Lifelong affiliate pledges to keep growing

"I just can't imagine life without the FSPA and my affiliation with them." According to Marci Madary, affiliation co-minister, this is a common refrain made by FSPA affiliates. Currently there are 201 women and men who are FSPA affiliates or in the process of becoming one. A number of these have taken the initiative to make a lifetime commitment to the congregation and have become lifelong affiliates.

Covenant and prayer affiliates currently renew their commitment every three to five years. Those who eventually become lifelong affiliates make a lifetime commitment, and do not participate in a renewal ceremony again. Edna Whalen became a lifelong affiliate in the fall of 2003. Her decision to take this step illustrates the reasons lay women and men decide to make this long-term commitment.

Edna first associated with the FSPA through the Shared Horizons volunteer ministry program in 1992. Her first Shared Horizon experience was in North Carolina working with a migrant community. She became a covenant affiliate in 1994.

Currently, Edna lives with her husband in New Albin, Iowa. They have one adult daughter. Edna has a doctorate degree in Spanish from the University of Iowa. She uses her strong bilingual skills in her ministries. Each year Edna returns to her native country, Panama, where she provides spiritual direction to women of limited means. When she is at home in Iowa, Edna serves as an advocate for Hispanic immigrants. She is also an FSPA prayer partner and commits to a weekly hour of adoration in the Adoration Chapel.

Edna views her decision to become a lifelong affiliate as "a logical step in her spiritual journey." Saying she doesn't expect her life to change drastically with this step, she views this affiliation as "a formal commitment to continue my journey."

To begin the lifelong affiliate process, an individual must be an affiliate for five years and be at least thirty years old. While the individual initiates the process, the decision to proceed is made through consultation with a number of others. The affiliate confers with the affiliation co-ministers, a contact person and his or her companion community. Sister Karen Neuser, affiliation co-minister, stresses that the companion community plays a pivotal role in the discernment process. Companion communities are small faith groups that covenant affiliates interact with. Membership in these communities typically includes a mixture of FSPA members and affiliates.

Edna's celebration was in Mary of the Angels Chapel on Oct. 18.

Lifelong affiliation

fosters continual conversion
strengthens lifelong personal and spiritual development in the areas of prayer, community and mission

promotes an awareness and response to the contemporary needs of the church and community especially among the materially and spiritually poor
enhances the social justice consciousness of the lifelong covenant affiliates.
Excerpted from the
FSPA Affiliation Handbook