History of ANAM Provincial Team and Staff Gatherings 1983-2024
The following is a timeline of annual meetings of the ANAM (Antilles-North America-Mexico) provincial teams and some staff, eventually representing the countries of Canada, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States.[1]
Note: There are some meetings of several of these provincial teams that were not a formal part of the ANAM gatherings but are part of the ANAM story. These meetings are highlighted in red.
1983: The Beginnings – Retreat/ Reflections Days for Provincial Team and Staff of the new United States Province
On September 15, 1982, the five provinces in the United States — Chicago, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington — merged to become the province of the United States. Nance O’Neil, RSCJ, was named provincial. Her team, Maureen Aggeler, RSCJ, Rosemary Bearss, RSCJ, and Jean Ford, RSCJ, hailed from different previous provinces. A new provincial center was established in St. Louis, Missouri, with new Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) staff also from various parts of the United States. In early February 1983, the new team and staff joined six provincial teams from other congregations at Gloucester, Massachusetts, for an 8-day retreat on justice with Peter Henriot, S.J. and Jane Bluett from the Center of Concern in in Washington, D.C. This was the beginning of their annual reflection time together.[2]
1984: The provincial teams of the U.S. and Canada meet with the General Council in Canada
As part of the Society of the Sacred Heart General Council’s visit, the General Council (from Rome) and the provincial teams of Canada and the United States met together in Montreal May 27-31, 1984. Among other topics, they discussed education, the Society’s service in the Church, formation and vocations.
February 1985 | Rye Beach, New Hampshire
The United States Provincial Team and staff met together for their annual retreat days
1986 – 1991: The Canada and U.S. provincial teams and staffs meet for annual reflection days
The provincial team and staff of the province of Canada (Anne Leonard, RSCJ; Sally Mahar, RSCJ; Shelagh Deegan, RSCJ; Lorna Brocket, RSCJ; and Kitts McCaffery, RSCJ) joined the U.S. provincial team and staff (Nance O’Neil, RSCJ; Rosemary Bearss, RSCJ; Elizabeth Hartson, RSCJ; Jean Ford, RSCJ; Judy Cagney, RSCJ; Barbara Dawson, RSCJ; Gail O’Donnell, RSCJ; Susan Maxwell, RSCJ; and Kit Collins, RSCJ), at their annual reflection time for the first time, January 19-26, 1986, in Rye Beach. The report in Update notes that the days “were filled with personal prayer, shared reflections and input from a number of sources.”[1] Sister Collins gave a first-hand account of the Education Commission meeting in Rome.
For the next several years, these two teams and staff meet for “retreat days” alternating their meetings between Rye Beach, and Canada. In general, there was an extended time for prayer, discussion on common issues, meetings of individual teams and input from some outside resources.
February 1987 | Châteauguay, Québec
Sister Mary Jo Leddy, CM joined. The meeting included discussion of Helen McLaughlin, RSCJ’s article “Sense of Mission.”
January 1988 | Rye Beach, New Hampshire
Anne Montgomery, RSCJ, led three days of prayerful reflection on nonviolence.
January 1989 | Toronto, Ontario
Invitees included Theresa Chu, RSCJ, and Sister Mary Ellen Sheehan, IHM, who spoke on women in the church.
