July 2006 Leadership Conference of Women Religious Newsletter

8/9/2019 July 2006 Leadership Conference of Women Religious Newsletter

1/8

LCWR Update -- July 2006 page 1

Inside this issue:

3

4

July 2006

The Search for Artifacts Begins

Early Registration Deadline for

LCWR Assembly: June 30

5

LCWR Membership Directory Available

Online

(continued on page 3)

US Bishops Vote to Continue theNational Religious RetirementCollection through 2017

The US Catholic bishops voted to extend theNational Religious Retirement Collection foranother 10 years. The decision was made at the

bishops June meeting in Los Angeles with a 143-10vote. They also voted 149-1 to authorize the Commis-sion of Religious Life and Ministry (CRLM), whichoversees the collection and the National ReligiousRetirement Office (NRRO), to change the grant distribu-tion process as well as the office services.

The LCWR presidency, Bea Eichten, OSF; Mary Dacey,SSJ; and Christine Vladimiroff, OSB; as well as LCWRexecutive director Carole Shinnick, SSND attended thebishops meeting as observers and were present for thevoting.

According to an article released by Catholic News

LCWR EndorsesA Covenant for a New America

I

nthe name of LCWR, the members of the execu-

tive committee endorsed A Covenant for a NewAmerica. This proactive biblical vision and policyplatform is intended to help the United States rallyaround efforts to overcome poverty.

The covenant grew out of the Call to Renewal/Sojourn-ers Faith Summit on Poverty, a gathering of religiousleaders in November 2005 to decide how the churchcould lead during this time when the United States

(continued on page 5)

I pst ... c

t chlng. Archo Jrm G. Hs

Service, at the end of 2003 religious orders reportingto the National Religious Retirement Office had $9.1billion in investments dedicated to funding their retire-ment costs, but their total present retirement liabilitywas nearly $17.8 billion, leaving them with $8.7 billionof that liability unfunded.

The proposal to extend the fund was introduced bythe chairperson of the USCCB Committee on Conse-


2/8


Fr t LCWR Pridncy

by Christine Vladimiroff, OSB LCWR Past President

Singing a Song of Hope

T fr frge tfir n e.

W r t t chlng.

This is my last column for Update.I am overwhelmed with grati-tude for your trust in me and the

privilege of serving you these past years.I celebrate my time on the national boardand the executive committee and thepresidency. Your friendship has beenpure grace.

This jubilee year has allowed all of us tolook back on the past of religious womenin our country. It is difficult to imagine

the challenges our sisters faced in the1800s when with great risk they came toa new land with zeal for the care of immigrants. Ourforemothers and founders stepped into the unknownof their day, trusting in Gods good guidance and greatprovidence. We are their proud daughters; these strongand holy women gave us a legacy.

Jubilee is symbol and vision of a new age. Hope is thememory of the future, Marcel writes. Good hope has

the qualities of realism, courage, patience, and the will-ingness to embrace difficulties. It is not an easy hopethat merely wishes for better things. The future must beforged with fire and heat. We are up to the challenge.

There are new immigrants in a nation increasingly hos-tile to the outsider. The poor are trapped in our innercities with failed educational institutions, no medicalcare, and crime and violence on the dark streets of theirneighborhoods. In a land of plenty, children go hungry.Hurricane Katrina showed us with pitiful clarity thatthe poor get left behind. It was a visual metaphor of thesocial, economic, and political divide in our country.To be without hope is to be trapped and to sense onlylimits rather than possibilities.

I s t eth frg r fr

fr rv fr th lk t ss tr rc hp.

The Rule of Benedict calls its follow-ers to seek after peace and pursue it.Our world has opted for violence andwar rather than a justice that bringspeace. Globalization has been emptiedof its promise to deepen the unity of thehuman family. Instead, it has openedthe door to a process of exploitationand destabilization that is a source ofdespair in our world. We in the UnitedStates who benefit from the worldsinequalities, do not respond with an

open heart and hand to the pleas forworldwide poverty reduction and

debt forgiveness. The apocalyptic disasters tsunami,hurricanes, earthquakes lift up before our eyes thespecter of a suffering people and a wounded planet.

