January 2009 Leadership Conference of Women Religious Newsletter

8/9/2019 January 2009 Leadership Conference of Women Religious Newsletter

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LCWR Update January 2009 page 1

Inside this issue:

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January 2009

Are You are Receiving All LCWR Communications?

Have You Marked Your Calendar for Upcoming

LCWR Events?

Have You Joined the LCWR Listserv?

Watch for LCWR Outstanding

Leadership Award Survey

The Leadership Conference of Women Religiousestablished an Outstanding Leadership Award torecognize and honor persons who have significant-

ly contributed to the ministry of leadership and whoreflect the LCWR mission.

In the fall, regions were asked to submit nominationsfor persons to be considered for this award. The Out-standing Leadership Award Committee met in mid-December to review these nominations and to prepare

a process to allow members to recommend recipients tothe executive committee. In mid-January informationwill go to members of LCWR about those who havebeen nominated and about using Survey Monkey tomake recommendations.

Members of the leadership award committee are Patri-cia McDermott, RSM; Joan Sue Miller, SCL; Jane AnnSlater, CDP; Marsha Speth, SP; and Pat Cormack, SCSC(staff).

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n December 16, representatives of 11 organiza-tions of Catholics in Alliance for the CommonGood, plus two staff members, participatedin a meeting with several members of the

Obama-Biden transition team to provide informationon key issues of concern to alliance partners: povertyreduction/economic justice, healthcare reform, immi-gration reform, international development/diplomacy,and environment, the top five issues in the Platform forthe Common Good.

Each representative had the opportunity to introduceher or his organization and its focus, followed by briefpresentations on the five key issues. RepresentingLCWR, Marie Lucey, OSF, associate director and LCWRliaison to the Catholic Health Association (CHA), gave

the presentation on healthcare reform. Marie identifiedthe long history of women religious in healthcare whichcontinues to the present, and the collaboration of mem-bers engaged in health ministry today with the CHA topromote healthcare reform in this country.

LCWR and CHA are encouraged by the commitmentof President-elect Obama to much needed healthcarereform, making it one of his top three issues, along witheconomic stimulus and energy/environment. While

LCWR Participates in Meeting of Catholics in Alliance with the

Obama Transition Team


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From th LCWR Pridency

by J. Lora Dambroski, OSF LCWR President

The Promise of Change

This month marks a major changefor those of us who live herein the United States. We havethe completion of the term of

one President and the inaugurationof another. For about two years wehave been immersed in the pre-nomination, nomination, convention,and election process for this new nationaladministration.

Sounds like congregational preparations

and processes for chapters and elections!While we are in the midst of all the focus on whatwill happen in the future we also are called to live inthe present. There is the daily challenge of fulfillingthe directives of previous chapters and making more

immediate decisions regarding unforeseen crisis (likewe can foresee a crisis!) and still looking to how we areimpacting the future by what we do and how we do itnow.

During the days of this national election process weheard much about change and hope. There was heldbefore us the promise that things would be different

and things would be better. Sound bites told us thatthere would be better health care, a better more stableeconomy, better and more secure jobs, better effortstoward international policy, better and greater focus onhuman rights, and of course, there would be a better

Ts hp s l futed t

b tr r

Wi Lync, SJ cledt ru magni.

T i nd i eac r cngregis chlng s

t k crev, f-gvng chng hr Gods l.

and more peaceful world rid of violenceon our streets and an end to a war it seemsnone of us wanted.

The excitement around the talk of changeand hope was not simply that thingswould be different but that things, life,and relationships, would be better thanthey are now. The common good of allwas stirring a new flame within the gut ofmany.

This hope is less a sense of infatuatedfantasy but rather more of what William Lynch, SJcalled the virtue of imagination. This hope allows fora clearing of our vision not only to see things differentlyfor the good of all, but rather the energized convictionto give our personal efforts to make a creative life-giving change happen.

