provincial team Report to the Province

THE UNITED STATES - CANADA PROVINCIAL TEAM

Stuart Center for Mission and Ministry (Imma De Stefanis, Executive Director)

In its first year the Stuart Center has made great strides. Some highlights include:

✻ Holding an open house in December to re-introduce the Center as the Stuart Center;

✻ Christening the large meeting room on the 1st floor as the Collins Room;

✻ Cleaning and updating much of the physical plant;

✻ Developing new brochures for four of the five offices;

✻ Initiating the first phase of the process for developing a marketing plan;

✻ Launching the new website on August 1st;

✻ Closing the fiscal year ahead of our projected revenue and under in projected expenses.

 

The Office of Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation (Diane Roche, Director) serves as a resource to RSCJ and colleagues in our mutual, ongoing efforts to achieve balance and right relationship among all people and the earth we share. This year’s highlights include:

✻ Conducting three focus groups for RSCJ, Associates, alumnae and educators to build relationships and gather ideas for how the JPIC Office can be useful in supporting and collaborating with the work that each is already doing;

✻ The six-day Healthy Waters Event in New Orleans this summer bringing together alums, educators, Associates and RSCJs to learn more about the ecosystem of Southern Louisiana;

✻ Inviting all constituent groups to join RSCJ in Washington, DC, in July to participate in Turning the Heat Up to protest policies that continue to pour CO2 into the atmosphere.

 

The Office of CEDC (Laryn Kragt Bakker, Director; Beth Ponticello, Art Director; Will Simpson, Assistant Director) continues to provide affordable communication services (including web development and graphic design) to community and social justice organization whose mission dovetails with that of the Stuart Center and the Society of the Sacred Heart. As a result of various changes in internal systems (e.g., managing requests for proposals, billing, etc.) and the development of new promotional materials the CEDC has seen a dramatic increase in the number of new partners both locally and across the U.S.

The Educational Initiatives & Leadership Office (Imma De Stefanis, Director) provides leadership and organizational management services to nonprofit organizations, religious congregations and educational institutions to help them develop a strategic approach to responding to the needs of today’s world, particularly at the service of youth, immigrant populations and cross-cultural exchanges. This office is also responsible for a variety of projects and initiatives that reach out to students and young adults including the Sacred Heart Internship Program, the Global Citizen Program and the Summit Leadership Academy.

 

The Educational Initiatives & Leadership Office (Imma De Stefanis, Director) provides leadership and organizational management services to nonprofit organizations, religious congregations and educational institutions to help them develop a strategic approach to responding to the needs of today’s world, particularly at the service of youth, immigrant populations and cross-cultural exchanges. This office is also responsible for a variety of projects and initiatives that reach out to students and young adults including the Sacred Heart Internship Program, the Global Citizen Program and the Summit Leadership Academy.

 

The Office of Conference Facilities & Operations (Vicky Rajca, Director) seeks to meet the needs of small and medium sized groups by providing a welcoming, technologically up-to-date space for meetings, small conferences, staff and Board retreats, etc. This office serves as the first point of contact for renters of office space and manages all contracts.  This year has been focused on updating the first floor and one side of the second floor including cleaning, painting, new carpeting, and revamping of space.

 

The Ministry Office (Fran de la Chapelle, Director) was created to support RSCJs in living our mission to the fullest. The services provided are making ministry openings known, helping RSCJs with résumés and introductory letters and preparing for interviews. This year the Ministry Office has worked with 37 RSCJs as well as some of our international Sisters.

 

Reflection:

The diversity of services now offered through the Stuart Center are enabling us to both expand the reach of our mission and provide a “place” where we can bring together our varying ministries and reflect on these ministries in light of our mission. Though the Stuart Center is still in development, I believe it is already expanding our reach to those we want to serve through collaboration with individuals and organizations whose missions coalesce with ours.