Letter from the CoR Collaboration Group - 2024 Workshops

Dear Members,

By now you will be aware of the series of Workshops that the Collaboration Group of the Conference of Religious (CoR) has been organising for all those interested in coming together to support each other in the challenges we all face as we move into the future. Since February, we have organised four workshops on topics previously proposed by the membership:

• New/innovative leadership and ways of organising ourselves.

• Change management - vision for religious life; living into change; spiritual,

• physical and emotional accompaniment.

• Charity governance, civil law, and Canon law.

• Financial and property management and planning.

As those of you who have attended these workshops will know, participants have had the opportunity to share their concerns, their issues, and something of what they have already achieved, as well as to receive professional input on the topic. According to the feedback we have received, they have proved popular, helpful and generating of energy, collaboration and mutual support! Now we want to give you details of the next two workshops.

There has been a slight change in the topics advertised for one of the later of these. as communicated in our first letter in January.

It had been proposed that we would focus on Archives and Legacy planning; however, we have decided instead to take the topic of Visas.

This is for two reasons: firstly, because legacy planning has featured quite strongly in session 3, and will again be touched on in session 4, and secondly because we have had urgent requests for help with this difficult subject. We want to assure you, though, that we are aware of the need to look at archives, so we hope to put on a webinar in January for all who are interested.

We have also brought forward the date for looking at Healthcare, as, again, this is a significant and pressing need for many of us.

As previously, the guiding principles for all workshops: our Charisms and spirituality; Gospel values; Vision for Religious life; fostering mission and life; synodality - inclusion; discernment; communication.

5. Eldercare

This is being organised by the Health Care sub-committee of CoR and will feature the sharing of experience of providing care for our elderly sisters in different settings, together with professional input.

Date: Thursday September 19th 11am - 3.30pm

Led by the CoR sub-committee on Healthcare.

Venue: Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Peter’s Residence, 2 Meadow Road, London

SW8 1QH.

6. Visas

Date: Wednesday October 23rd 11am – 3.30pm

Led by Julie Moktadir, Partner. Stone King Solicitors.

Venue: Upper Hall, St. Patricks Church, Livesey Street, Collyhurst, Manchester,

M4 4FA.

• We invite up to two members from each Congregation to attend either or both of the sessions.

• They need not be the same person for each session, and might well include a lay colleague who is dealing with ‘front-line’ issues.

• There will be no charge for those attending the sessions; your membership fees will cover this.

• To keep costs down, we are asking that you bring your own lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided.

  To reserve places, please complete the attached form and send to our CoR secretary, Irene Henderson - admin@corew.org by Friday July 13th.

  We look forward to receiving your application forms and meeting you at the sessions. We hope that this project will go some way to helping each of us to move forward at this challenging time.

  Nearer the time, we will send final confirmations, with the names of presenters and travel directions.

  Warm wishes,

  Jane Maltby RSCJ

  On behalf of the Collaboration group.