|
|
|
Dear Covenant friends,
Every year since 1996, when Covenant Health Systems was established as a Public Juridic Person, we have submitted our stewardship report to the Vatican Office of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL). This report details our commitment to maintaining the mission and Catholic Identity of Covenant and all of its sponsored organizations.
Every five years, we hold Covenant's Leadership Forum in Rome. We view it as an opportunity for our system-wide leadership, governance and management team to learn and to focus on the healing mission we all carry forth. Our Covenant Board also meets with the leadership of CICLSAL and presents our annual corporate report. We have the opportunity to share experiences, outlooks, and challenges within the United States Catholic health ministry. In turn, they have an opportunity to come to know us and our work, and to have a chance to express their appreciation to Covenant and its members for our contribution in continuing the healing ministry of Jesus in the Church today.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, we are pleased to present you with a sampling of the evaluations we received from members on our pilgrimage. It is also a good opportunity to reflect on the journey we shared together in Italy and also the journey we share together each day in carrying forth the healing ministry of Jesus.
Thank you,
Joyce L. Arel David R. Lincoln
Board Chair President/CEO
|
|
What was your experience of Covenant's Pilgrimage?
|
|
"It was a privilege and pleasure to be reminded of the unique relationship our health system enjoys with Rome. And while we invest time and resources in making sure our Board and Senior Management Group have the competencies and passion for the work performed in the past by our sponsoring congregations, the Rome trip is a powerful reminder of the promises we made to do so. Another beneficial aspect of this pilgrimage is the reminder that even though the roots of the individual organizations may be different, our legacies have more commonalities than differences, and our futures are tied to each other. I really enjoy the time with my own colleagues and Board, but also with Covenant colleagues and Board members, and those of our 'sister' organizations."
 | |
View of the Vatican from the Tiber River
|
"A pilgrimage is a journey that can be of spiritual significance as well as 'an act of Thanksgiving.' For me, this time in Rome was a spiritual journey as well as one of thanksgiving. The journey was one of getting in touch with the first men and women who began our Church by spreading the ministry of Jesus' love and healing. The 'act of thanksgiving' is for the ministry of love and healing that continues today through the efforts and dedication of those involved with Covenant Health Systems." |
|
"I was deeply impressed by the visible expression of Covenant's care for mission and for building a culture of warm relationships among those associated with the system. Fr. Arbuckle's presentation on mission was one that I appreciated greatly. I will use his materials, not just for healthcare, but also for mission in a more general sense. The entire week was an experience to be treasured and remembered. I am proud to be part of the Covenant connections."
"The overall experience was so wonderful, I am still pinching myself. The pilgrimage provided such a wonderful overall lesson/overview of ancient Rome, Rome today and the connection to Catholic Identity and what we as members of Covenant Health Systems do every day for those most in need. The Forum also provided valuable time for members of the various Covenant entities to meet each other, get to know each other, and build meaningful relationships at a deeper level than is possible at monthly meetings."
|
 | |
St. Peter's Basilica at dusk
|
"This pilgrimage was a very humbling experience and in my opinion further strengthened our mission."
"Best experience of my 28 years in healthcare...truly an experience to visit the places where the Catholic faith began and flourished and is still a dominant force today."
"I experienced a deep sense of community, relationship building, and a renewal of faith. I met with others from Covenant Health Systems in leadership positions, and learned more about the organization and its goals. The entire trip fostered a sense of community between the different organizations within Covenant, which I believe will strengthen the organization as a whole."
|
 | |
Pope Benedict XVI
|
"Overall the experience was very positive, educational, and inspirational. I felt a greater connection to our mission after the trip. I would highly recommend it to others in the future."
"This was the first time my wife and I had been to Rome and words could not fully explain the enjoyment and thrill we experienced along with the deeply moving experience of both a Papal Audience and Mass at St. Peter's Basilica."
|
 | |
Rev. Walter H. Cuenin
|
"The Rome journey was an extraordinary event for Covenant. To me, it manifested the expression of Faith that our experience in Catholic healthcare is rooted in. Both the thought- provoking workshop of Fr. Arbuckle and the insights that Fr. Cuenin added in the Missioning Ceremony and throughout Rome were productive and fitting aspects of the pilgrimage."
|
 | |
Map of Rome
|
"I found the pilgrimage to be enlightening (a much better understanding of how a PJP relates to the Vatican), delightful (as any experience of Rome), and a great opportunity to get to know my Board colleagues better."
