In early 2019 Leadership engaged Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP (KEB) as our consultant to facilitate the planning process for Radical Times, Radical Response, which is supported by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO). KEB was formed as a partnership in 1931 and provides services to religious institutes and this segment of the firm has been an important part of the Firm’s fabric ever since. The management consulting and public accounting firm is based in Springfield, Illinois, with offices in Wisconsin and Missouri. KEB’s consulting team is based in Springfield.

During the pandemic, Congregational Leadership needed to pause the Radical Times, Radical Response process to focus on members’ health, well-being and other matters. The committee last met in February 2020 and was officially paused in July 2020. The Committee, with KEB, re-engaged on March 22, 2022.

On May 14, 2022, KEB presented updated information to the Congregation. Subsequently, Associates, Agrégées and Administrative staff were provided an update.

The planning process is anticipated to take several months before recommendations will be presented to the Congregation. At this point (May 2022), it is planned that recommendations will be presented to the Congregation in January 2023 and final recommendations presented to Leadership in February 2023.

The planning process is still designed to achieve two goals:

1. To exercise stewardship over the Congregation’s owned properties.
2. To designate adequate resources to the care of sisters.

Included with this update are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), which are from Congregation members, Associates and Agrégées. As the process unfolds, additional FAQ will be added as an ongoing resource to support informed dialogue around the Congregation’s future.

If you have any questions or hear any rumors that you wish to check out during this planning process, please contact Larry Roberts, committee chair. He will address your questions in consultation with the Radical Times, Radical Response committee.

Larry Roberts
Radical Times Radical Response committee chair
Director of Owned Properties
Sisters of St. Joseph
5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA 16506
Cell: 814-806-6202
lroberts@ssjerie.org

Members of the Radical Times, Radical Response committee are:

1. Larry Roberts, committee chair
2. Sister Clare Marie Beichner
3. Sister Claudia Dombrowski
4. Sister Mary Drexler
5. Sister Nancy Fischer
6. Sister Phyllis McCracken
7. Sister Carol Morehouse
8. Cindi Olesky