2019 Chair Letter
American Benedictine Formation ConferenceFall Report from the Core Team Chair
December 2019
Dear ABFC Friends,
Greetings! Thank you to all who submitted membership forms and fees, and to those communities who donated to the ABFC Scholarship Fund. If you still need to complete your membership form, consider completing it as soon as possible and submit to Sr. Karen Ann Lortscher.
Please continue to contact members of the ABFC Core Team (See "Core Team" on the website) when you have questions or wonder about dates. You are encouraged to check the ABFC website (www.abfconline.org) regularly for notices of new information. Upcoming events such as NADI, BSWR and the Symposium in 2021 are provided on the website.
The ABFC Core Team met at Benedictine Sisters of Virginia Monastery, Bristow, Virginia from August 28-30. We want to inform you of the following matters.
New ABFC Core Team
The elections of the new core team members took place at the Symposium May 2019.
Eileen Brick, Watertown, SD Secretary
Kathleen Persson, Bristow, VA Vice-Chair
Patricia Ann McGuire Ferdinand, IN Alternate
Mary Colleen Schwarz, Colorado Springs-Chair
Karen Ann Lortsher, Cullman, Al Treasurer
Patricia Seipel, Atchison, KS Web site
CBP Liaison
Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff
Sacred Heart Monastery, Yankton, SD
NADI
2019 NADI May 15-25
2020 NADI June 13-23
2021 NADI MAY dates pending
2020 BSWR - July 6-23
ABFC Financial Report
The financial report as of July 31, 2019 indicates a positive balance of $62,096.60.
ABFC Website
The website was redesigned in 2016 and it is continually updated to provide timely, relevant information to all members. All the information can be accessed by the members except for the financial report. The membership directory is posted on our web site.
Sister Patricia Seipel is our website coordinator.
Resources and Mentors
If you haven’t checked out our “Resources” section on the website, we encourage you to do so. We welcome additions anytime. We also have numerous experienced directors who are willing to mentor those recently appointed to formation. Again, check our website for further information.
ABFC Symposium May 4-8,2021
The 2021 Symposium will be held at Mount Saint Scholastica, Sophia Center, Atchison, KS The theme for the symposium theme will be “ Intergenerational living: Infusing-Joy-Reverence-Love into Community.” One of the speakers will be Br. John Mark Falkenhain, Saint Meinrad Abby. Please check our web site for updates on additional speakers, tentative schedule and presenter background information.
T4 Update
The GHR grant ends in September 2019. S. Michelle needs to do a final report for GHR. There is still $25,000 of the grant left, $4550 in GHR scholarship fund, and some money left that had been designated for travel and the T4 Pay it Forward project. S. Michelle will check with GHR about possible T4 uses for this money. Currently there is $72,600 in the T4 bank account (which includes the above $).
The T4 yearly budget needs $33,000 per year for the program. (S. Michelle works three days a week for T4). Divided by the $500 membership fee, we need 66 members to meet the budget. Currently there are 51 members. There is the need to continue to market T4. S. Michelle would like to visit more communities about the program. Since Oblates can now view the videos in the Oblate T4 library (with a sister present) perhaps it could be suggested that they help pay the community membership fee.
The T4 “Pay It Forward” materials will be sent to those on the mailing list from the Official Catholic Directory.
There are currently 12 new videos in the process of being taped and/or edited for the T4 library. Suggestions were given for new members for the Content and Relationship Committees. A request for new committee members and suggestions for presenters and topics could be included on the yearly membership form.
At the request of S. Michelle, the ABFC Treasurer (S. Karen Ann Lortscher) will be put on the T4 checking account, along with keeping another sister from the Ferdinand monastery on the account.
The T4 program will provide a detailed report to ABFC in January and August of each year. It will include an update of the program, membership and relationship groups, video statistics, and financial income and expenses.
S. Michelle will provide a T4 historical perspective and other important information about the program for the ABFC archives.
Benedictine Vocation Conference Vote
The Benedictine Vocation Conference was held in Sacred Heart Monastery, Beach Grove, IN., September 30 -October 3, 2019. During the business meeting I addressed the topic to integrate this conference with ABFC Symposium for the following reasons;
A concern brought forward was will the men vocation directors be able to attend the Symposium. I know that they are not members of the ABFC so I will bring this to the attention of the Prioress’s for further direction.
