The worldwide leadership of our Congregation met in Grand Prairie, Texas, from March 22-28, 2009, for its annual International Planning Meeting.  Our Constitutions direct the Superior General to establish an advisory group between General Chapters to monitor the progress of decrees and to direct future planning.  The work is set into a Plan which formalizes our work together as leaders in Nazareth.   The Provincial Superiors have been meeting with the General Administration for the past seven years.  The CSFN Plan was conceived seven years ago in Connecticut at the First Annual International Planning Committee Meeting.

The meeting began with a day of prayer, during which time Sister Janice Fulmer, Superior General, offered reflective comments on our Mother Foundress as Leader.   This served as food for thought and prayer in preparing ourselves for the work ahead.    

The review of the CSFN Plan 2008 commenced, and each point was looked at, discussed in light of the future direction of our Congregation's Mission in meeting the needs of the Church, and either adjusted, added to, or dismissed.  The work of this week also included consideration of the decrees of the past General Chapter, with regard to investigating mission opportunities in countries other than those in which we currently minister.  Much time was spent on this area, as the Congregation has been contacted by bishops, priests, as well as other religious congregations, requesting Sisters to take on ministries in countries like Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Israel.  The General Administration has met with several priests and sisters from these countries to learn more about these possibilities.  The International Leadership group also met with our own Vietnamese Sisters who now live and work in Texas, to hear firsthand, some of their former experiences of life in Vietnam.

Sister Janice suggested that another area which comes under our Mission goal is that of Justice and Peace issues. Sister Mercedes Maliszewski has been attending the Justice and Peace Committee meetings of the Union of International Superiors General (UISG). The memo Sister Janice sent to the provinces about the use of fair trade coffee and other fair trade items are a part of this committee's thrust. Sister Janice heard immediately from our sisters about their involvement in the fair trade movement when she sent the letter about fair trade items. Sister Marietta stated that the European Province supports the education of a Cameroon child.  A portion of the sisters' allowance is contributed.  The International Leadership group agreed upon the following new Goal: To have a congregational approach to Peace and Justice Initiatives. Strategies to implement and meet this goal were set up for sharing with our sisters-at-large. 

There was a much-appreciated pause mid-week when the group experienced a cattle round-up in Fort Worth. The Sisters were also shown some of the historical sites of this area, including the site of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.