Holy Cross Associates welcomed to participate in discussion during historic assembly in Chicago

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — A local member of the Holy Cross Associated Leadership Team joined others from throughout the United States and Mexico at the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross’ North America Area Assembly in Chicago, Sept. 11-15.

The congregation is a worldwide professed religious order; the associates are lay men and women who share the core values of the sisters in faith, prayer, compassion, and community. 

Although Holy Cross associates have attended past area assemblies, “this was an historic event in that the associates were asked to share in the discussions and reflect on our experience,” said Mary Beth Vogel-Ferguson, a Holy Cross Associate of 30 years and member of the Salt Lake City leadership team. 

The assembly in Chicago was based on the Congregation’s General Chapter meeting held in Uganda in June that seven Holy Cross sisters from Salt Lake City attended. 

The congregation holds chapter meetings every five years and area meetings every year,  said Holy Cross Sister Catherine Kamphaus, superintendent of Utah Catholic Schools. 

“Because this was a follow-up of our Ugandan experience, we invited our associates to participate; they were amongst us as one of us,” she said. “Some of them are former Sisters of the Holy Cross, who are active in our associate program.” 

Having the associates attend “gives us fresh eyes into ourselves; they ask questions that help us clarify what we are trying to do or say,” said Sr. Cathy. “It also gives us an openness and transparency in what we do as Sisters of the Holy Cross; their attendance makes us more accountable. It was a good experience.”

One of the issues discussed in Chicago was an area for retired sisters, said Sr. Cathy. “We used to have a separate Area for retired sisters; we combined all the areas and it now includes all of North America and Mexico and the retired sisters, which required a restructure of governance. The associates helped with that.” 

This discussion “was not easy; there were struggles,” said Vogel-Ferguson. “But the core values of compassion, faith, prayer and community were clearly visible in the process of working through conflict, and simply in the way they worked out living the Holy Cross charism. We have a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to participate and share our passion for Holy Cross and its mission, and the time we had to get to know the sisters more deeply.”

At the meeting, the associates gained a new perspective on the sisters and their life in community, said Vogel-Ferguson. “We engaged in active listening and observed the process, and once the discussion commenced, the sisters encouraged us to fully engage, share our experiences and insights,” she said. “We felt so blessed to have been able to join the sisters in a mutually supportive relationship, as they discerned God’s will for the future of the Area of North America.” 

As the days went by, the associates were asked if they thought the process was laborious, said Vogel-Ferguson, but it was “fascinating; sometimes we didn’t completely understand the core of an issue, but we learned along the way, gaining a new understanding of the life of Holy Cross. At times, it even felt like our perspective allowed the group to enter into a deeper discussion. As one sister said, ‘We think inside the box; it’s good to have a fresh perspective.’” 

The diversity of women from different cultures all working together “was powerful for us to experience,” said Vogel-Ferguson. “We saw the sisters engage in consensus building and respectful dialogue from very different opinions. In our heads we all knew we were part of the Holy Cross family, but after experiencing their appreciation and love, we knew it more deeply in our hearts.”

The Salt Lake City Holy Cross Associates meet quarterly and are open to new members. For information, contact Mary Beth Vogel-Ferguson, 801-580-4861.