We discussed that the Symposium topics would be relevant for both groups and that the break out session would be more structured to facilitate networking as well as addressing topics specific to each group.
The voted was affirmed to incorporate with ABFC, thus ending the biennial Benedictine Vocation Conference meetings.
We strongly encouraged them to contribute to our resource page on web the site.
We discussed a name change to represent this inclusion of the vocation directors.
It was suggested ABVFC.
Vision Ad
It is time for a new Vision ad. Sr. Mariette Therese Bernier, NJ, Julie Sewell, Beach Grove, IN., have accepted this creative project.
Name Change and New Logo
The core team suggestion: North American Benedictine Vocation Formation Conference.
We felt that the North American was representative of a more accurate inclusion of our Canadian Benedictine Sisters.
We have an artist designing a new logo. We will present the new logo to the Prioresses at their February meeting.
Should you have any suggestions or questions, please contact me or one of the other members of the Core Team. Our contact information is included under "Core Team" on the website. (www.abfconline.org)
Again, thank you for your participation in ABFC.
Sister Mary Colleen Schwarz, OSB
Benet Hill Monastery, Colorado Springs, CO
Email: smarycolleen@benethillmonastery.org
Office phone: 719-633-0655 ext.134
Cell Phone: 719-209-4630
December 2019
Dear ABFC Friends,
Greetings! Thank you to all who submitted membership forms and fees, and to those communities who donated to the ABFC Scholarship Fund. If you still need to complete your membership form, consider completing it as soon as possible and submit to Sr. Karen Ann Lortscher.
Please continue to contact members of the ABFC Core Team (See "Core Team" on the website) when you have questions or wonder about dates. You are encouraged to check the ABFC website (www.abfconline.org) regularly for notices of new information. Upcoming events such as NADI, BSWR and the Symposium in 2021 are provided on the website.
The ABFC Core Team met at Benedictine Sisters of Virginia Monastery, Bristow, Virginia from August 28-30. We want to inform you of the following matters.
New ABFC Core Team
The elections of the new core team members took place at the Symposium May 2019.
Eileen Brick, Watertown, SD Secretary
Kathleen Persson, Bristow, VA Vice-Chair
Patricia Ann McGuire Ferdinand, IN Alternate
Mary Colleen Schwarz, Colorado Springs-Chair
Karen Ann Lortsher, Cullman, Al Treasurer
Patricia Seipel, Atchison, KS Web site
CBP Liaison
Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff
Sacred Heart Monastery, Yankton, SD
NADI
2019 NADI May 15-25
- 2019 NADI was held at Mount Saint Scholastica, Atchison, KS.
- Director: Sr. Patricia Seipel, Atchison, KS.; Co-Director: Sr. Mary Colleen Schwarz, Benet Hill Monastery, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
- 18 women participated; 10 novices and 8 directors; representing 8 communities and three federations as well as the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Germany and the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.
- Fees: $1000 for first person; $ 950 for each additional person.
2020 NADI June 13-23
- 2020 NADI will be held at Sacred Heart Monastery, Cullman, AL.
- Director: Sr. Mary Colleen Schwarz, Benet Hill Monastery, Colorado Springs, Colorado: Co-director Karen Lortscher, Sacred Heart Monastery, Cullman, AL.
- Fees increased to: $1200 for first person; $1000 for each additional person.
2021 NADI MAY dates pending
- 2021 NADI will be held Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
- Director: Sister Helene Mercier; Co-Director: TBA
2020 BSWR - July 6-23
- 2020 BSWR will be held at Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, IN
- Director: Sr. Julie Sewell; Co-Director Sister Andrea Westkamp, Sisters of Virginia Monastery, Bristow, Virginia.
- 2021 or 2022 (depends on number of participants) BSWR will be held at Sisters of Virginia Monastery, Bristow, Virginia.
- Director: Sister Andrea Westkamp; Co-director; TBA
ABFC Financial Report
The financial report as of July 31, 2019 indicates a positive balance of $62,096.60.
- The ABFC membership fees for 2019-2020 will remain at $250/year.
- Specific stipend for NADI Co-director was increased to $500. The NADI Director and BSWR director, BSWR Co-director, and speakers’ stipends will remain the same.
- A donation of $300 will be given to the website consultant for continuing work on the website.
- A donation of $125 will be given to Mount St. Scholastica for maintaining and updating our archives.