Back L to R: Shelagh Deegan (CAN), Dorothy Murray (USA), Patricia Geuting (USA), Elizabeth Hartson (USA), Sheila Hammond (USA), Rosemary Bearss (USA), Deanna Rose Von Bargen (USA), Donna Dolan (CAN), Anne Leonard (CAN)
Middle L to R: Natalie Runfola (USA), Susan Maxwell (USA), Eliza Power (CAN), Clare Pratt (USA), Mildred Peterkin (CAN), Sally Mahar (CAN)
Front L to R: Gail O’Donnell (USA), Judy Cagney (USA), Patricia Murphy (USA), Carol Haggarty (USA)
1989: A proposed meeting between the provincial teams of Puerto Rico and the United States that didn’t happen at the last minute
Completely separate from the annual days of reflection shared by the U.S. and Canada provincial teams and staff was a proposed meeting of the provincial teams of Puerto Rico and the United States. The two provincials, Maria Clemencia (Mari-Clemen) Benitez, RSCJ, and Rosemary Bearss, RSCJ, spoke together after a report they heard at the Chapter of the Irish/Scottish and English provinces having an honest and deep sharing of the difficulties between Ireland and England. They discussed their two provincial teams having some time together for a similar conversation. In a letter to Mari-Clemen, Clare Pratt, RSCJ, a member of Rosemary’s team, writes, “… we need to understand each other and we need to be able to talk honestly about the hurts, misunderstandings, and painful history affecting our two countries.”[4]
There was considerable preparation and sharing of resources before the meeting planned for September 18-26, 1989 in St Louis. But on September 18th Hurricane Hugo, a category 3 hurricane, made two land falls in Puerto Rico causing considerable damage and suffering. The provincial team from Puerto Rico decided not to come. Mari-Clemen wrote to Clare:
Clare, we had so looked forward to this reunion which both of our teams had prepared for months and which we know would have been so profitable. Nevertheless, given the situation which Puerto Rico is living today, we don’t want to make any trips which are not strictly necessary. We say this for economic reasons, but even more because we want to be in solidarity with the people who have to suddenly change their lifestyle. Puerto Rico is not Puerto Rico of 10 days ago…[5]
January 1990 | Rye Beach, New Hampshire
The meeting included a day of reflection prepared by Eve Kavanagh, RSCJ; report on Popular Education meeting by Carol Putnam, RSCJ, and Linda Hayward, RSCJ.
January 1991 | Toronto, Ontario
RSCJ shared significant events in each province, about a formation meeting in Barcelona and meetings in Rio de Janeiro.
1992: Province of Puerto Rico[6] joins the U.S. and Canada provinces for their annual reflection days
The provincial of Puerto Rico, Maria Clemencia, RSCJ, and one of her team members, Maria Milagros Carbonell, RSCJ, joined the provincial teams and staff of Canada and the United States at their reflection days at Rye Beach, which took place February 14-21, 1992. (Rosa Aurora Arsuaga, RSCJ, Puerto Rican provincial team member, was unable to come at the last minute due to illness.) There was time several mornings for individual teams and staff to work together. Countries took turns facilitating the sharing in the afternoons. The tentative schedule[7] included: sharing “Where we are” in each of our provinces — concerns, joys, sorrows, hopes; sharing from the Young Professed meetings and about the Associates Program (Puerto Rico), sharing from the Assembly of Provincials and sharing hopes for the 1994 Chapter. At times, those present broke into interest groups: initial formation, treasurers, provincials, and ongoing formation. Each day the sisters had time together for shared meals and prayer. It was not all work as there was time allotted for beach walking, visiting, outlet shopping, etc. The provinces took turns providing entertainment in the evenings.
Standing L to R: Susan Maxwell (USA), Pat Geuting (USA), Anne-Marie Conn (CAN), Rosemary Bearss (USA), Kathy Church (USA), Sheila Hammond (USA), Sally Mahar (CAN), Fran de la Chapelle (USA), Maria Milagros Carbonell (PTR), Norma Heffernan (CAN), Natalie Runfola (USA), Donna Dolan (CAN)
Middle L to R: Shelagh Deegan (CAN), Mari-Clemen Benitez (PTR),
Front L to R: Judy Cagney (USA), Kathy Conan (USA), Clare Pratt (USA), Dorothy Murray (USA), Carol Haggarty (USA).
From 1992 to 1998 the location of the annual reflection days (which by 1994 started to be called Regional Meetings) of these three provinces rotated between the three provinces. The United States began hosting in locations other than Rye Beach. In addition to being a time of prayer, sharing and planning, there was the opportunity to get to know something of the Society’s ministries and the local culture where the meetings were taking place. As the group grew in number, the number of provincial staff members attending decreased.
January 1993 | Montreal, Québec
The meeting included sharing realities of each province, reviewing the “Road to Emmaus” preparation for the General Chapter, and exploring the Montreal area.
January 1994 | Barranquitas, Puerto Rico
Each province planned a day of reflection, shared work of provincial chapters, and enjoyed the beauty of Barranquitas.
January 1995 | Grand Coteau, Louisiana
Each province planned a day of reflection. The meeting included immersion into Grand Coteau: history, current realities, Cajun culture and a trip to St. Michael’s, Louisiana.
