Possumus Spring 2007

Leadership

Leadership.

As you read through this issue of Possumus, we hope you will give us credit for even attempting to put into words what is best expressed by example. Throughout the issue, we circle around the topic of leadership in an effort to illuminate its core.         Leadership usually is neither what you think it is nor where you expect to find it. It’s not tied to characteristics such as popularity or talent. It’s closer to courage and selflessness and the ability to listen.         Though our Sisters are known as leaders, you’ll discover on these pages that familiar contradiction in which others express deep gratitude for the Sisters’ leadership but the Sisters themselves dismiss the reference. You may find yourself wondering if someone can be a leader and not know it. You will find this kind of strong, unassuming leadership especially in the St. Joseph

        Workers (pages 2-5); the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Justice Commission’s work on behalf of Liberian immigrants (page 15); and in the words of Sister Alberta Huber (page 16), who died shortly after we interviewed her for this issue.

        Ultimately, I would venture to say that leadership is a common tool used to repair or build a just society. The tool damages easily if used incorrectly and becomes dull if not used at all. Since everyone practices leadership in a different way, I’d be interested in knowing how you would define it and hearing your own story of leadership as well.

Thanks for reading. Possumus!