As women religious grounded in the Gospel of JesusChrist, we, too, are among those who hope for changeand new life. The promise that we truly count on,

however, is not found in the national political arena butin the challenge and grace of this Gospel. The mission

and vision of each of our congregations challenge usto make creative, life-giving change happen for all ofGods people. (No matter who is in the national orworld leadership!)

Happy New New Year!


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The primary means of communicating informationto LCWR members is through the online messag-ing system provided through the program Con-

stant Contact. Over the last few weeks, a number ofmembers have notified the LCWR staff that they are notreceiving any messages from the conference.

In order to assure that messages do get through, mem-bers are asked to note the following.

Messages from the LCWR national office will comefrom the address: [email protected] same banner will be used for all messages. Re-ceipt of a message with the LCWR banner indicatesthat LCWR is contacting members about an issue,event, publication, or other LCWR service. (Thebanner is pictured above.)As the volume of spam increases on the internet,spam blockers have been employed to screen

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incoming e-mail. This is usually done by targetingthe number of internet hyperlinks, pictures, etc.contained in a message. This means that ConstantContact communications can get blocked or routedinto junk mail. Members whose congregations havetheir own server may need to ask their IT managerto make sure that [email protected] is addedto the safe sender list. They may also ask if they canlist lcwr.org as a safe domain from which to acceptall messages.Members who are using an e-mail program on theirPC or laptop, are encouraged to find out if there isa junk mail or spam setting and to be sure to [email protected] to the safe sender list ofthe e-mail program. Finally, some e-mail programs(such as Outlook) allow users to color code themessage header so as to alert them to an incomingvalued e-mail contact. Members may wish to dothis for [email protected].

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LCWR Listserv Provides Forum forRaising Questions and Sharing Information

LCWR provides free access to a listserv created for raising questions and sharing infomation among LCWRmembers and associates. Persons interested in participating in this valuable service need to register them-selves. Information for joining the LCWR Resource Sharing Forum can be found in the LCWR Members

Information section of the LCWR website (www.lcwr.org).

Forum participants also have access to archived messages through the Yahoo Groups website. Archived messagetopics include:

Chapter Steering Committees

Chapter FacilitatorsReconfiguration IssuesData Base ProgramsCongregation Infirmaries and Sis-ters Family MembersSafety Plan ModelsGuidelines for Older Drivers

Those who have registered for the LCWR Forum may view these messages by going to groups.yahoo.com, click-ing on the LCWR Forum, and clicking on Messages.

Self-Directed Ministries

TranslatorsAssociate PoliciesMeeting SitesMaking Corporate Public StatementsInternational Congregation QuestionsSponsorship Issues
http://www.lcwr.org/http://www.lcwr.org/http://www.lcwr.org/http://groups.yahoo.com/http://groups.yahoo.com/http://groups.yahoo.com/http://www.lcwr.org/


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(continued from page 1)

reforming the current health system is urgent, Marie

noted that due to the need of the Obama administrationto first provide economic stimulus in a bleak economicsituation, the hope is that in the first year the adminis-tration will at least assure expanded reauthorization ofSCHIP and a health IT program.

In his response, Michael Strautmanis, director of theOffice of Public Liaison/Intergovernmental Affairs,offered assurance of the Obama administrations com-mitment to a health system that is available and acces-sible to everyone, with special attention to those whoare poor and vulnerable, and encourages participationof alliance members in town halls across the country.(Information is on the CHA website: www.chausa.org,Announcements, Obama Transition Requests for HealthCare Dialogues.)

LCWR Participates in Meeting withObama Transition Team

CHA Envisions Opportunity andChallenge in 2009

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embers of the board of the Catholic HealthAssociation (CHA) looked toward both chal-lenges and opportunities provided by the new

administration in Washington. Both were addressedduring the December 4-5, 2008 board meeting. Becausethe Obama administration has named economic stimu-lus, energy independence, and health care reform asthe top three priorities, CHA anticipates working withthe new administration to bring about true healthcarereform that resonates with CHAs identified values ofhuman dignity, the common good, concern for poor andvulnerable people, stewardship, justice, and pluralism.CHA leadership has been, and will continue to be, at thetable with congressional leaders in the Senate (Kennedy

and Baucus) and in the House (Pete Stark). Followingthe CHA board meeting, Colleen Scanlon, vice chair-person/chair-elect, met with Tom Daschle, who will beappointed Health and Human Services Secretary.