"I had a wonderful experience. I enjoyed being reminded that the Good Samaritan - as well as St. Francis - exemplifies the Mission."
|
"Having the opportunity to meet so many caring, dedicated people associated with Covenant was wonderful. Being together in the beautiful, historical, spiritual setting of Rome was an unforgettable experience."
|
 | |
Christ and Apostles atop St. Peter's Basilica
|
"The pilgrimage to Rome was a unique opportunity to see, learn and experience the 'Catholic Identity' in action and how it impacts Covenant's guiding principles, mission and responsibilities as a Public Juridic Person. The impact was profound on both a personal and professional level and influenced me to incorporate ministry leadership as part of my Individual Development Plan."
"I had a wonderful experience, and appreciate the opportunity to participate. It was a great way to develop a better relationship with my fellow board members and to meet many other Covenant members with whom I had not had much opportunity to interact. I was very impressed with the content and quality of the sessions. And the public audience with the Pope was a once in a lifetime experience."
|
|
|
What was one highlight
that you would like to share of your pilgrimage?
"Experiencing the antiquity of Rome itself and the contrasting embodiments of Catholic spirituality of the Vatican and Assisi was a highlight for me. Fr. Walter Cuenin's walking tour was very special, both because of what he showed us and because it gave some of us the confidence to go to some of the places on foot on our own."
|
 | |
Rev. Gerald A. Arbuckle, SM
|
"I particularly enjoyed the educational session with Fr. Gerry Arbuckle, and the opportunity to explore what Covenant might look like 10 years from now. Another highlight was the trip to Assisi. Our tour guide/content experts added value by sharing their knowledge of the life and times of St. Francis. I also appreciated the Missioning Ceremony in spite of some "pitchy" singing on our parts!"
|
"I truly enjoyed our day going to Assisi... To 'catch the spirit of St. Francis' was a fantastic opportunity. I also enjoyed the meaningful missioning ceremony before coming home. What a great place and time to do this since one of Francis' mottos was, 'To follow the teaching of our Lord Jesus and to walk in his footsteps.' It was a significant way to end our day and to receive the calling, once again, to continue the healing work of Jesus."
 | |
Trevi Fountain
|
"The visit to The Vatican/St. Peter's Square and Saturday's Mass at St. Peter's were most meaningful to me. Everyone should have this experience at least once in their lifetime. I cannot put into words how it made me feel and what it meant to be able to share that experience with the Covenant family."
|
 | |
SCAVI Excavations
|
"The experience in St. Peter's Square is like none other on this earth. To witness a gathering with our Holy Father with people from all over the world brought home the fact that we are a world Church with a single purpose, to carry on the message that Jesus and his disciples gave us before they died for us. Going to Mass in the Basilica was the highlight of the trip for me. I have been a Eucharistic Minister for many years but it was beyond my wildest dreams to think that I would have a chance to serve the chalice in St. Peter's. For this and for the entire trip I am extremely thankful."
"I think the highlight was the clearer understanding of our work and the importance of telling our story. Also, I truly underestimated the invaluable experience and the bonding that occurred with fellow board members - makes us a stronger team."
|
 | |
Papal Audience
|
"Our Papal audience and the Visit to St. Peters was the absolute highlight. I could easily spend a year studying St. Peters! The architecture, the statues, the paintings, I wish I had time to learn of all their meanings!"
"There were two highlights for me. The first was the audience with the Pope. I was deeply moved and honored to represent the organization and to be recognized as part of the Covenant System. Second, I enjoyed the Missioning ceremony in Umbria which gave me an opportunity to reflect on my ministry as a trustee and renew my focus for the upcoming year."
|
 | |
The Pieta by Michaelangelo
|
 | |
Aerial view of the Vatican
|
"For those who were not able to attend, it is important to go at some point to fully appreciate the role of a Board Member and a PJP."
"The meeting at the Vatican was very interesting and insightful. For the first time, I had a sense for the scope of responsibilities of the Office of Religious Life, and gained a much better appreciation of the complexity and uniqueness of those responsibilities."
"Basically, the highlight for me was the opportunity to spend time, to get to know each other better and to build trust, appreciation and a greater commitment. I feel a greater sense of 'ownership' because of the whole experience."
|
Oh yes,
the traffic in Rome made me appreciate driving in Boston... a bit more!!
