Sponsorship Structure and Roles November 2012

1. Sponsorship Structure and RolesNovember 2012

2. The Ministry of Mercy Secondary and Elementary Education and Education Centers. The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas is an apostolic religious community which shares in the teaching mission of the Catholic Church.

3. Mercy - Education The House of Mercy opens September 24, 1827 Leadership - Lay Woman Leader to Founder of a religious community

4. All Structures are designed to support mission.

5. Mercy education continues and grows Over the course of 100 years “at the invitation of …” Mercy Education • Ireland and England - independent foundations • Foundations across the globe • 1929 - Union, Provinces, Independent congregations; Federation Governance • Province or Congregational Leadership • School Principal (Superior)

6. On the Horizon • Vatican II • Boards of Trustees/Directors • Growing Lay Leadership • Role of School President

7. Mercy Education Sponsorship by a Province or Congregation • Processes to separately incorporate institutions Governance • Province or Congregational Leadership • Boards of Trustees/Directors • School Presidents/School Principals

8. On the Horizon Formation of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

9. July 1991 The Sisters of Mercy of the Union dissolves and the nine provinces and then 16 independent congregations form the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and 25 regional communities.

10. 1991 Sponsorship by a Regional Community Separately incorporated institutions Governance • Regional Community Leadership • Boards of Trustees/Directors • School Presidents/School Principals

11. On the Horizon • Reconfiguration of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

12. 2005 –2009 The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas reconfigures into six geographic Communities.

13. Mercy Secondary and Elementary Education - 2005 – to the present Sponsorship by a Community (A few of the educational ministries are *co-sponsored with a diocese or one or more religious congregations.) Separately incorporated institutions Governance • Community Leadership – Corporate Members • Sponsorship, Sponsors or Sponsor Councils • Boards of Trustees/Directors • School Principals and Presidents

14. In the first years for each Community 2006-2009 – (WMW Formed July 1, 2008) • First election of Community Leadership Team • Implementation of the Sponsorship Councils • Appointment of and implementation of the role of liaison from the council to an educational ministry • Appointment of councils members, including lay members on the councils. • Processes and channels of communication established with effect for each role in governance, Members, Council, Board, School Administrators • CLT defined roles and/or positions in sponsorship.

15. In succeeding years for each community – 2009 ….. • Second or impending elections of Community Leadership Teams • Adaptations in the role of the Sponsorship, Sponsor or Sponsors Councils • Adaptation in the role of liaison to an educational ministry • New or changed appointments to councils, new members of boards of trustees, new administrators • Adaptation in processes and channels of communication established with effect for each role in governance, Members, Council, Board, School Administrator… • Revisions in CLT defined roles and/or positions in sponsorship.

16. Areas of Authority and Responsibility - reserved and delegated • Mission • Accountability • Appointment of new board members • Financial affairs • Budgets • Loans • Campaigns • Buildings • 5. Appointment of President and/or Principal • 6.School Foundational Documents • Articles of Incorporation • Bylaws

17. May God bless all…. • For continued reflection, study and commitment to the ministry of Mercy Education – the “business of our lives.”

18. “May God in His mercy bless and protect you all.”Letter to Teresa White November 1, 1838