- The financial report will be e-mailed to the prioress and contact person of each member monastery.
- Host community for the ABFC core team meeting will receive $750.
ABFC Website
The website was redesigned in 2016 and it is continually updated to provide timely, relevant information to all members. All the information can be accessed by the members except for the financial report. The membership directory is posted on our web site.
Sister Patricia Seipel is our website coordinator.
Resources and Mentors
If you haven’t checked out our “Resources” section on the website, we encourage you to do so. We welcome additions anytime. We also have numerous experienced directors who are willing to mentor those recently appointed to formation. Again, check our website for further information.
ABFC Symposium May 4-8,2021
The 2021 Symposium will be held at Mount Saint Scholastica, Sophia Center, Atchison, KS The theme for the symposium theme will be “ Intergenerational living: Infusing-Joy-Reverence-Love into Community.” One of the speakers will be Br. John Mark Falkenhain, Saint Meinrad Abby. Please check our web site for updates on additional speakers, tentative schedule and presenter background information.
T4 Update
The GHR grant ends in September 2019. S. Michelle needs to do a final report for GHR. There is still $25,000 of the grant left, $4550 in GHR scholarship fund, and some money left that had been designated for travel and the T4 Pay it Forward project. S. Michelle will check with GHR about possible T4 uses for this money. Currently there is $72,600 in the T4 bank account (which includes the above $).
The T4 yearly budget needs $33,000 per year for the program. (S. Michelle works three days a week for T4). Divided by the $500 membership fee, we need 66 members to meet the budget. Currently there are 51 members. There is the need to continue to market T4. S. Michelle would like to visit more communities about the program. Since Oblates can now view the videos in the Oblate T4 library (with a sister present) perhaps it could be suggested that they help pay the community membership fee.
The T4 “Pay It Forward” materials will be sent to those on the mailing list from the Official Catholic Directory.
There are currently 12 new videos in the process of being taped and/or edited for the T4 library. Suggestions were given for new members for the Content and Relationship Committees. A request for new committee members and suggestions for presenters and topics could be included on the yearly membership form.
At the request of S. Michelle, the ABFC Treasurer (S. Karen Ann Lortscher) will be put on the T4 checking account, along with keeping another sister from the Ferdinand monastery on the account.
The T4 program will provide a detailed report to ABFC in January and August of each year. It will include an update of the program, membership and relationship groups, video statistics, and financial income and expenses.
S. Michelle will provide a T4 historical perspective and other important information about the program for the ABFC archives.
Benedictine Vocation Conference Vote
The Benedictine Vocation Conference was held in Sacred Heart Monastery, Beach Grove, IN., September 30 -October 3, 2019. During the business meeting I addressed the topic to integrate this conference with ABFC Symposium for the following reasons;
- Communities are smaller and it is becoming more difficult on the community resources both human and financial.
- It will build a bridge of understanding between the formation and vocation ministries.
- It will provide unity of direction as we embrace the 21st century together.
A concern brought forward was will the men vocation directors be able to attend the Symposium. I know that they are not members of the ABFC so I will bring this to the attention of the Prioress’s for further direction.
We discussed that the Symposium topics would be relevant for both groups and that the break out session would be more structured to facilitate networking as well as addressing topics specific to each group.
The voted was affirmed to incorporate with ABFC, thus ending the biennial Benedictine Vocation Conference meetings.
We strongly encouraged them to contribute to our resource page on web the site.
We discussed a name change to represent this inclusion of the vocation directors.
It was suggested ABVFC.
Vision Ad
It is time for a new Vision ad. Sr. Mariette Therese Bernier, NJ, Julie Sewell, Beach Grove, IN., have accepted this creative project.
Name Change and New Logo
The core team suggestion: North American Benedictine Vocation Formation Conference.
We felt that the North American was representative of a more accurate inclusion of our Canadian Benedictine Sisters.
We have an artist designing a new logo. We will present the new logo to the Prioresses at their February meeting.
Should you have any suggestions or questions, please contact me or one of the other members of the Core Team. Our contact information is included under "Core Team" on the website. (www.abfconline.org)
Again, thank you for your participation in ABFC.
Sister Mary Colleen Schwarz, OSB
Benet Hill Monastery, Colorado Springs, CO
Email: smarycolleen@benethillmonastery.org
Office phone: 719-633-0655 ext.134
Cell Phone: 719-209-4630
