December 28, 2021
This paid coin is sponsored by Avera Health.
As we begin a new year, we all hope for better things to come. So what can we, as individuals, businesses and organizations do to make it happen?
the Presentation Sisters from Aberdeen, with the Benedictine Sisters of Yankton, are the sponsors of Avera. The Sisters of the Presentation are an apostolic order, that is to say, they seek to be light by going into the world through their different ministries. We asked three introductory sisters – Sister Mary Thomas, Sister Lynn Marie Welbig, and Sister Pegge Boehm – for their top tips for fostering growth, change, and the common good in 2022.
“We are building on our Catholic faith and tradition such as Catholic social teaching,” said Sister Thomas, senior vice president of mission for Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center.
Foster healthier communities
People, planet and relationships are what matters most. “God’s purpose for the world is to live in healthy, warm, and inclusive relationships. Business can be a big part of that design – people need good jobs and meaningful work, ”Sister Welbig said.
A healthy community includes aspects such as affordable housing, a good education, an inclusive economy that benefits everyone, the opportunity to work with dignity, quality health care, healthy food, transportation, a clean environment and affordable public services.
When these basic needs are not met, it leads to disorder. “We are all interconnected. When you take care of those who need it most, you are truly taking care of yourself and all of us, ”said Sister Thomas.
Collaborate and Serve
Grow your community by serving on boards, committees and task forces. Mentor those who are new to this process so that decision-making can become more inclusive, the sisters suggest.
“As Sisters of the Presentation, we do nothing alone. We ask how can we partner with others, ”Sister Boehm said. “Justice is our job. “
From left to right: Sisters Pegge Boehm, Lynn Marie Welbig and Mary Thomas
It’s doing what’s right to others – from the way you operate your business and treat employees, to your use of resources and your impact on the environment.
Partnering with others for justice reaches systems, not handouts, the Welbig sisters said. “Our charism, our call from the Holy Spirit, has pushed us in this direction because this is what today’s culture demands.
“Jesus came to fix what was broken. If we live according to God’s purpose, we will notice what is broken and strive to heal it, ”Sister Welbig said.
Research shows that collaboration has better business results than the competition, said Sister Welbig. “We need competition in business. But there is the friendly competition, and then there is the competition that consumes others.
Be a part of something bigger than yourself
“I entered religious life later in life. I had high hopes and aspirations, but I knew I couldn’t do it alone, ”Sister Boehm said. “The Sisters of the Presentation were something greater than who I am, and I could participate not only in the pursuit of their mission, but also in mine. “
It is the path to meaning and purpose, said Sister Thomas. “Knowing that I have helped the organization to be the best it can be and that it has brought out the best in me. “
Be a peacemaker
Unity is meaningful value, said Sister Welbig. “Rejection and division are among the greatest sufferings. It’s about being neighbors rather than being in opposition to everything the other says and does.
Opposition occurs when people have an extreme inclination to be right – “almost exclusively so that we don’t have the inner space to be in a good relationship too,” Sister Thomas said.
Listening to others helps you understand where the other person is coming from and find common ground. “It’s a lost art,” Sister Boehm said.
“Let someone tell you their story,” Sister Thomas said. “Their aspirations for themselves and their families are often the same as mine.”
Stay grounded
“Take the time to pray – to listen to God’s words of comfort. To listen to others. To listen to the cries of the poor, ”said Sister Boehm.
No matter where you are from, spirituality helps you stay in touch with what really matters, Sister Thomas said. “It’s not something you can just pick up when you have a seizure. You must take care of your spirituality and not take for granted these deep religious roots which anchor us.
Read Part 1 of Sisters’ Tips for the New Year.
Start 2022 on the right foot with the advice of the Sisters
Healthcare is a great way to give back to others. Consider a career at https://www.avera.org/careers/
