Discernment Ushers in Upcoming Election Process
"O God of Wisdom, enlighten us
to choose the one among our members
most able to lead us in accord with Your will" 
--from SHM election prayer

In a free world, choosing a leader takes many forms. Many Benedictine monasteries of women have recently chosen their leader (prioress) in a formal process called “discernment.” The components  of this process are prayer and silence, readings and discussion, and a final casting of votes. A discerning spirit is woven through the entire process.

Using the discernment process, the sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery will come together from March 31-April 3 to finalize their choice of a successor to Sister Jacquelyn Ernster who is completing her second four-year term as the eleventh prioress of this community.

A six-member election task force was named in June 2003 to design schedules and preliminary details leading to the election. In response to the community, at the June 2004 chapter meeting the task force presented a proposal for a change in the term-length of the prioress. Unanimously accepted by the community, the new norm changes the term of the prioress to six years instead of four.  It specifies that a sister may not be re-elected for an immediate second term. The task force has also recommended readings for group discussion on the topic of leadership and has suggested names to the council for facilitators for goal setting and for the last phase of the discernment process.

An important visual which sets the tone for the entire election process is a newly-installed icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus created by Sister Mary Charles McGough, a widely known Benedictine artist of the Duluth community.  She was commissioned to do this icon for the 125th anniversary of the Yankton Benedictine community being celebrated in festivities this summer.

With Sister Colleen Haggerty, Benedictine from St. Joseph, MN, as facilitator, chapter members devoted the August 2004 community meeting to a discussion of their hopes and dreams for monastic living in the coming  term  of  office  of  their new  leader. They drafted and approved two “direction statements” for the Yankton Benedictines:

1) to be monastic  women  who give priority to deepening  a   God-centered   life  that   nourishes  and energizes our relationships and ministry/service.

2) to   be  monastic  women  who individually  and  communally nurture  a  lifestyle  that  stewards  the earth  and  its  resources as gifts God has given us.

The choice of a prioress is linked to her qualifications to lead the community in these directions.

Sister Michelle Farabaugh of Pittsburgh, PA, has been chosen as facilitator for the final phase of the discernment process beginning on March 31. Sister Kathryn Huber of Ferdinand, IN, president of the Federation of St. Gertrude (to which the Yankton monastery belongs) will preside at the election and officially declare the outcome.

At this final meeting, the sisters will surface names of community members they consider as having qualities suitable for the office of prioress. After preliminary choices are decided upon, these sisters will respond to the community regarding their capabilities and willingness to serve. All sisters who are eligible then take part in the final voting, in the presence of two tellers and a secretary, officers of  election chosen by community vote.

After the election outcome is clearly determined and formally announced, the sisters respond to the newly elected prioress in a gesture of acceptance and word of encouragement. The installation of the prioress will take place at a festive Mass of Thanksgiving during the June 2005 chapter.                               

To subscribe, contact:
S. Evangeline Anderson
eanderson@mtmc.edu
1005 West 8th Street
Yankton, SD 57078