Realizing that comprehensive healthcare reform willtake some time, CHA foresees that in the first year therewill be at least extended SCHIP reauthorization and,possibly, a health IT program.

One of the challenges for CHA is President-electObamas statement that he would sign the Freedom ofChoice Act (FOCA) into law. FOCA would declare a leg-islative fundamental right to abortion and would nul-lify laws restricting abortion access. While passage ofthis legislation by Congress is highly unlikely, CHA willcontinue to monitor the bill, analyze its implications,prepare talking points for the ministry, and dialog withthe US Bishops Conference on strategy and messaging.

CHA has also been engaged in a labor dialogue withrepresentatives of the USCCB and labor. AlthoughCHA maintains opposition to card check, which is the

union goal in the Employee Free Choice Act, it seemsvery likely that card check will pass under the Obamaadministration. Given this reality, CHA could agree tocard check as an option (to secret ballot) if both parties(management and labor) agree. Catholic health systemsoppose card check on the basis of Catholic social teach-ing which upholds the right of workers to a free andsecret election on union representation.

Jubilee USA Launches Whats On Your

Heart? Campaign

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nticipating openness on the part of a new Trea-sury Secretary, Jubilee USA announced a newcampaign during its annual Network Council

Meeting, November 17-19, 2008.

As shared with LCWR justice and peace contacts, thecampaign is designed to remind Secretary TimothyGeithner that Where your treasure is, there yourheart will be also. LCWR members are encouraged toparticipate by sending heart messages to Jubilee USAwho will deliver them to Secretary Geithner after theinauguration on January 20. (Information on how toparticipate can be found onwww.jubileeusa.org.)

During the annual meeting, council members alsoreviewed the highlights of 2008, including the StopVultures (Funds) Act, efforts on behalf of Liberia andHaiti, meetings with the World Bank on odious andillegitimate debt, and growth of Jubilee congregations.Members also approved the strategic plan for 2009-2012 which begins with outreach to the new admin-istration regarding the future of the Jubilee Act. Thehope is that the act will again pass the House quicklyin 2009 so Jubilee can focus on the Senate, in particularon Senator Tom Coburn who held up passage this year.
http://www.chausa.org/http://www.chausa.org/http://www.jubileeusa.org/http://www.jubileeusa.org/http://www.jubileeusa.org/http://www.jubileeusa.org/http://www.chausa.org/


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Upcoming LCWR Dates

LCWR Leading from Within RetreatFranciscan Center

Tampa, Florida

January 11 16, 2009

LCWR Systemic Change Think TankRedemptorist Renewal Center

Tucson, ArizonaFebruary 23 26, 2009

LCWR New Leader WorkshopThe Retreat Center at St. Johns

Plymouth, MichiganMarch 19 22, 2009

LCWR AssemblyNew Orleans, LouisianaAugust 11 15, 2009

LCWR Leading from Within RetreatRedemptorist Renewal Center

Tucson, ArizonaJanuary 17 22, 2010

LCWR New Leader WorkshopThe Retreat Center at St. Johns

Plymouth, MichiganMarch 11 14, 2010

LCWR AssemblyDallas, Texas

August 10 14, 2010

LCWR AssemblyGarden Grove, California

August 9 13, 2011

Catholic Coalition on Climate ChangeAnnounces Climate Covenant

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uilt on the themes of covenant, creation, and pov-erty, the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change,

of which LCWR is a member, is launching aninitiative to encourage greater personal and sharedengagement by the Catholic community to respond tothe impacts of climate change. Catholic institutions,organizations, parishes, and individuals will be invitedto join a new climate covenant by taking the St. FrancisPledge, which links climate change and people living inpoverty.