September 1996 | Ste-Geneviève, Québec
The theme of the meeting was Migrants, Refugees, Women. The meeting covered provincial and inter-provincial matters.
Standing L to R : Carmen Margarita Fagot (PTR), Sally Mahar (CAN), Natividad Hernandez (PTR), Judy Cagney (USA), Socorro Julia (PTR), Mildred Peterkin (CAN), Shelagh Deegan (CAN), Barbara Dawson (USA), Marina Hernandez (USA), Mary-Ann Bates (CAN)
Front L to R : Diane Roche (USA), Rosemary Thompson (USA), Anne-Marie Conn (CAN)
January 1998 | Barranquitas, Puerto Rico
The meeting covered topics of globalization and how it affects our countries, and JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation). It also included visits to ministries, finance and team meetings, and beach days.
1999: Province of Mexico joins the provincial teams and staff of Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S.
In 1999, Isabel Aranguren, RSCJ, and Socorro Martinez, RSCJ, from the Mexico-Nicaragua province joined the provincial teams and treasurers from Canada, Puerto Rico and the United States at the Spiritual Ministry Center in San Diego, California, for their annual meeting. Most of the time was spent learning about the reality of the U.S./Mexico Border. The entire group spent one day in Tijuana with Philippe Gagne of Esperanza International as their guide. They also spent time visiting RSCJ ministries in San Diego and the San Bernardino Valley.[8]
Before concluding their gathering, they discussed for the third year the possibility of starting a new educational project for the Society in Haiti. All four teams agreed that this was the right moment to begin this as a collaborative project with final responsibility belonging to Puerto Rico. They sent a letter and their proposal for the project to the General Council in Rome. A positive response from the General Council came in June 1999.[9]
The following year, the four provincial teams, formation personnel and provincial treasurers met in Oaxaca, Mexico.
January 2000 | Oaxaca, DF Mexico
Meeting topics included Indigenous people, cultural and faith.
2001: The Cuba Area joins the four provincial teams and staff of the region for their annual meeting.
Cristina Colás, RSCJ, superior of the Area of Cuba, joined the four provincial teams and staffs at their annual meeting, May 8-15, 2001, in Prince George, British Columbia. Cuba had requested to join the group to be part of the sponsorship for the project in Haiti. Each province shared how they were living Chapter 2000. The guest speaker was Bishop Wiesner. The tour day included Columbia Ice Fields
January/February 2002 | Port-au-Prince and Verrettes, Haiti
The meeting covered Haiti’s reality and further understanding of Society’s mission in Haiti.
In 2002 the regional meeting was held in Port-au-Prince and Verrettes, Haiti, to have a firsthand view and understanding of the project the provinces had undertaken together. Only finance staff and not formation staff attended this meeting. There was input on Haiti’s reality from Fathers William Smart and Godefroy Midy who had been a part of the discernment process.
Canada, Cuba, Mexico-Nicaragua, Puerto Rico-Haiti, and United States Teams and Finance Staff
Jan. 26 – Feb. 2, 2002 – Haiti
Back L to R: Kathleen Hughes (USA), Anne-Maria Conn (CAN), Paula Toner (USA), Sheila Hammond (USA), Maureen O’Halloran (USA), Socorro Julia (PTR)
Middle L to R: Josefina Ramos (PTR), Ma. Milagros Carbonell (PTR), Josefa Corrada (PTR, Haiti), Ellen Collesano (USA), Judy Vollbrecht (USA, Haiti), Cristina Colás (CUB), Luz Gutiérrez (MXN)
Front L to R: Jane Maltby (MM), Socorro Rubio (MXN), Joan Gannon (USA)
Not pictured: Mary Finlayson (CAN)
2003: This regional gathering of provincial leadership is now called ANAM (Antilles-North America-Mexico)
These annual meetings of provincial/area leadership continued to rotate through the provinces providing opportunities to learn and experience different local realities. They were an opportunity for sharing and support. Although Haiti was considered part of the Puerto Rico province, the other provinces had committed to support the Haiti project, so updates and finance reports on Haiti were part of ANAM meetings going forward. A member of the General Council attended ANAM for several years beginning in 2002. Current world, church and Society topics were woven throughout the agendas. The need for some sort of interpretation assistance was also being experienced.
