Felician Leadership Institute

During the week of July 9-14, Mary Lisa McGill, Felician Center Board chair participated in a weeklong leadership development conference at the Villa Maria Convent Campus in Buffalo, New York. Joining other Felician sponsored ministry leaders, the group was blessed with an array of speakers and presentations on Felician Franciscan values, elements of Franciscan spirituality and Felician charism to enhance the role of laity in each ministry.

Joe Waters, Felician Center mission leader, Sister Johnna, Felician Center president and Sister Susanne, Felician Center program director presented The Ecclesial Element of Franciscan Spirituality. Joe eloquently shared some experiences in the life of St. Francis that demonstrated the “ecclesial dimension” of Franciscan spirituality. Sister Johnna and Sister Susanne presented the challenges and transformation of their Bible belt experiences to understand the role of the church in the Felician Center ministry. Mary Lisa McGill, Felician Center board chair and a Presbyterian added a non-Catholic perspective to the growing collaborations with other churches.

In her own words, Mary Lisa reflected on her week in the Leadership Institute. “I came to know Blessed Mary Angela in a more personal way and took a deep dive into the history of the brave Felician Franciscan Sister that took the dangerous trip from Poland to Wisconsin that began the North America ministry in1874. The Institute gave me the opportunity to meet people from across the country. Although we shared different stories of our service, we all bring the same core values into our ministry and decision making while serving our sisters and brothers in Christ.”

Felician Services orchestrated the learnings of this week including a fun trip to Niagara Falls.