a day of retreat. It was so good to put our brakes on our regular daily routine.
Our campus grounds are ever so beautiful, even in winter. And in our chapel, I feel all the spirits of our deceased Sisters (the "Environment Committee" placed 5 framed displays on one of our side altars containing little photos of all our Sisters now praying for us in heaven).
We started with eleven tentative focus statements...which were the result of our year-long discussions and meetings. It was important, we felt, to have the rudder of our community pointing in the direction we intentionally needed to go. We are mandated to respond to the Gospel message of Jesus, to give flesh to it by our Charism statement, and now, to point our “ship” in the direction to which our congregation, our Church and our world need for us to give our lived witness and testimony.
Our statement says: “Responding to Jesus’ mandate to love one another and prompted by our Charism, we commit to using our gifts, skills and resources to work for justice as we journey in solidarity with the vulnerable, particularly the immigrant, and as we care for God’s creation through sustainable practices.”
This morning, after accepting the focus statement, we heard from the 10 candidates who are discerning their call to leadership. Now, I ask you to join me in praying for their bold courage, hardy strength and prayerful spirit as we decide who will be our next Superior General and her three counselors.