REPORT OF THE GENERAL CUSTODIAN

TO THE DR. MARGARET HEALY ASSEMBLY

 

 

 

The Leadership Assembly of April 1999

 

 In April 1999, under the leadership of the former MCA General Custodian, Marvine Waite and her Council, the first MCA Leadership Assembly was held at Holy Trinity.  Its purpose was to promote leadership at all levels of the MCA and to nominate candidates for the office of General Custodian and Assistant General Custodian.  This Assembly, organized by Pat Regan, was a success.  It also made clear that the growth of the MCA depended on the development of leaders. 

 

It was the consensus of the Assembly that changes be implemented that would encourage leadership at all levels. The following themes arose as recommendations for the next General Council:

 

• To improve communication,
• To promote more shared leadership at the regional level,
• To allow for regional flexibility in whatever model is used,
• To provide a structure that would form leaders,
• To recognize that the MCA is an international organization.

 

 

The Meeting of MCA Leaders in Puerto Rico in February 2000

 

In February of 2000 the MCA leadership met in Puerto Rico to set goals for the three years.  Two leaders from each region and the Regional Spiritual Guides attended. This meeting was funded by the S.T Leadership Development Fund and facilitated by Sr. Brenda Hermann, MSBT. The group developed goals in the areas of growth, formation, stewardship, collaboration, communication, spirituality, revision of the Rule of Life and Constitution, and increased authority at the regional level. Realizing that we could not do it all, the group stressed the major areas of concern were Formation and Stewardship.

 

With the goals set by the Leadership Assembly and the meeting in Puerto Rico, we began our work.  Let me provide an update as follows:

 

1.  Formation:  Most regions are devising formation outlines and implementation at the regional level. The Spiritual Guides have put together a manual for Spiritual Guides, which also is helpful for Custodians. Martha Vega served for a year as International Formation Director visiting each region to promote leadership development and formation. Funds for her position were provided by an S.T. grant.

 

2. Stewardship:  Thanks to Pat Regan and a grant from the ST's to get the program started, the Stewardship project was implemented in April 2001.  The process of sharing of one's time, talent and treasure replaced the system of contributions through dues. 

 

3. To recognize that the MCA is an international organization:  We have worked to do all major business bilingually.  MCA Council meetings are conducted bilingually, and the minutes are done both in English and Spanish. Our newsletter, program materials and information is distributed in both languages. Fr. Domingo, ST, our International Spiritual Guide, and I are both bilingual.

 

4. To improve Communication:  Thanks to Jim Bolner, Assistant General Custodian, our communication has greatly improved.   Very efficiently, he sends out notices via e-mail that are reaching MCA members in record time. He also keeps an updated membership list, and with the help of Smittie Bolner, editor, sends out the MCA Newsletter in English and Spanish to every member three times a year.  The MCA Council also provided computers with e-mail capabilities to the Regions of San Juan (Puerto Rico), Incarnation (Northeast USA) and Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles (Costa Rica and Columbia).  The Region of Our Lady of Guadalupe received two Fax machines, one for each area. 

 

5. To promote more shared leadership at the regional level:  The leadership meeting in Puerto Rico was a step towards this goal.  It became a requirement that each region elect an Assistant Regional Custodian.  In April 2001 Regional Custodians and the Assistant Regional Custodian  of each Region were asked to participate in the MCA Council meeting where updates and orientation was provided.  The emphasis of this meeting was on the importance of representing and thinking not just for a particular region, but the MCA as a whole.

 

6. To provide a structure that would form leaders:  To encourage new leaders to emerge and for better administration, Regions have been divided into areas.  Each area has an Area Coordinator, chosen by the Cenacles in the Area.  This structure is in its early stages and shows much promise. It needs to continue and develop more.  Several regions have requested and been given grants for training of local, area and regional leaders.  Lastly, this Leadership Assembly and the process of selection of delegates connects leaders with one another and encourages new leaders to emerge. 

 

7. To revise the Rule of Life and Constitution: A revision committee was formed and did extensive work on the Revision of the ROL and Constitution.  A first draft of the revision was completed and given to the MCA Council.  It was then sent to the members to be reviewed and critiqued. The purpose of sending this revision to the membership was to have everyone's input and to get a feel for the thinking of the MCA members. The idea was for all voices to be heard so that all might take ownership of this document that we share.  Though this was a difficult task, the struggling, thinking, studying, reflecting and praying in discernment was GOOD and the membership's participation was significant. It produced much feedback and a substantial number of suggestions for further revision.  To handle the task of developing a second draft it was decided to reorganize the committee and to include MCA members with theology background. Shawn Witmer and Pat Regan have agreed to head the committee.  The work of producing a second draft will continue after the Dr. Margaret Healy Assembly.

 

 

 

Josie Morales, MCA

February 2003