PROVINCIAL SUPERIOR/PRESIDENT Report to the United States Provincial Chapter Sister Catherine Meinert, S.C. February, 2016 ______

Summary:

As defined in the Constitutions of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, the provincial superior is a major superior with authority over the local communities and individual members of the province. She communicates and directs implementation of the decisions of the general chapter, the provincial chapter and the plenary council to the sisters in the province. The provincial superior exercises rights and responsibilities as stated in Article 125 through Article 127. These articles cover the instances in which the Provincial needs the deliberative vote of the Provincial Council to recommend certain actions to the General Superior and her Council or to take action for the Province. The provincial superior is the pastoral and administrative leader of the Province. The provincial superior is the point person for the Province and thus relates to the Bishops of the dioceses in which we serve and to the General Superior of the Congregation. The Chief Financial Officer, Administrator of Caritas Christi and Administrator of the Elizabeth Seton Memory Care Center report directly to the Provincial Superior/President. Each Councilor has specific responsibilities and the Provincial Superior/President is the overseer of these responsibilities. ______Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

 Promotes the spiritual and temporal well-being of each sister.  Acts as liaison between the Province and ecclesiastical authorities of the dioceses where we serve.  Serves as President of the Sisters of Charity Corporation and is the key person responsible for all legal transactions on behalf of the Province.  Monitors financial, material and personnel resources of the Province.  Prepares reports for the General Superior, General Council and Sisters in the United State Province.  Responsible, with the Provincial Council, for the implementation of the Directional Statements or previous enactments of the Provincial Chapters.  Represents the Province on Member Boards thus assuring the charism and legacy of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill continues in these ministries.  Performs duties as Vice-Chair of the Seton Hill University Board of Trustees.  Maintains on-going communication and relationship with the Korean Province.  Responsible for strategic and future planning for the Province. ______The President/Provincial Superior sits by role on the following boards and committees:

 Meets twice a year with other Major Superiors and the Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh (MSMW)  Seton Hill University (Vice-Chair) o by role, serves on the Executive Committee, the Committee on Trustees, the Personnel Committee, and the Executive Compensation and Presidential Evaluation Committee; and o by interest, serves on the Finance and Business Affairs Committee, the Building and Grounds Committee, and the Educational Policy and Faculty Interest Committee  Elizabeth Seton Care Center (Chair of Member Board)  Elizabeth Seton Memory Care Center Board of Trustees (Chair)  SCSH Charitable Trust for Aged, Infirm and Disabled Vowed Members (Chair of Member Board)  SCSH Charitable Trust for Aged, Infirm and Disabled Vowed Members Board of Trustees (Chair)  Elizabeth Seton Center (Chair of Member Board)  Elizabeth Seton Center Board of Trustees (Chair)  DePaul School for Hearing and Speech (Member Board, together with the Bishop and Superintendent of Schools of the Diocese of Pittsburgh)  DePaul School for Hearing and Speech (Chair of the Education Committee)  Rendu Services (Member Board)  Sisters Place (Member Board)  Member of Catholic Sisters Leadership Council of Western Pennsylvania (formerly TDSLC)  Member of LCWR Region 4  Sisters of Charity Federation  Member of Diocesan Heritage Commission and the Spiritual Enrichment Committee of Faith Formation Leadership, Diocese of Greensburg ______Significant Decisions, Accomplishments and Events during this term include:

 Acceptance of Sister Lindena Brace’s final vows;  Participated in the funeral of Dr. JoAnne Boyle and the selection of Dr. Mary Finger as the new president of Seton Hill University;  Focused on the implementation of the Directional Statement of the 2012 Provincial Chapter and then the Directional Statement of the 2014 General Chapter;  Missioned Sisters Vivien Linkhauer, Lindena Brace and Mary Lou Palas to teach in the Korean Province;  Established annual Fire Side Chats for information sharing with the Province;  Authorized the establishment of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, United States Province, Charitable Trust for Aged, Infirm and Disabled Vowed Members;  Collaborated with Development Office in obtaining a grant for $200,000 for a new chiller for Caritas Christi;  Participated in the selection of the Roam Alert System for sisters at Caritas Christi;  Met with established benefactors and prospective donors;  Negotiated with a developer for potential land usage. This did not come to fruition;  Negotiated with Seton Hill University for the possible use of Doran Hall as a residence for students. This did not come to fruition;  Wrote and obtained a $480,000 grant from the National Religious Retirement Organization (NRRO) to update the Doran Hall facility for our sisters;  Participated in the weekly meetings for the updating of the Doran Hall facility;  Approved the updating of the Sisters of Charity website;  Hired an on-site psychiatrist for Caritas Christi for the well-being of our sisters;  Participated in hiring a new development director—Julia Cuccaro;  Appointment of new Caritas Christi Sister Servant—Sister Anne Toomey;  Attended meetings with Westmoreland County representatives in regard to re-zoning of our property from agricultural to suburban;  Opened the Elizabeth Seton Memory Care Center in May 2015;  Approved with Council the negotiations and establishment of Mary House for low income women in the Uniontown area;  Approved with Council the acceptance of affiliate Hyeon Lee to our Province;  Approved with Council the use of a portion of our land for farming;  Authorized the study of use of property for housing of refugees;  Participated in the Mission Effectiveness program for employees of DePaul Center, Caritas Christi and Elizabeth Seton Center;  Authorized the establishment of the Wellness Conference to promote new benefactors for our Province;  Attended Sisters of Charity Federation, LCWR (Region IV) meetings;  Authorized the current leases for St. Joseph House of Hospitality and Elizabeth Seton Center;  Settlement of property boundary dispute at Elizabeth Seton Center;  Collaborated with others to establish fire plan standards and implementation at Caritas Christi;  Collaborated with members of Council to update the Administrative Policies and Procedures Handbook;  Hired a financial consulting firm to review and recommend best practices for the finance office and recommend a realignment of duties based on these best practices;  Participated in the Ordination and Installation of Bishop Edward Malesic;  Assisted with the establishment of Diocesan Heritage Center at the Bishop Connare Center;  Hosted Mass and dinners for the Bishops of Greensburg and Altoona-Johnstown;  Presided at the Advent and Lenten Vespers;  Participated in the 2014 General Chapter;  United States Province visitation (partially completed);  Assisted with the organization and celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the canonization of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton at Caritas Christi;  Mourned the death of approximately forty sisters during these years.