Submitted by Yvonne DeBruin, Director of Mission Formation
On March 7-8, SSND partners in ministry from SSND Atlantic-Midwest Province sponsored and co-sponsored ministries and SSND departments gathered for a session of the AM Province’s Ministry Formation program.
The program consists of four sessions that cover everything from the history of the congregation to information about its foundresses, SSND educational vision and spirituality, SSND governance and directional statements, Catholic social justice teachings, and the synodal approach to leadership.
Other components of the program include individual meetings with an SSND mentor, the opportunity to gather in prayer with Ministry Formation Program participants, and participation in a retreat.
The most recent session marked the first session of the program for AM Director of Communications Lauren Ciotti and the fourth and final session for Collaborative Communications Manager Deb Litman. Here is what they had to say about the impact the program has had on them:
Lauren Ciotti
The Ministry Formation Program is a wonderful gift to me as the new Director of Communications. I joined the Atlantic-Midwest Province staff in January and have been independently working to learn more about the School Sisters of Notre Dame mission, and their sponsored ministries. Admittedly, joining the staff with only the vaguest knowledge of the SSND mission and ministries and going about the task of learning independently was a challenge. Thankfully, I did not have to do that for long. I was able to attend the January Annual Leadership Meeting and the March Ministry Formation session during my first two months with SSND. These sessions have been such a gift to me as a communicator. The lectures, time for prayer, emersion in SSND charism, and the relationships I’ve been able to build as a result of my participation have been invaluable.
Deb Litman
As a communicator, it is my job to help others understand who the School Sisters of Notre Dame are and how they continue to respond to the needs of our times and transform the world through education. Doing that well requires a deep understanding of and appreciation for everything that undergirds SSND life and ministry. The Ministry Formation Program has offered me dedicated time and space to reflect on SSND mission, ministries, and charism and how they guide my own work. The program has also brought me together with SSND colleagues from throughout the province and beyond, helping me to build community with others who share a commitment to continuing the mission and ministry of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this program.
