NC - Spring 2018

example not by words. You have to
lead in a way that people are willing
to follow.”
An organizer and planner at heart,
Sr. Teresa found it difficult in the first
few months as provincial treasurer to
adjust to not knowing how each day
would unfold. “I like to plan things,
then accomplish and finish them. It’s
why I enjoy cooking and cleaning – I
can see the immediate results. But,
in leadership, many things drag on
and we don’t see the end results for
years.”
She went on to explain, “The biggest
challenge for me was to wake up and
say, ‘Well, let’s see what God has in
store for me on this beautiful day.’
I’m risk averse. I like control. But in
this position, I had to reach out and
delegate. I had to let go.”
And how did she learn to let go? She
says life taught her.
“It’s like casting your net from a boat.
If you keep throwing the net only on
one side of the boat, the results will
be the same. Sometimes you have
to take a different approach and try
casting your net on the other side of
the boat,” she explained.
Her coursework in business law and
management helped, too. Though
management structures, contract law
and balance sheets may seem like odd
topics when talking about religious
life, Sr. Teresa believes to function
in today’s world, even religious
communities must understand
business models, liability risks and
legal issues.
“We want to be Sisters,” she said.
“We want to hug everyone, but we
must understand the business and
legal world around us, too.”
Through all of her learning
experiences as provincial treasurer,
one stands out in Sr. Teresa’s memory:
the opening of the new Immaculate
“It’s like casting your net from a boat. If you keep
throwing the net only on one side of the boat, the
results will be the same.”
Heart of Mary Convent in Monroe,
CT in December 2015.
Equating the experience to the birth
of a baby, she recalls, “It was painful.
Sisters had to set aside their grief
at moving out of their old convent.
There were many challenges and
obstacles. But in the end, everyone
came together and there was joy and
new life. I loved seeing the Sisters’
excitement and gratitude for their
new home.”
Being a part of these happy moments
and getting to know Sisters
throughout the province has been
Sr. Teresa’s greatest joy. “I value how
I’ve really gotten to know the Sisters
as individuals. It has been enriching,
and I’ve become more vested in what
is happening,” she said.
Though she initially did not see her
leadership position as a blessing,
Sr. Teresa now believes she was
blessed with the opportunity to step
out of her comfort zone and become
energized by the work she has done
with her family of Sisters.
MINISTRY WITH
SISTERS AND
STUDENTS:
SR. RITA FANNING,
PROVINCIAL
COUNCILOR
by Tammy Townsend Kise,
Communications Director
In January 2013, just after she was
installed as a provincial councilor,
Sr. Rita Fanning shared with our
friends of Nazareth her thoughts
on how she saw the CSFN charism
being lived out in the coming years,
especially since Sisters are less visible
in Catholic education.
At that time, Sr. Rita said, “There’s
a real willingness on the part of the
Sisters to recognize this change
and to being open to bringing new
ministries to life for the Church and
for Nazareth. This is where the ‘us’
part of our commitment is important.
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