Fifty Maryknoll Affiliates from the Northeast Region gathered for a day of prayer, business and sharing at the Maryknoll Society Center, Maryknoll, New York. Every Chapter in the region was represented. (See representation by Chapters below)
Albany-15
Boston-1
New Jersey-5
New York-Long Island-3
New York Subway-10
New York-Westchester/Goshen-10
Philadelphia-5
One without a home Chapter
- Gathering Prayer
Ellen Giesow and Joan Cruz from the Long Island Chapter led us in an opening prayer service with the beach and sea as a theme. We remembered Paul D’Arcy (NY Subway Chapter) and Al Schiavone, MM (NY Long Island Chapter) who both passed this year. We also prayed for John Walsh, MM (NY Long Island Chapter) who is recuperating from surgery at St. Teresa’s.
- Selection of Regional Coordinator Team
Fred Goddard facilitated the first order of business for the day, the selection of a Regional Coordinator Team for the Northeast Region. Pat Hayes, Philadelphia Chapter assisted by Ron Guidry, Westchester Chapter will make up the Regional Coordinating Team. The term of service will be determined by the region in the future after the evaluation of the regional coordination process since it is in a trial period.
- Chapter Sharing
A member from each of the seven Chapters shared a general description of his/her Chapter and general Chapter activities and process. The Chapter reports demonstrated the unique character of each Chapter. Most Chapters gathered monthly. Some Chapters focused on a common ministry while other Chapters came together for spirituality and social support as members were engaged in their own respective ministries/actions. The Chapter gatherings all included prayer, some reflection and sharing. Some groups have lunch or dinner together and have other social gatherings during the year. Chapters located closer to Maryknoll had more contact with Maryknoll Society, Congregation and Lay Missioners, some even being Chapter members.
Chapters used various resources such as viewing DVDs, speaker presentations on themes of interest, the reading of a common book or article for discussion.
The Albany Chapter is unique because it is parish based and has a sister parish in Guatemala. It has also linked with a Maryknoll Sisters Contemplative Community and is involved in fund raising for scholarships for girls in a school in that area.
The Greater Boston Chapter meets every other month. They have a yearly retreat at Watch Hill. They are in the process of beginning to explore the theme of reconciliation to respond to the hateful atmosphere and rhetoric surfacing in our own communities and country.
In the Northeast Region, we have a Maryknoll Affiliate “Club” -Red Bank, New Jersey in a high school. While the young people move on in their education and lives, they participate as an Affiliate group in their school and have a Maryknoll Affiliate who teaches in the school and also serves as their moderator/coordinator. Mary Logan has an excellent resource on how to form a club.
The NY-Subway group has 21 members and meets monthly. They have a couple
of members who have taught in Burma and who have shared their experiences with the group. They have a process: “Sharing a Life Story”, in which a member focuses on telling his/her life story. They have had a retreat day with Jack Sullivan. They hosted Mary Pat Fox from VOTF and Paul Masson MM has met with their group twice.
The NY-Long Island Chapter is a small faith community. They have gatherings of prayer, reflection, sharing, mutual support and socialization. They are planting a tree in a ceremony at Maryknoll for Al Schaivone MM, a member of their group who passed away.
The NY-Westchester Chapter meets at Maryknoll. They have visitors from Maryknoll. Their interest areas have mainly focused on immigration, restorative justice/prison ministry and sustainable agriculture. Some of the members work on the Pachama Farm at Maryknoll, where they help plant, tend and harvest produce and deliver it to a food bank in the area.
The Goshen group is an offshoot of the Westchester Chapter. They live in Goshen (about 50 miles from Westchester) and attend the Westchester Chapter meetings and they also meet on their own for spirituality and discussion. They expressed wanting more Maryknollers to come to their gatherings.
The New Jersey Chapter meets regularly in someone’s home. They gather for prayer and discussion. Their members are individually involved in actions, often partnered with other groups like Pax Christi and the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. The New Jersey Chapter has used some DVD’s available from the Affiliates for discussion, like the Joe Holland material.