Navigating
- even on foot -
the traffic of Rome will also remain imbedded in my memory.
|
 | |
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
by Jan Wijnants (1670) shows
the Good Samaritan tending the injured man.
|
"The bottom line I took away is the importance of knowing one's story/ mission, what differentiates one's facility from others in the market place. The ability to 'tell the story' and to give other people an ongoing chance to 'tell the story' in their own way. This process refreshes the mission, deepens its meaning for those who tell it and helps propagate the story to those who hear it... So in the end, Father Arbuckle's focus on the Good Samaritan story... once I settled into reflecting why he focused on this, I understood a little better I think. The key elements of that story is that the delivery of care was non-judgmental, it conveys the importance of delivering care no matter who the person, blind to position in society, faith, ethnicity, etc. So, what about our mission is core? What is unchanging? How can we tell our story and how can we give others a chance to tell their stories, what the mission means to them?"
|
|
"This trip is very important. With the story of the Good Samaritan as our focus, and the capital of Catholicism as our meeting place, we were able to experience first-hand why it is essential to continue the healing ministry initiated by Christ and His Apostles. We toil day to day doing God's work but this trip showed us how, as we are a part of the global Catholic community, our work is tied to the work that spans centuries as well as miles."
|
How important do you think it is for you,
and for Covenant as a Public Juridic Person carrying forth the healing ministry, to make this pilgrimage?
"It seems incredibly important for a self-perpetuating Public Juridic Person to pilgrimage to Rome periodically. While it is expensive in terms of time and dollars, there is no better way for, especially our new Board members, to appreciate the magnitude of our commitments."
"It's very difficult to say it's not important since it is such an unforgettable pilgrimage but at the same time, especially after 'catching a little of Francis' spirit of poverty, it's also a little unnerving to perceive the cost of such of trip. As one who benefitted from this awesome opportunity, I certainly feel that it is an amazing opportunity for those involved in Covenant Health Systems to have a sense of where the Public Juridic Person stems from and to have the experiences we had a few weeks ago."
|
 | |
Gathering for the Papal Audience
|
"Very important. As health care continues to change/evolve, the one thing that remains constant is our Mission and our commitment to the poor."
"It is extremely important because it is an opportunity to reconnect us to the Catholic mission - while forming meaningful connections among institutions, and people, providing similar services."
"Now having experienced it, I can say that I think that it is important. I was already impressed by the strong inclusion of mission in the programming of the Fall 2011 gathering. The pilgrimage brought that emphasis to an entirely new height. Also, there was the opportunity in Rome to meet people in a leisurely setting over a longer time to make or deepen acquaintances. The culture and mission-emphasis of Covenant remain central for me in defining 'who Covenant is.'"
"Making this pilgrimage truly brings a clearer perspective to what Covenant is all about. It is a very important part in helping members of Covenant to understand its mission.
|
... And then there were the social & culinary benefits!
|
"Extremely inspirational! Makes me want to learn more on how to better carry out our mission." "I feel that it was, and continues to be, very important for members of the Covenant leadership to represent the organization in Rome and to the Vatican. As a Public Juridic Person, Covenant has a responsibility to the Vatican to keep them apprised of the changing landscape of healthcare in the United States. We also need to demonstrate how as an organization Covenant continues to carry forth the healing ministry of the Church, within the confines of new regulations for reimbursement and delivery of care."  | |
Waiting for the Papal Audience
|
"I think it is at the very heart of what we stand for." "I think it is extremely important and beneficial to reaffirm our faith and our mission to those we serve at Covenant. There is absolutely no better place to re-commit ourselves to the mission than Rome."
|
"I think that the pilgrimage strengthens our ties to the Church in Rome, and reminds us (and all who know of the trip) just what a special relationship Covenant has within the Church. Also, it emphasizes to the Church the commitment of the many board members. For the non-Catholic board members, it is an opportunity to get an unusual view of the Church and its history."
"I absolutely think that it is important. It reminds us in detail about the mission of Catholic Healthcare and our responsibility to the community and especially the Grey Nuns."
"The Vatican experience was very helpful in completing my understanding of the PJP. The experience of Rome and the large family of Board and leadership that guide the organization were powerful and motivating."
|
"It was moving to have this experience in Rome - wouldn't be the same elsewhere."
"This was my first visit to Rome and seeing all the treasures that ordinary humans have created to express their love for God reinforced for me the importance of the work we do daily providing healthcare in the Catholic Tradition."
"I think it is important to take this pilgrimage. It's important to have the opportunity to go to the seat of governance for our faith. It would be equally powerful to go to Jerusalem one day, to be where it all began."
"The pilgrimage is a very real reminder and confirmation of our calling to Catholic health care and the healing ministry, one which is critical in an environment and field which faces unique challenges, opportunities and an uncertain future.
|
 | |
Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
|
"I think a pilgrimage like this brings home and reinforces the mission. I found many things inspiring that I would not have experienced without being in Rome with this group. For me, personally, it is not a critical component for wanting to carry out the mission and ministry, but it certainly is not a negative factor."
|
 Thanks to Annmarie and Gail
for all their hard work
in producing a wonderful, life-giving mission experience.
(and thanks to Gail
for many of the photos in this travelogue)
|
|
|
|
|
|