This effort will be launched during the 2009 Easterseason with a public event on Earth Day, April 22. Thecoalition hopes to have dozens of national Catholic

organizations already committed to the pledge beforethe public event. When it is launched, individuals andorganizations will be asked to commit themselves toall five elements of the pledge: pray, learn, assess, act,advocate.

Many LCWR member congregations are alreadyengaged in all or some of these activities. Informationabout joining this effort can be found on the website:www.catholicsandclimatechange.org . As a coalitionmember, LCWR encourages its members to learn aboutthe climate covenant when it is posted on the web inJanuary.

Update is an official publication of the LeadershipConference of Women Religious published monthly anddistributed to members nationally.

Editor: Annmarie Sanders, IHM

8808 Cameron Street Silver Spring, MD 20910Phone: 301-588-4955 Fax: [email protected] www.lcwr.org

Update
http://www.catholicsandclimatechange.org./http://www.catholicsandclimatechange.org./http://www.lcwr.org/http://www.lcwr.org/http://www.catholicsandclimatechange.org./


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Memberships Being Accepted in NewNational Organization for Religious

The National Association for Treasurers of Reli-gious Institutes and The Legal Resource Center forReligious are merging into one new structure, and

as of December 31, 2008 will no longer exist as sepa-rate entities. On January 1, 2009 the new organization The Resource Center for Religious Institutes willtake effect.

Membership forms/invoices and a letter from RCRIexecutive director, Daniel Ward, OSB, inviting mem-bership into the new organization were sent by e-mailattachment in December. Anyone who did not receivean invitation and invoice/membership form, is askedto contact Rita Waters, RSM [email protected].

Second Phase of the NRVC/CARA StudyBegins

NRVC continues to move forward with its majorstudy on contemporary vocations to religiouslife. The first phase of this research consisted of a

survey mailed to every major superior in the US. CARA

received a more than a 60% response from this survey,which is an extraordinary representative sample.

In the middle of November, the second phase of thisresearch project was begun with approximately 4000surveys mailed to those women and men religious whoentered religious life within the past 15 years. Namesof these newer religious were obtained from the firstmajor superior survey.

NRVC asks for the cooperation of all leaders in encour-aging the eligible members of their religious institutesto participate in this study so as to ensure the accuracyof the final data. From the surveys received from thissecond phase, two or three focus groups of newerreligious will then be conducted by the CARA researchteam. The anticipated date for completion of this studyis spring 2009.

NRVC Revises Code of Ethics for VocationMinistry

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RVC recently completed a revision of its Codeof Ethics for Vocation Ministry. This document,which was more than a year in the making, was

the result of a committee of ethicists, vocation directors,and professionals in the field of child protection. Therevised code treats the responsibilities of the vocationdirector, major superior, and the general membershipregarding vocation ministry. All leaders are encouragedto review this document with their vocation directors. Itmay be accessed online under the Public Documentssection of the NRVC website at www.nrvc.net.

NRVC Membership Renewals Begin

The new NRVC membership year begins January1, 2009. NRVC is the only service organization inthe US that provides professional training, in-ser-

vice and resources for religious vocation directors. Theonline registration process has been streamlined formembers convenience and is now available for bothrenewing and first time members atwww.nrvc.net.

Keynote Addresses of the 2008 NRVCConvocation Will be Available

All of the texts of the major addresses of the recentNRVC convocation will be published in the 2009Winter edition ofHorizon. This will include the

talks of keynote speakers Donald Senior, CP; MariaCimperman, OSU; James Martin, SJ, and NRVC execu-tive director Paul Bednarczyk, CSC.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.nrvc.net/http://www.nrvc.net/http://www.nrvc.net/http://www.nrvc.net/mailto:[email protected]://www.nrvc.net/http://www.nrvc.net/