News & Updates
OSP/IHM Gathering
Read about our recent OSP/IHM Gathering where four congregations came together to reflect, celebrate and plan for collaborative ministry and mission.
Four congregations—The Oblate Sisters of Providence and the three IHM Congregations (Immaculata, Monroe, and Scranton)—came together to reflect, celebrate, and plan for collaborative ministry and mission. A summary of the gathering follows.
A deeply meaningful and prayerful visual and audio grand opening on July 10 created a spirit of joyful reunion and collaborative energy. Some attendees joined from afar (e.g., Ireland), while others viewed the livestream. Despite some technical hiccups, the sense of community and shared purpose was strong throughout.
Key Themes and Reflections
Prayer and Spiritual Grounding: The gathering opened with deeply appreciated and relevant prayers and reflections that addressed the current global and societal challenges. Participants highlighted the importance of grounding the future in spirituality, justice, and education.
Collaboration and Interconnection: There was broad enthusiasm for increasing intercongregational collaboration. Suggestions included: Forming intercongregational ad hoc committees around core themes such as spirituality, justice, and education; launching shared digital platforms (website, Sub stack blog, PBS-style story archive); greater focus on shared ministries, witness, and mutual support.
Hope, Prophecy, and Public Witness: A dominant thread was the importance of hope as an active force that propels mission. Comments reflected a call for prophetic presence and courageous public witness rooted in the Gospel and Alphonsian tradition. Participants emphasized speaking life-giving truth into a culture dominated by fear and power.
Youth, Vocation, and the Future: Concerns and hopes about newer and younger members were raised. There were calls for focusing on gifts and charisms, not just age, and renewed vocational imagination.
Group Processes and Participation: Small groups were formed to discuss questions related to assets, collaboration, and mission. Feedback from these groups was collected and compiled. Participants often helped each other navigate technology and shared appreciation for facilitators and notetakers. Language accessibility was supported (e.g., Spanish interpretation and participation).
Creative Proposals and Ideas: Draft statement were composed and shared for possible collective release in response to current events. Ideas included: Public communications projects like blogs or short articles; using platforms like Sub stack or mimicking StoryCorps to collect oral histories and spiritual testimonies; partnering with ministries and seeking creative pathways for MJP (ministerial juridic person) recognition.
Notable Moments and Sentiments: Many expressed appreciation for individual insights, such as Sister Amanda Russell’s image of interlocked hands symbolizing integration; Sister Lisa Perkowski’s prophetic reflections were widely affirmed as moving and visionary. Participants repeatedly affirmed the power of community, shared
mission, and future-focused imagination.
Celebration and Closing: The gathering included music, concerts (e.g., Ann Reed’s performance), and social bonding. Participants shared closing words of gratitude, beauty, and renewed commitment. Each congregation celebrated a unified liturgy on Sunday, July 13, at their respective motherhouses. The celebrations concluded with joyful singing of O God of Loveliness set to new lyrics written by IHM Sisters from Immaculata, Marjorie M. McCall and Marianne Therese Lallone.
Final Takeaway: This ten-year OSP/IHM gathering was marked by deep connection, hopeful discernment, and visionary proposals to unify and amplify the shared charism across our four congregations. Clear energy surfaced around moving from conversation to concrete collaboration as we live the Gospel boldly together in a changing world.
