Communal Hope in Insecure Times

 

On June 22, 2011 speaker Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, explored what it takes to create an alternative community that is focused on the common good. Participants had an opportunity to understand their fears, embrace insecurity together and find ways to engender communal hope. Designed to be engaging, nurturing, challenging and faith-filled, the session explored communal hope that can be used in your nonprofit work and shared with others.

Participants were given “homework” to reflect on each of The BEATITUDES, which are key to creating community and engendering hope.  Simone suggested that participants brainstorm together in their organizations with each of the beatitudes. Sample questions were:  What does this mean? How am I in relationship?  What do we do that is nourishing? Empowering? Not fostering dependency? Can I/we be more risk-taking? How willing are we to let others in?  What would it be if we lived into the beatitudes, in imaging an alternative future, in the striving?

Program Resources:

1. Poems written by Sister Simone Campbell, SSS
2. Program bibliography
3. NETWORK- Mind the Gap  (URL)

About the Speaker:

Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, (Bio) has served as Executive Director of NETWORK since 2004.   She is a religious leader, attorney and poet with extensive experience in public policy and advocacy for systemic change. In Washington, she lobbies on issues of peace building and economic justice. Around the country, she is a noted speaker and educator on these public
policy issues.

 

Also:

Click here to see participant responses that relate to coming together as a community and suggested actions.
Click here to view an inspirational post-program blog, entitled “hope is always relational”, written by Tim Vogt of Starfire.

 

 

Why did we hold this program?

• To “strive to live Gospel values….to build loving relationships”   – Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Mission Statement
• To “know we are reliant and dependent on God… SCMF provides leadership and influence regionally and nationally in changing structures and removing barriers that divide and marginalize people” – SCMF Vision Statement
• To “further social justice by addressing root causes of poverty, racism and oppression” – SCMF Purpose Statement

The Foundation promotes the mission and ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. Urged by the love of Christ, and in the Spirit of our founder, Elizabeth Ann Seton, we Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati strive to live Gospel values.  We choose to act justly, to build loving relationships, to share our resources with those in need, and to care for all creation.