A Commitment to Ongoing Formation
Ongoing formation is an integral part of who we are as an organization. It is at the heart of sharing the mission, charism and values of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, and ensuring their legacy continues. Formation is not only for ministry board members and leaders; the Congregation Leadership Team and the Peace Ministries board and staff consider it to be one of their highest priorities.
On February 3, the annual Board and Leadership Team Formation Day was held at Cusack Hall in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. The day was facilitated by Michael Brough, a former executive partner of Leadership Roundtable, an organization that helps promote best practices in Church leadership and management. The gathering consisted of synodal listening, reflection and deep discussion focused on co-responsibility—emphasizing the theme of Shepherding Our Ministries into the Future.
“It is important to focus on this theme as we read the signs of the times and look to the changing needs of our ministries and how we can best support them in the years ahead,” said Peace Ministries Mission Integration Director Colleen O’Brien.
Sister Margaret Jane Kling presents on the history of Peace Ministries
Planning for the future requires reflecting on our past. Sister Margaret Jane Kling, a founding trustee of Peace Ministries, presented an origin story of the work involved in creating this new model of co-sponsorship between the Congregation and Peace Ministries. Recognizing that the sisters’ presence in the ministries was decreasing, a corporate structure was created to strengthen the Congregation’s ability to govern and advocate for their sponsored ministries in New Jersey into the future.
Sister Margaret Jane said ongoing formation is key. For a board to understand commitment to mission, they need to understand what it means to be a ministry of the Church.
In the early days of Peace Ministries, “Orientation was significant, and board members needed to know what they were getting into—faith traditions, history, commitment to mission, vision, and values,” she said.
Formation became embedded in meetings, with time set aside specifically for prayer, reflection and sharing, as well as in-house retreat days and outside programs.
These types of events continue today. They hold great value and allow for collaboration between the Peace Ministries board and the Leadership Team. As stated in Hopes and Aspirations for the Future of Our Ministries (2012), “We recognize that as ministries evolve and change, so too will organizational structures. These are critical times, times that require a willingness on the part of all who are involved to discern carefully the call of the Spirit, and to respond with creativity, courage and trust in God’s faithfulness. Together, we can do that.”
Formation days create space to share insights, deepen relationships, and renew our collective sense of purpose. This year’s Board and Leadership Team Formation Day held particular significance as the Leadership Team prepares to transition to a new team in 2027.
“Formation lies at the heart of Peace Ministries’ purpose to keep the founding vision and values of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace alive and active within the sponsored ministries,” said Peace Ministries Executive Director Maureen Donohue. “Formation creates meaningful experiences that invite each of us who serve to remember and recommit to our shared mission.”
