Glossary
Accountability
The acceptance of responsibility for one’s actions and decisions and their effect on others.
Administrator
The term administrator is used to identify the individual in charge of a ministry, i.e. the Principal, the Executive Director, the CEO.
Annual Report
The Annual Report is the accountability report that the Board of Directors of the Corporation for the Sponsored Ministries is required to make each year to the Leadership Team of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston on the mission effectiveness and quality of ministry in each sponsored ministry. In practice, each ministry reports on a 2-cycle schedule.
In Year 1, the ministry prepares a written comprehensive report and meets with the CSM Board of Directors to discuss its performance. This is followed by a written response from the Corporation for the Sponsored Ministries to the ministry that includes both commendations and recommendations. Both of these written documents are shared with the CSJ Leadership Team.
In Year 2, the ministry prepares a written interim report that provides the CSM with an update on actions taken to address the recommendations and other steps taken to advance the mission of the ministry. This interim report is also shared with the CSJ Leadership Team. The overall process keeps all parties in the sponsorship model focused continuously on Mission Effectiveness and Quality of Ministry.Areas of Commitment In order to maintain the mission and charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in sponsored ministries there are areas of commitment: Mission and Charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Teaching, Healing, Prophetic Mission of the Church, Justice and Peace, Effectiveness of Mission, and Quality of Ministry.
Articles of Organization
The Articles of Organization is a legal document approved by the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth which states the purposes of a corporation.
Articulation Agreement
The Articulation Agreement is the formal statement of the relationships between the Sponsor and the sponsored ministry. It may consist of three separate agreements:
(1) the Sponsorship Agreement, signed by the President of the Congregation and the Chair of the Board of Trustees, which states the mutual obligations of the parties; each sponsored ministry must sign the Sponsorship Agreement.
(2) The Support Services Agreement, signed by the President of the Congregation and the local Administrator, which explains the procedures and cost factors for those ministries who choose to purchase the support services package from the Congregation.
(3) The Lease Agreement, signed by the President of the Congregation and Chair of the Board of Trustees, is the formal lease between the Congregation and a sponsored ministry for the use of property and buildings owned by the Congregation.
Associates
The Associates are a formally organized group of women and men of diverse backgrounds who, while affirming their own vocations, feel called to share their faith journeys with one another and with the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston. They do so to live out the Gospel message and to embrace the CSJ charism in their daily lives.
Audit – Financial
An official opinion based on generally accepted auditing standards by an independent auditing firm as to whether the financial statements of an institution are free of material misstatement; the opinion is offered after examining evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
Board of Directors
The members of the Corporation for the Sponsored Ministries of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston. The term Director is used only in reference to this Board.
Board of Trustees
The members of the local governing board of each ministry.
Charism
The unique gift of the Spirit which is the heritage of the Congregation and identifies its mission.
Collaboration
The shared attitude of mutuality and trust among persons working together for good.
Co-minister
The non-CSJ collaborators in the advancement of the Sisters’ mission in the sponsored ministries are referred to by the Congregation as co-ministers with the Sisters.
Congregation
The religious entity of which the Sisters are members is referred to as the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston, frequently referred to as the Congregation.
Consensus Statement
The statement formulated by the Federation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in 1969 which embodies the interpretation of the heart of the original inspiration came from the central ideas of the founder, Jean-Pierre Médaille.
Constitution
The primary book of proper law of the Congregation which contains the fundamental expression of spirit and purpose, formation, incorporation, living, and governance; it is approved by the General Chapter and ecclesial authority, in our case, the Diocesan Bishop.
Core Values of the CSJs
Rooted in the active inclusive love of God, the zeal of Jesus, and the gifts of the Spirit, the Sisters of Saint Joseph embrace gracious hospitality, love and service of the Dear Neighbor without distinction, peaceful resolution of conflict, and care for all God’s creation.
Corporation for the Sponsored Ministries of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston
The Corporation for the Sponsored Ministries of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston is a corporation established by the Sisters to monitor, on behalf of the Congregation, the mission effectiveness and quality of ministry in each of the sponsored ministries.
Council
See Executive Council
Councilor
A sister who serves with the President on the Executive Council of the Congregation.
CSJ Environment
The local environment in a sponsored ministry which reflects the values of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston and provides the lived experience of the CSJ charism to all constituents in the ministry.
CSJ Spirituality
Jean-Pierre Médaille’s vision was for a mystical, apostolic life lived out from day to day in direct response to and replication of the Trinitarian life. The perfect model of this all consuming love is the uncreated Trinity of Creator, Son, and Spirit, who exist in constant, loving relationship, and whose overflowing love grasps us and causes us in turn to be an outpouring love for the world. This is perfectly reflected in the relationship of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It is this consecration to, and contemplation of, this unity of Creator, Son and Spirit, and Jesus, Mary and Joseph, that we strive to make the total double union of neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God a reality in our lives and in our world. Thus, the Core Virtues of the Sisters of Saint Joseph and our co-ministers emanate from the Uncreated and Created Trinity and are: wholeness, self-emptying love, all inclusive love, zeal, fidelity, and the service of cordial charity. (Bearers of the Tradition Institute, June 2005)
Dear Neighbor
The term used by Father Médaille to name those whom the Sisters of Saint Joseph serve, namely all in need, especially those who are marginalized and find themselves on the breaking points of society and all others who are in need of ministry by the Sisters.