February 2003 | St. Louis, Missouri
The meeting included prayer days with Philippine and sharing regarding signs of hope/concerns, Haiti, new United Nations NGO status, and province planning.
February 2004 | Mexico City, Mexico
Four days of insertion in different places in the Province of Mexico preceded the meeting. Meeting topics included “Our Emerging Vision” from the Provincial meeting in Korea, NAFTA and immigration, and Haiti.
Back L to R: Mary Finlayson (CAN), Paula Toner (USA), Sheila Hammond (USA), Ellen Collesano (USA), Josefina Ramos (PTR), Maria Milagros Carbonell (PTR)
Middle L to R: Jane Maltby (MM), Dona Dolan (CAN), Kathleen Hughes (USA), Noemi Rodriquez (CUB), Mariela Peña (MXN)
Front L to R: Anne-Marie Conn (CAN), Soco Rubio (MXN), Joan Gannon (USA), Luz Gutierrez (MXN)
February 2005 | Montreal, Québec
The meeting included prolonged prayer together and sharing new buds of life in each province. One day was devoted to the trafficking of women and children led by Sheila Smith.
2005: “Living the Present – Envisioning the Future,” International Vocation Conference of the ANAM Provinces
“The first International Vocation Conference of the ANAM Provinces”[10] was held December 9-11, 2006 in St .Charles, Missouri. This was not part of the annual meetings of the ANAM provincial teams but flowed from the relationships. Approximately 40 RSCJ participants were expected including Nilda Gutierrez from Puerto Rico; Reyna Gonzalez and Conny Mateos from Mexico; Judy Vollbrecht from Haiti; Anne-Marie Conn and Mary Finlayson from Canada; Sofia Baranda from Chile. The rest of the participants were from the U.S. province (including the provincial team). Provinces made presentations on their reality regarding vocations. There was a panel of young people. Mary Johnson, SND gave a keynote. Participants left with planned projects to carry out in their provinces.
2006-2016: Regular Meetings of ANAM
Over the next ten years, ANAM met faithfully with participating provinces/area hosting the group on a rotation basis. There were opportunities for insertion in some of the more fragile situations such as Cuba and Nicaragua. For the most part the agendas had similar patterns: shared prayer, sharing the life, events, and issues of each province/area, an update on Haiti including a finance report, time for individual teams to meet and insertion experiences and speakers for the locale being visited.
Towards the end of this period province restructuring within ANAM was happening. In 2010, the decision was made to leave the mission in Nicaragua and the province once again became the province of Mexico (MEX). In 2013, the U.S. and Canada become one province (USC). In 2016, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Haiti became the province of Antilles (ANT).
March 2006 | Barranquitas, Puerto Rico
There was sharing from each province, a speaker on diversity and team building. Judy Vollbrecht, RSCJ, spoke about Haiti. (About half of the 15 participants who attended this meeting could speak both English and Spanish.)
March 2007 | Managua, Nicaragua
The local RSCJ community welcomed members of ANAM sharing the beauty of the country and their ministries. Discussions included the life of each province, planning for provincial chapters, and the ANAM project in Haiti.
Back L to R: Luz Gutierrez (MXN) , Carmen Margarita Fagot (CUB), Paula Toner (USA), Pilar Guallart (CUB), Marina Hernandez (USA), Theresa Chu (CAN), Jane Maltby (MM),
Mary Finlayson (CAN), Clara Malo (MXN), Nati Hernandez (PRH)
Front L to R: María Clemencia Benítez (PRH), Kathy Conan (USA), Anne Byrne (USA), Soco Rubio (MXN) Not in photo: Diane Roche (USA-Haiti)
February 2008 | New York/Albany, New York
The meeting included an immersion in New York, time with communities and students in NYC, a train to Sprout Creek Farm, and a train to Albany/Kenwood. There was an update on UN NGO from Cecile Meijer, RSCJ, as well as an update on Haiti.
2009
No ANAM after Chapter 2008.
February 2010 | Barranquitas, Puerto Rico
The meeting covered the plight of Haiti (earthquake) and other vulnerable countries: Nicaragua and Cuba. There was discussion on the Chapter Calls and Apostolic Visitation in U.S.
