North American Benedictine Vocation Formation Conference
2021 Report from the Core Team Chair
December 17, 2021
Dear NABVFC friends,
I have chosen a quote from Sister Joan Chittister that best describes the Core Team’s many frustrating attempts in planning in 2021 thanks to our ever-present pandemic.
“Darkness deserves gratitude. It is the alleluia point at which we learn to understand that all growth does not take place in the sunlight.”
Thank you to all who submitted membership forms and fees, and to those communities who donated to the NABVFC Scholarship Fund. We do have scholarship money available so if you know of a community that has chosen not to be a member because of financial concerns, please notify Sr. Karen Lortscher.
Please continue to contact members of the NABVFC Core Team (See "Core Team" on the website) when you have questions or wonder about dates. You are encouraged to check the NABVFC website (www.nabvfc.org) regularly for notices of new information. The information in this letter will be posted on our website by the end of January 2022.
BSWR 2021 Report
The Benedictine Spirituality Workshop and Retreat 2021 took place at Saint Benedict Monastery in Bristow, VA from July 7-28. The co-directors were S. Andrea Westkamp, Bristow and S. Marcia Ziska, Atchison. The theme was, “Expanding Hearts: The Way of Profession.”
The eight participants came from seven monasteries and three federations.
Our experience was that BSWR continues being an important component of formation for Benedictine women as it offers them peer experiences that are not always possible in their own monasteries. The interplay of talks, time of reflection, outings, and leisure, praying and being with a host community, offers an intentional learning and discernment experience. There was a breadth of life and professional experiences among the participants. Three of the sisters had been in religious life before. All the participants took the opportunity to dive deeper into Benedictine Spirituality and to define how they want to contribute to a rich and genuine community life. (Sister Andrea Westkamp)
Symposium MAY 2-6, 2022 (the 6th is a travel day)
The Theme of the Symposium: Intergenerational Living: Infusing Joy-Reverence-Love into Community. Our speakers are Sister Susan Rose Francois, CSJP and Brother John Mark Falkenhain, OSB. More information will be available to you in February.
The election of three core team members will happen at the Symposium. If you know of someone that would be a good candidate for the core team, please submit their names to Sr. Kathy Persson. (kathyperssonosb@gmail.com)
NADI May 17-28, 2022
NADI will be held at the Sophia Center, Mount St. Scholastic, Atchison, KS. Please check our web site (www.nabvfc.org) for the registration forms. NADI is open to individuals/formation directors that did not have the opportunity to attend in 2021. The NADI Co-directors are Sr. Patricia Seipel( Mount St. Scholastic) and Sr. Mary Colleen Schwarz (Benet Hill Monastery).
BSWR 2021
NABVFC Symposium Update
It was difficult to plan for the May 2021 symposium because of our current issues with the pandemic. Our intent was to hold the 2021 Symposium virtually. I consulted with our CBP liaison, Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff to discuss concerns about holding the symposium virtually. The symposium platform provides an opportunity for sisters in the vocation ministry and sisters that are responsible for formation within their communities to dialogue, share ideas, give support, and provide speakers that share their wisdom on current issues in these ministries. Part of the symposium is devoted to a business meeting. One function of that meeting is to elect new core team members. This year we have two core team members whose terms expire. We felt it was important to delay the symposium for a year. This will give us the opportunity to meet in person. The election of new core team members will be delayed until May 2022.
Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff asked if Sr. Mary Colleen Schwarz and Sr. Eileen Brick would consider extending their term for one more year. Both have agreed to honor this request.
Set your calendar the 2022 Symposium will be held at Sophia Center in Atchison, May 2-6.
Wisdom Connections Update
Membership Statistics (current)
Wisdom Connections Scholarship Fund (current)
Relationship Committee (current)
Content Committee (current)
In October, Sr. Michelle presented us with the first Wisdom connection newsletter. Congratulations, Sr. Michelle on an outstanding first edition! We are most grateful.
Should you have any concerns, 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.nabvfc.org)
Thank you for your participation and continued support of NABVFC.
Sister Mary Colleen Schwarz, OSB
Benet Hill Monastery, Colorado Springs, CO
Email: smarycolleen@benethillmonastery.org
2021 Report from the Core Team Chair
December 17, 2021
Dear NABVFC friends,
I have chosen a quote from Sister Joan Chittister that best describes the Core Team’s many frustrating attempts in planning in 2021 thanks to our ever-present pandemic.
“Darkness deserves gratitude. It is the alleluia point at which we learn to understand that all growth does not take place in the sunlight.”
Thank you to all who submitted membership forms and fees, and to those communities who donated to the NABVFC Scholarship Fund. We do have scholarship money available so if you know of a community that has chosen not to be a member because of financial concerns, please notify Sr. Karen Lortscher.
Please continue to contact members of the NABVFC Core Team (See "Core Team" on the website) when you have questions or wonder about dates. You are encouraged to check the NABVFC website (www.nabvfc.org) regularly for notices of new information. The information in this letter will be posted on our website by the end of January 2022.
BSWR 2021 Report
The Benedictine Spirituality Workshop and Retreat 2021 took place at Saint Benedict Monastery in Bristow, VA from July 7-28. The co-directors were S. Andrea Westkamp, Bristow and S. Marcia Ziska, Atchison. The theme was, “Expanding Hearts: The Way of Profession.”
The eight participants came from seven monasteries and three federations.