Director of Mission Effectiveness
The Director of Mission Effectiveness is appointed by the Congregation and works in the Office of Sponsored Ministries. The DME functions as the liaison between the Sponsor and the Board of Directors and, together with the Executive Director, is responsible for monitoring the implementation of mission effectiveness in each of the sponsored ministries.
Executive Council
The Executive Council is the governing body of the Congregation and consist of the President, the Assistant President, two General Councilors, and three Area Councilors.
Executive Director
The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for the Sponsored Ministries and works in the Office of Sponsored Ministries. The Executive Director is responsible, together with the Director of Mission Effectiveness, for the quality of ministry in each of the sponsored ministries.
Federation (US)
The Federation is a networking organization for all Congregations of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in the United States.Visit the American Federation website at www.sistersofsaintjosephfederation.org and the International Federation at http://www.centreinternationalssj.org/
Fiduciary Responsibility
The fiduciary responsibilities are the duties of a board member which flow from the corporate, federal, state, and municipal obligations stemming from the legal and tax-exempt status of a corporation. Additionally, under the Sponsorship Agreement, boards of a sponsored ministry have a fiduciary responsibility to promote the mission and charism of the sponsor, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston.
Formation
The term refers to the formal orientation and ongoing development of the Sisters and co-ministers in the mission and charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston.
Founding
This is the term used to describe the formal establishment of the Congregation. Some of the significant foundings are the initial founding in Le Puy in 1650, the refounding in Lyons in 1807 after the disbanding during the French Revolution, and the founding in Boston in 1873.
Group Exemption
This is a special 501(c)(3) tax exempt status granted by the IRS to institutions listed in the National Catholic Directory. The group exemption number is 0928.
Ignatian
This term refers to the influence of Saint Ignatius of Loyola in the spirituality of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
Leadership Team
This is a term used referring to the Executive Council of the Sisters.
Maxims
The Maxims of the Little Institute, 100 in number, were written by Father Jean-Pierre Médaille and are statements of the essence of CSJ spirituality.
Member
The term refers to any person who serves on a board in the sponsorship model. It may also refer to any Sister who is in the Congregation. In upper case, Member, refers to the entity or person recognized by the Commonwealth, through the Articles of Organization and By-laws, as having reserved powers over a corporation
Ministries
The diverse works undertaken by members of the Congregation in furthering the mission of Christ with a special effort toward unity and reconciliation.
Mission
The purpose and goal of the Congregation: the Core Values and Virtues, unity and reconciliation expressed through the ministries, community life, prayer, vows, and governance of the Congregation.
Mission Effectiveness
Mission Effectiveness is the level of achievement of the desired outcomes of activities and initiatives in the sponsored ministry which further the local mission and the mission and charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
Mission Effectiveness Facilitator
The MEF is a person(s) in each ministry appointed by the Administrator to model and promote the values of the Sisters in the actions, programs and activities of the ministry with a view to creating the CSJ environment.
Mission Statement
The mission statement is the official statement of the purpose of a ministry. All sponsored ministry mission statements must be approved by the Congregation.
President of the Corporation
The duly appointed legal head of a corporation. At the present time, practice is that the Member appoints the Chair of the local board as the President of the Corporation.
President of the Institution
This term may be applied in some educational ministries to the duly appointed, by the local board, Chief Executive Officer of an institution. In this case, the management role of the President is distinguished from that of the Principal.
Quality of Ministry
The quality of ministry refers not only to the faithfulness to the mission and the mission effectiveness in a ministry, but also to the stewardship through governance and management of the fiscal and programmatic health of the institution.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation together with unity is a frequently used term to express the charism of the Sisters and their co-ministers as they fulfill the CSJ mission to bring about unity of people with people and people with God.
Salesian
This term refers to the influence of Saint Francis de Sales in the spirituality of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
Secretary/Clerk
The Secretary/Clerk is an officer of a corporation who is charged with maintaining the official records of the corporation, primarily the updated Articles of Organization, the updated By-laws and the minutes of meeting.
Social Justice
This term is used to describe the initiatives of the Sisters and of the sponsored ministries to seek systemic change and direct action in any segment of society which does not respect, value, and celebrate the dignity and rights of each individual.
Sole Member
Sole Member is used to refer to the corporate body or individual which is legally granted the powers of an organization to make sure the organization fulfills its purpose as defined in the Articles of Organization.
Soundings
This is the official communication vehicle for the Congregation to its members and constituents.
Sponsor
The Sisters of Saint Joseph who establish the sponsored ministries as vehicles for the Congregation to fulfill its mission.
Sponsored MinistryThe term sponsored ministry refers to a ministry over which the Congregation has significant influence and ultimate control over the mission.
The Bridge
The Bridge is the official newsletter of the Office of Sponsored Ministries published three times a year.
Unity
One of the most universal terms used to express the charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. It stems from the founding mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph: to bring about unity of people with people and people with God.
Works of Mercy
The obligations of the Christian to those in need, today frequently linked with the demands of social justice. The dimension of mercy reminds us that our obligations go beyond even those required by justice.
Corporal Works of Mercy: Direct action to alleviate physical suffering; traditionally seven are named: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, ransoming the captive, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and the imprisoned, and burying the dead.
Spiritual Works of Mercy: Direct action to alleviate spiritual and psychological suffering; traditionally seven are named: instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, admonishing the sinner, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving offenses, comforting the afflicted, and praying for the living and the dead.