February 2011 | Havana, Cuba
The meeting included learning about Cuba, a follow up on Haiti (now part of a province with Puerto Rico), new ways of organizing after Chapter 2008, and JPIC. [Decision to leave Nicaragua 2010]
Back L to R: Shelley Lawrence (CAN), Mary Finlayson (CAN), Mónica Esquivel (MXN), Esperanza Calabuig (CUB)
Front L to R: Josefina Ramos (PRH), Mary Kay Hunyady (USA), Georgina Zubiría (MXN), Lourdes Velázquez (MXN), Matilde Moreno (PRH, Haiti), Lolín Menéndez (PRH), Susan Maxwell (USA), Paula Toner (USA), Cristina Colás (CUB).
April 2012 | Montreal, Québec
Each province/area shared about its context and realities. There was input from the JPIC commission, use of JPIC Spiritual Journey booklet, and updates on Haiti. Simultaneous translation was provided by two members.
Back L to R: Shelley Lawrence (CAN), Mary Kay Hunyady (USA), Mary Charlotte Chandler (USA), Carmen Margarita Fagot (MM), Paula Toner (USA), Josefina Ramos (PRH), Georgina Zubiría(MEX)
Middle L to R: Esperanza Calabuig (CUB) , Anne Byrne (USA), Maria Milagros Carbonell (PRH), Lolín Menendez (PRH),
Front L to R: Mónica Esquivel (MEX), Sheila Smith (CAN), Lourdes Velázquez (MEX), Mary Finlayson (CAN)
March 2013 | Guadalajara, Jalisco
There was sharing of context and realities with a focus on future, how provinces have collaborated and might in the future, and the U.S. and Canada shared about the unification process.
May 2014 | Washington, DC
Participants shared province realities (including the US and Canada being one province), how they were living the new formation document and the situation in Haiti and Cuba. There were opportunities to visit ministries and sites in DC.
March 2015 | Puerto Rico
Participants shared about their institutions for education, Elder Care communities and vocations. There were updates on Haiti and Cuba becoming one province with Puerto Rico and Haiti.
July-August 2016 | Nemi (Rome), Italy
2016 General Chapter took place.
2016: General Chapter decision to restructure
At the General Chapter of 2016, the Society decided to restructure “so as to be more agile and dynamic.” We were also called to share our resources both personnel and finances. The provincials of the Philippine Region began meeting together to learn what was happening in each province and how they could work together to answer the calls of the 2016 General Chapter.
May 2018 | Guadalajara, Jalisco
The Philippine Region provincials meet May 1-6. At one point during that meeting the provincials divided into three groups, ANAM, Central South America and Southern South America for dialogue.
ANAM met the next week. One question was whether this would be the last ANAM meeting. The decision was to continue. Each province shared on how they were integrating calls of the 2016 General Chapter. There were updates on Haiti, projects in Cuba and Puerto Rico after the hurricane.
Back L to R: Marta Núñez (ANT), Meg Causey (USC), Sheila Hammond (USC), Soco Rubio (MEX), Ada Martinez (ANT), Nati Hernandez (ANT), Lolín Menédez (ANT), Lourdes Velázquez (MEX),
Front L to R: Anne-Marie Conn (USC), Mary Finlayson (USC)
December 2019 | Havana, Cuba
The General Council met with the provincial teams of the 9 provinces of the Philippine Region. They divided into groups of 5-6 people to share the reality of life in each province. They also met in interprovincial groups such as ANAM, network formal education, network of popular education, formation meetings. After the Philippine Region meetings, ANAM met. They continued the discussions begun the previous week about being a Philippine Region community. Maria del Valle Adame gave an update on Haiti. The question had been raised at the Philippine Region meeting if, given the regional structure, ANAM needed to exist. Again, the decision was “yes.”
2020: Covid Pandemic – Gatherings go virtual
October 2020 | Virtual
Meetings took place over three days (2 hours each day) each led by a different province. Topics included the pandemic, Special Chapter, Haiti, and a regional proposal. Two interpreters were hired.
February 2021 | Virtual
The Society of the Sacred Heart Special Chapter 2021 took place virtually.
