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Introducing Sister Dianne Fanguy

The words “team” and “spirit” seem to go together quite well.

When you think about it, a team is nothing more than a group of people who come together to accomplish a common purpose. Spirit is that quality which is specific to every team. In religious life, that team spirit of a congregation is called “charism.” Simply stated, it’s the unique characteristics that emerge from the origins of the group and that motivate the evolution of the group to respond boldly and faithfully to arising needs.

The Sisters of St. Joseph have, over 350 years, refined their team spirit. They know quite clearly what they stand for and how they should go about accomplishing their goals. And when a woman is called, she knows. As she works in the congregation, she discovers how her personal attributes will correspond to the charism of the Medaille community.

S. Dianne Fanguy heard it early in life. At first, she asked “Why me, Lord?” Then she began to ask “How?” She spent 16 happy and fruitful years in high school education and 5 years in congregational initial formation ministry, but an inner voice kept calling loudly and insistently. For her, “the most radical, overwhelming, mystical grace of my life” came when she finally decided to completely uproot and follow her heart to join the struggles of the poor in Latin America. That path has led her to live and work with indigenous communities in Guatemala and Bolivia. She has spent the last 10 years in Nicaragua, a country still recovering from war and a multitude of natural disasters.

There, team spirit takes hold. It comes together around Cantera – a national Popular Education Center (Should this be capitalized? Is it the proper name?) which was started and is now tended by a committed group of sisters and laypeople whose mission (The mission of the people or the center?) resonates with that of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

In the resettlement community of Ciudad Sandino outside Managua, Sister Dianne works with about 45 local team members to bring hope, skills, and compassionate spiritual guidance to more than 2,500 of the most rejected children and adults within this community. It is truly Love at Work. The growth and impact of this center has been gratifying and the programs now encompass four pre-schools, an arts enrichment program, and workshops that facilitate spiritual, human, relational, social, juridical and organizational formation for children and youth.

The center also encourages team sports. Sister Dianne proudly speaks of former gang members who have come together at the center - not to fight… but to join teams that not only play sports, but analyze their “reality” and create ways to better the lives of those of their community and country.

So when you think of a Sister of St. Joseph, think of your favorite coach. Then add a winning smile, a compassionate heart, strong charism, and an overwhelming sense of great possibilities.