Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ welcomes five sisters in new leadership team installation during Saturday mass at The Center at Donaldson

On Saturday, November 8, during mass at the Ancilla Domini Chapel, the community came to support the installation of a new leadership team for the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ., 

The five Sisters who were welcomed to the new leadership team were Province Leader Shirley Bell, Vicaress Deborah Davis, and Councilors Marybeth Martin, Connie Bach, and Margaret Ann Henss. The installation of the new leadership group took place just before the Eucharist.

“This installation means we’re looking towards the future,” Bell said. “Our Sisters have entrusted the governance and the spiritual life of the province here to the five of us. We had our Chapter and decided where we’re going to go for the future. A lot of it is still unimaginable, but it’s about being able to walk with our Sisters in the future.”

The process of choosing new representatives takes place every four years, when the individuals who want to be a part of the leadership team will have conversations with the community. From there, the community decides on the best candidates to guide the spiritual and ministry life.

“Every four years, we have what we call a Province Chapter,” Bell said. “We discuss the needs of the community and the direction that we plan to move forward. Once the community has a sense of where we need to be moving, they elect the individuals through an election process who they feel can best lead the community.”

While the leadership team has a good understanding of what needs to be done, they rely on some additional partners to help make this possible. 

“We’re all involved in a myriad of different things,” Bell said. “With the spiritual life of the Sisters, with our Associates, and with our Fiat Spiritus members, there are three different communities that embrace the charism of Saint Katharina. We have multiple ministries not only here at Donaldson, but also some of the outside areas. It’s always a busy time for us when it comes to planning and figuring out what we need it to be about in a way that falls in line with our values.”

The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ are always motivated to not only make things better for the community, but also to prioritize education in faith.

“At this point in our history, a lot of the education comes from personal engagement with individuals and through our ministries,” Bell said. “It’s about walking in the footsteps of our foundress Saint Katharina. We do that through the ministries we engage in, writing letters, and personal relationships with our friends, Sisters, Associates, co-workers, or the community as a whole.”

Tony Englert, director of philanthropy and communications at the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, is excited for this opportunity with the five sisters.

“It’s beautiful for us to come together and celebrate this installation,” Englert said. “Today is a great day of joy and hope for us who are co-workers, because we get a chance to work with the Sisters.”

From the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ team to local residents who regularly attend mass at Ancilla Domini Chapel, all in attendance for the leadership team’s installation welcomed them with a blessing followed by a round of applause.

“It’s a joyous occasion that the sisters and the community are behind us and have chosen us for this responsibility,” Bell said. “There’s the celebration of joy in coming together with one another. Anytime we mark events in our lives, it’s important to celebrate them. Today is one of those moments for us. This is for all of those we want to connect with and see the future with.”

For more information on the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, you can visit poorhandmaids.org.