2021 to present: Imagining a future ANAM province
At the Special Chapter of 2021, it was decided that the Society would organize itself into units smaller than current regions and larger than current provinces. An International Planning Commission was set up to facilitate the process. The fruits of the process were brought to the Assembly of Provincials in December of 2022. This group recommended to the General Council, to be brought to the General Chapter of 2024, that the Society restructure into eight provinces. One of these future provinces would be the combination of the Antilles, Mexico and United States – Canada provinces. ANAM meetings shifted from a regional gathering of provincial teams sharing and supporting each other to meetings (virtual and in-person) about becoming one province together. By the General Chapter of 2024, this new province adopted the name ANAM, a name already familiar to the provinces joining but also a name with other nuances. Anam Cara means soul friend in Gaelic, and in Arabic, Anam means blessed.
September 2022| Virtual
Teams discussed the reality of each of the 3 provinces in order to get to know each other and to explore the future together
December 2022 | Málaga, Spain
Assembly of Provincials across the Society takes place.
February 2023 | Virtual
There was a discussion of the next steps in the process including waiting for new provincial teams to be named and of the situation in Haiti.
July 2023 | Two Virtual Meetings
At the first meeting, teams shared what each province was doing regarding the process of moving toward one province as well as ideas for “knitting” the new province. At the second meeting, Imma de Stefanis, RSCJ, presented on the Apostolic Priorities.
September 2023 | Mexico City, Mexico
The meeting included facilitators and interpreters. It covered moving to a new province, articulating a common dream and principal challenges. It also included talks of exchanging information re: finances, formation, etc.
Front L to R (seated: Griselda Espino (facilitator), Imma De Stefanis (USC), Lynne Lieux, (USC), Maria del Valle (ANT), Clara Malo (MEX), Marina Hernandez (USC) (on Zoom). Not pictured: Mariluz Borja (MEX), interpreter.
December 2023 | Virtual
Meeting takes place over Zoom.
July 2024 | Rome, Italy
Chapter delegates from ANAM provinces met before the General Chapter at the Villa Lante in Rome. There was discussion of governance — central and provincial — the name of the new province, and the future. Delegates from all the Philippine Region provinces, soon to be the ANAM and Filipina Sur provinces, also met together.
August 2024 | Nemi (Rome), Italy
General Chapter 2024 takes place.
[November 2024- Superior General Barbara Dawson, RSCJ, sends a letter about the Society leaving Haiti]
December 2024 | San Diego, California
More concrete planning takes place, including working groups and commissions for the process of building the new ANAM province. Participants discussed scenarios for presence in Cuba.
Regular meetings of the three provincials, sometimes the three provincial teams, often on Zoom, became part of ongoing process of building our new ANAM province.
[1] This history builds on and benefits from the work previously done by Mary Finlayson, RSCJ, and Clara Malo, RSCJ.
[2] “Team and Staff Retreat Gloucester,” Update, No. 6, Mar. 1983, p 8. ArchivesUSC IX.I
[3] “Team and Staff Reflection Days: Focus on the Future,” Update, No. 40, Feb. 1986, p 2. ArchivesUSC II.C. ANAM.
[4] Letter dated April 20, 1989. ArchivesUSA II.C.ANAM
[5] Translation from Spanish of letter dated September 27, 1989. ArchivesUSC II.C.ANAM
[6] The name of the province to which Puerto Rico has belonged has changed frequently over time. For instance, Province of Puerto Rico-Cuba 1986-1990, Province of Puerto Rico 1990-2004, Province of Puerto Rico-Haiti 2004-2016, Province of Antilles 2016-present.
[7] “Rye Beach Retreat Canadian, Puerto Rican and U.S. Teams and Staffs: Tentative Schedule.” ArchivesUSC II.C.ANAM.
[8] “Report of the San Diego Meeting,” Update, No. 190, p.12. ArchivesUSC II.C.ANAM
[9] Letter from General Council. Ref 99/125. To the provincials of Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico-Nicaragua, the United States and to the superior of the Cuba Area. “Queridas Carmen Margarita, Anne-Marie, Socorro, Barbara y Carmen.” ArchivesPR IV.J. Box 1.
[10] Update No.266, January 2006, pp9-11. ArchivesUSA II.C.ANAM