The Philadelphia Area Chapter meets monthly at the Sisters of Mercy Congregation Center. We have prayer, reflection, sharing. We have members working on a variety of social justice issues with other groups including comprehensive immigration reform, Bread for the World Advocacy campaign, etc. We have been viewed the DVD series “The Crash Course” in segments with discussion around the issues raised and how they affect us and the global community
In most Chapters, members are actively involved in specific ministries or working on peace and justice issues, like comprehensive immigration reform, nuclear non-proliferation, fair-trade, global poverty and hunger, care of God’s creation-the environment and climate change etc. They may be linked with other groups for their actions. . Many members receive and participate in action alerts from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. Some Chapter members have participated in short-term mission experiences both in other countries and in the U.S.
- Chapter Concerns
Most Chapters shared a concern about finding ways to attract new and more diverse members. The membership in Chapters has a natural ebb and flow. Chapters experience changes in members due to members leaving the area, sickness, death, dramatic changes in life experiences. There was some discussion on ways to partner with other groups with similar values for some gatherings, discussions and actions as a way of widening a Chapter’s contact and influence in the community.
Chapters need to evaluate themselves. Do they do outreach and mingle with more diverse people? How welcoming are they to new people who attend a gathering? Younger people may be interested in action but not in making a commitment. How do Chapters tap into this? How do Chapters link up with/partner with other similar groups?
Some Chapters talked about keeping the Maryknoll flame alive when there are no Maryknollers in the group or in the area.
There was a discussion about Chapters looking for ways to recruit new members through the use of parish bulletins and diocesan newspapers. Chapters can also contact the Lay Missioners (Cecilia Stanton) on how to announce in From Mission to Mission. While they cannot give over personal information, they can post in their communication information about respective Maryknoll Affiliate Chapters. Former lay missioners may either want to join a group or come and share with a group about their mission experiences.
Staying better connected was another stated concern. There were suggestions about having an interest/skills list and perhaps an informal newsletter for the region. Posting minutes of Chapter gatherings on the Chapter web pages was mentioned. One member who does not have a Chapter in the area suggested an online book club.
- The Maryknoll Affiliate Website
Fred gave a brief overview of the website: how to use it, how to obtain a password and log on and what it has to offer. Each person who obtains a password has the opportunity to list their area of interest in the member profile section which is great for resource sharing. Each Chapter has its own web page. We were reminded that the link that gets the second most number of hits is the Chapter web page section. Most of our Chapters have nothing posted on this page. Minutes of gatherings should be posted on the website. It is a good way to stay connected. Posting on the webpage would be a good beginning for sharing and recruiting. Fred is available for problem solving so for those of us who are computer challenged, we are encouraged to get help and get comfortable with the technology and website.
- Maryknoll Affiliate Chapter Formation Process
The Formation Committee has developed a process for new Chapter Formation. There are currently two new Chapters in this process. It is a currently a 12 segment process that begins with a retreat and ends with a retreat. The materials and the process are posted on the website. They are in process so more will be added as they are completed. The materials and resources can be used for Chapter renewal and discernment and established Chapters are encouraged to use them.
- Plans for the next Northeast Maryknoll Affiliate Gathering
There will be a Fall 2010 Northeast Regional Maryknoll Affiliate Gathering that will be theme oriented as opposed to handling business as was the case for this gathering.
Theme ideas that surfaced:
Climate Change Issues
Mission in the U.S.-what we are doing here
At least two Chapters expressed an interest in planning the event: New Jersey and Long Island.
The Regional Coordinator Team (Pat and Ron) and Fred will work on contacting Chapters to explore this further, both who will plan it, date, location and theme.
- Announcements
The New Jersey Group has a summer pot lunch every year. It will be on Sunday, June 6 at 2 PM. All are welcome. Contact New Jersey contact from website for details and to RSVP.
Maryknoll Anniversary information is on the website and is updated frequently. Summer of 2010 is the 35th anniversary of the founding of the lay missioners. The Affiliates will celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2011. The Society will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2011. The Congregation will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012. Our International Affiliate Gathering will be June 2011 at the Stony Point Center, Stony Point, New York. Affiliate Chapters can plan anniversary events locally to celebrate the founding of the Maryknoll Movement.
- Closing Liturgy
Tom Hayes was the celebrant for our closing liturgy. Kris Neufeld provided the music and Ron Guidry lead us in song.
