Gathering the Daughters Day 3

Day 3 the emphasis is on Tools for Effective Relating.  Sr. Lynn Levo presented information about mutuality in community.  As she talked about self-disclosure, the small groups had become more mutual and ready to discuss some of the blocks to effective communication.  The empathy level of the participants had heightened, allowing them to take bigger risks, and see some of the ways they could enhance their skills for relating.

Gathering the Daughters Part 2

I am at the Gathering of the Daughters, a workshop for newer members and staff in vocation/formation work.  We are on beautiful Lake Michigan.

Our speaker, Sr. Lynn Levo, Ph.D, really captured my imagination with one of the points she was making today.  Lynn said, “Don’t get mad, get curious.”  We live in such polarizing times. Sometimes it is hard to engage in civil conversations sometimes when people say outrageous things, i.e., things I violently disagree with.  However, getting angry, argumentative or withdrawing from the conversation does not really decrease the polarization in our world.

If, instead of getting angry, I put that aside and let my curiosity fully explore the view that the other person holds, I may be able to engage in respectful dialogue, increase my empathy for the other person (a key for mutuality in relationships), perhaps find some common ground, or at least not make assumptions about why the person holds their opinion.  If we are ever to move pass the polarization that we experience in our world today, we have to start doing something different.  I think Lynn’s idea of engaging the other person for the purpose of understanding their opinion, not changing it, may be a good place for me to start.

Gathering of the Daughters

77 of our newer members and formation staff have gathered in Racine, Wisconsin to Rename, Reclaim and Rediscover our Vision for the 21st Century.  Sr. Lynn Levo, Ph.D. is providing input and leading the group through a process to identify our personal vision consistent with the movements of our Congregation, becoming active participants in evolving ourselves in order to evolve consciousness in our world and our community.

This morning Lynn has challenged us to have a wholehearted intention to transform, to really show up, share ourselves, take risks and listen deeply.

Janet Mock, CSJ has been named the new Executive Director of the LCWR

Please click on this link to read more about all that Janet will bring to her new post!  Congratulations Janet.

http://www.lcwr.org/media/janet-mock-csj-named-lcwr-executive-director

Voice of America and Human Trafficking

A few weeks ago I did this interview with Voice of America.  I truly gave Sr. Kathy McCluskey the credit for our efforts at addressing human trafficking at Event 2011.  However, even though they got the name wrong, I am glad that we have been able to further publicize the importance of speaking out against human trafficking.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Nun-Helps-Lead-Fight-Against-Hotel-Prostitution-145761575.html

Join this campaign to stop "Backpage" from advertising minors for human sex trafficking

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-village-voice-media-to-stop-child-sex-trafficking-on-backpagecom#share

Tony Blair speaks about his admiration for sisters working to end human trafficking

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/tony-blair/tony-blair-international-womens-day-catholic-sisters_b_1330298.html