Our experience was that BSWR continues being an important component of formation for Benedictine women as it offers them peer experiences that are not always possible in their own monasteries. The interplay of talks, time of reflection, outings, and leisure, praying and being with a host community, offers an intentional learning and discernment experience. There was a breadth of life and professional experiences among the participants. Three of the sisters had been in religious life before. All the participants took the opportunity to dive deeper into Benedictine Spirituality and to define how they want to contribute to a rich and genuine community life. (Sister Andrea Westkamp)
Symposium MAY 2-6, 2022 (the 6th is a travel day)
The Theme of the Symposium: Intergenerational Living: Infusing Joy-Reverence-Love into Community. Our speakers are Sister Susan Rose Francois, CSJP and Brother John Mark Falkenhain, OSB. More information will be available to you in February.
The election of three core team members will happen at the Symposium. If you know of someone that would be a good candidate for the core team, please submit their names to Sr. Kathy Persson. (kathyperssonosb@gmail.com)
NADI May 17-28, 2022
NADI will be held at the Sophia Center, Mount St. Scholastic, Atchison, KS. Please check our web site (www.nabvfc.org) for the registration forms. NADI is open to individuals/formation directors that did not have the opportunity to attend in 2021. The NADI Co-directors are Sr. Patricia Seipel( Mount St. Scholastic) and Sr. Mary Colleen Schwarz (Benet Hill Monastery).
BSWR 2021
- 2021 BSWR will be held at St. Benedict Monastery, Bristow, Virginia.
- Director: Sr. Andrea Westkamp: Co-director; TBA
- DATE IS PENDING. Unknown when retreat center will be opened.
- IT WILL BE HELD!
NABVFC Symposium Update
It was difficult to plan for the May 2021 symposium because of our current issues with the pandemic. Our intent was to hold the 2021 Symposium virtually. I consulted with our CBP liaison, Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff to discuss concerns about holding the symposium virtually. The symposium platform provides an opportunity for sisters in the vocation ministry and sisters that are responsible for formation within their communities to dialogue, share ideas, give support, and provide speakers that share their wisdom on current issues in these ministries. Part of the symposium is devoted to a business meeting. One function of that meeting is to elect new core team members. This year we have two core team members whose terms expire. We felt it was important to delay the symposium for a year. This will give us the opportunity to meet in person. The election of new core team members will be delayed until May 2022.
Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff asked if Sr. Mary Colleen Schwarz and Sr. Eileen Brick would consider extending their term for one more year. Both have agreed to honor this request.
Set your calendar the 2022 Symposium will be held at Sophia Center in Atchison, May 2-6.
Wisdom Connections Update
Membership Statistics (current)
- Wisdom Connections Member Monasteries - 51
- Countries – 12 - Canada (1), Ghana (1), India (2), Ireland (1), Micronesia (1), Namibia (1), Nigeria (2), Philippines (2), Poland (1), St. Lucia (1), Trinidad & Tobago (1), U.S. (36)
- Women’s communities – 40
- Men’s communities - 11
- Total number of community members – 1,921
- Communities who did not renew December 2020 – 7 (two are taking a break because of difficulties in the community, one is because of lack of bandwidth, and others did not say)
- Communities with members in initial formation – 37
- Total number of members in initial formation - 159
- Average number of members in initial formation – 3.53
- Participate in Relationship Groups - 54
- Average number of members in a community - 38 (largest 167 - smallest 2)
- Youngest community member - 19
- Oldest community member - 108
Wisdom Connections Scholarship Fund (current)
- Scholarships granted for 2021/2022 – 3
- Scholarships requested for 2021/2022 – 3
- AIM Sponsored Memberships 2021/2022 – 10 Non-USA communities
Relationship Committee (current)
- Committee Membership
- Sister Louise Laroche (Ferdinand) – going off the committee this spring after groups are set
- Sister Agatha Muggli (Bismarck)
- Sister Michael Marie Rottinghaus (Norfolk)
- Laura Swan (Lacy)
- Sister Suzanne Fitzmaurice (Atchison)
- Groups Numbers (2020-2021)
- U.S. initial formation members participating – 38
- Number of groups - 7
- Formation directors participating – 28
- Number of groups – 5
- Works in progress
- Monitor groups and survey participants.
- Communicate with and support formation director group moderators.
- Survey moderators.
- December 2021 - Arrange new groups and adjust according to survey input from participants and moderators.
Content Committee (current)
- Committee Membership
- Sister Kimberly Porter (Covington)
- Sister Judith Sutera (Atchison)
- Fr. John Moesk (Collegeville)
- Sister Susan Quaintance (Chicago)
- Video numbers
- Wisdom Connections Video Library - 370
- Wisdom Connections Oblate Video Library – 326
- Video viewing numbers
- Past 12 months – 2,000
- Since beginning of Wisdom Connections (2015) – 12,000
- Works in progress
- Sister Michelle is leading the group for the interim to get committee going again and show them the ropes.
- Revisiting “In-Progress” presentation asks and in process to surface new names for new presentations.
- Follow up on survey of formation directors and community members.
In October, Sr. Michelle presented us with the first Wisdom connection newsletter. Congratulations, Sr. Michelle on an outstanding first edition! We are most grateful.
Should you have any concerns, 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.nabvfc.org)
Thank you for your participation and continued support of NABVFC.
Sister Mary Colleen Schwarz, OSB
Benet Hill Monastery, Colorado Springs, CO
Email: smarycolleen@benethillmonastery.org
