In the early 1970s, the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) began to consider the idea of associates, or laypeople who make an annual covenant with SSND. Once guidelines were officially decided, the first six associates were accepted in 1977. At its onset, the program accepted only Catholic women. Fast forward to today and the Central Pacific Province includes some 300 associates, and all are welcome to walk with sisters in their mission and ministries.

For the past 11 years, Anne Carey has been at the helm of guiding the associate program, as one half of a two-person, co-director team. When she first took the role, she was joined by Sister Lupe Valdez. In 2021, Sister Kathy Schmittgens stepped in and currently holds the other co-director position.

Like many, Anne first came to know SSND by having sisters as teachers, in her case during her high school years at Rosary High School in St. Louis County.

It wasn’t until she had graduated from college and was working that she again crossed paths with SSND and had the chance to continue that relationship. With a degree in forest management, she worked for the USDA Forest Service. Her role allowed her time off, and she decided to pursue an opportunity with SSND in Africa.

“I wrote a letter to the Provincial Council saying I would pay my way if they would provide me a place and something meaningful to do,” said Anne.

Her request was granted, and she was accepted “sight unseen” to join Sisters Kathy Schmittgens and Cindy Weber in their work in Sierra Leone, West Africa. She remained there for two years as a volunteer.

At the conclusion of her time in West Africa, she returned to her work with the Forest Service. As she was preparing to retire, a job posting for a new role – co-director of associates for the Central Pacific Province caught her attention. Up until that time, associates were coordinated within one of the four former province locations – Dallas, Mankato, Minnesota, Milwaukee or St. Louis. This role aimed to unite them together.

“Each province had their own way of doing things,” said Anne. “We wanted to bring them in under one umbrella, keep what was workable and their own traditions, but still have a commonality. It was pulling people together to have people think about being associates of the SSND Central Pacific Province instead of Dallas or St. Louis or Mankato or Milwaukee.”

Within the Central Pacific Province associate program, there are seven distinct geographic areas – five within the U.S., Japan and Guam. Each of these areas has a team of area coordinators – typically a sister and associate pair – who serve as the main points of contact for the activities in their area. Anne works with her co-director to develop the program and resources the area leaders need to support associates who are moving from inquiry and discernment to learning sessions, to making their covenant and beyond.

Anne points out that being an associate is not about being in a program though. “It is the sisters who helped me understand that when we talk about the associates, it’s not so much a program as a relationship – a relationship with the sisters and the communities.”

“When you become an associate, you have likeminded people who can walk with you, and you can walk with them, to be more efficient, effective and productive.”

In practice, this can look like many things depending on the location and interest. Associates have joined with sisters to throw baby showers, helping collect necessary baby supplies for mothers in need in their communities. Some associates work with sisters to write letters to their representatives regarding areas of concern such as immigration reform or care of creation. Over the years, associates have served along sisters at food drives, soup kitchens, community gardens and voting demonstrations. They also join with sisters for celebrations, such as Jubilee, and are included as part of SSND meetings and assemblies.

“I think associates – men, women, laypeople – can address concerns in a different way than the sisters can. It’s not to say one is better, but it creates a more wholistic approach. The associates’ real challenge is to respond to the call, to step forward and say, ‘I want to make a difference in this area.’ I think the challenge is as sisters are no longer able to work in some of our smaller communities, associates need to step up and be willing to continue without a sister or in a different way.”

“I give so much credit to the sisters, they have come to embrace the associates and invite them and include them,” said Anne “It really validates associates to be more involved and helps us feel encouraged to live what we are called to do.”

What keeps the associates so engaged?

“They love the sisters,” said Anne. “The reality is somebody has told me it changed their life. To be with likeminded people makes such a difference.”

As she prepares to step down from her co-directing title in the next few months, Anne said, “To meet the associates and sisters throughout the province and to come to know them and to know their gifts and to encourage and help them to grow in whichever way they desire to grow – it truly has been a gift. Helping to support them in living out their call has been a gift of my life. I leave with sadness, but I know there are people out there who are going to move the associate relationship to new heights.”

Listen to firsthand accounts from associates and sisters on how the associate relationship has impacted their lives.