Having been called to be people of hope — to be Artisans of Hope in our Blessed and Broken World — the provincial team of the United States – Canada Province has been discerning how the province might best live this call now. The team has also reflected on how to engage in our current province the work of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC), informed by the Society General Chapters since 1967, especially the most recent Chapters.
After discernment and deliberation, the provincial team has asked Melanie Guste, RSCJ, to serve in the role of director of JPIC for the United States – Canada Province.
Sister Guste has the passion, knowledge, organizing skills, vision, energy, humor, and grounding to help the province, and to call forward RSCJ and mission partners alike, to take the next steps needed to align more closely with the Society's priority of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation. She responded to the invitation with openness and deep interest.
Sister Guste is a coach, consultant, facilitator, mediator and writer. She has worked in various Sacred Heart Network schools, most recently as head of school at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans from 2014-2021. Earlier in her RSCJ ministry she worked at the Center for Educational Design and Communication (CEDC), a sponsored ministry of the Society in Washington, DC. At CEDC, she was a consultant and designer, working with peace and justice groups, community development organizations, and faith-based organizations. Sister Guste has also worked for the Louisiana Department of Education and the Department of Labor. She served one term on the provincial team for the former United States Province and for three years on the province staff as director of province planning.
Sister Guste holds a master's degree in applied spirituality, spiritual direction and christian Spirituality from the University of San Francisco, a master's degree in educational administration and supervision from Loyola University, New Orleans, and a Ph.D. in human and organizational systems from Fielding Graduate University.