It is with realism that we will forge a better futurenot for ourselves but for those who look to us as theirsource of hope. Emily Dickinson wrote:

Hope is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soulAnd sings the tune withoutThe wordsAnd never stops at all.

Our year of jubilee celebrations is not a prolonged party,but a profound prayer. We are bearers of hope and our

song can be heard around the planet. I am proud to beyour sister.


3/8


crated Life Archbishop Jerome G. Hanus of Dubuque,Iowa. He also introduced the proposal to give CRLMmore authority to adjust fund distribution criteria ona limited basis from year to year and have more deci-sion-making authority on which services the NRRO willprovide. According to Archbishop Hanus, this decisionwould give CRLM more flexibility to adapt its strategiesto year-to-year changes in Medicare or Medicaid rules,other shifting economic factors, or complex differencesin the needs and resources of different religious insti-tutes.

A Mercer Human Resources Consulting report commis-sioned by the retirement office and given to the bishopsanalyzed the retirement resources and costs and theage demographics and actuarial projections of men andwomen in religious orders. Based on data at the end of2003, it projected that, without any new infusions intotheir retirement funds in the coming years, religious or-ders by 2023 will have all their current retirement fundswiped out and will be facing more than $20 billion inunfunded liabilities.

According to the CNS article, the bishops were toldthat the average annual Social Security benefit forwomen religious is $4,033; for men it is $3,240. Arch-bishop Hanus said the average Social Security incomefor Americans today is $11,000.

Assuming that Social Security benefits continue toincrease an average of 3 percent a year and living costsfor retirees rise only 6 percent a year a conserva-tive figure in light of the rapid inflation of medical andskilled nursing care costs for the elderly the Mercer

analysis projected that by 2023 the combined SocialSecurity benefits of all retired religious will be $184 mil-lion a year, but their combined annual cost of care willtotal more than $1.6 billion.

At a press conference, Archbishop Hanus said thatmany religious orders are using a variety of strategiesto deal with their changing retirement funding needs,and with the yearly collection and other efforts, Imoptimistic ... we can meet the challenge.

US Bishops Vote to Continue theNational Religious RetirementCollection through 2017

Eracng t Dre:Leang t Jl Her

Early Registration Deadline forthe LCWR Assembly June 30

Registrations must be postmarked before June 30

to receive the special rate of $340.00.

Highlights of the 2006 assembly:

Pre-Assembly Event:Interfaith Prayer for Peace at the Ebenezer BaptistChurch

Keynote Presentation by Joan Chittister, OSBwith 200 women leaders from the Atlanta area whohave been invited to attend as guests

Panel Presentation: Finding Meaning in ChaoticTimes presented by leaders of congregations deeplyimpacted by Hurricane Katrina

Choice of two out of six dynamic breakout sessions

Presentation of the LCWR Outstanding LeadershipAward to Catherine Pinkerton, CSJ

Closing of the LCWR jubilee year

(continued from page 1)

LCWR expresses its gratitude to Andre Fries, CPPSand all the NRRO staff for their untiring efforts to advo-cate for the extension of the yearly collection.


4/8


LCWR Think Tank 2007

Uprising of Hope:Transformation for an Emerging Future

February 26 - March 1, 2007Villa Maria del Mar

Santa Cruz, CaliforniaPresenter: Linda Haydock, SNJM

Director of the IntercommunityPeace and Justice Center Seattle, Washington

Further details will be announced insubsequent issues of Update.

LCWR Membership DirectoryAvailable Online

The LCWR website has a new feature for its mem-bers and associates available online: a searchablemembership database.

Accessible in the password-protected area of the LCWRwebsite, the database offers multiple ways to search forinformation on members and associates. Searches canbe done by members last names, congregation initials,

region, city, state, and other options.

Another feature of the online database is the optionfor members and associates to check their listings foraccuracy and submit a form online if any changes orcorrections need to be made. The LCWR national officewill receive these corrections and be able to keep thedirectory updated daily.

The online directory will take the place of the printeddirectory that members have been receiving and, there-

fore, represents a cost-savings to the conference.

The password protected area of the LCWR website(www.lcwr.org) can be found under LCWR MembersInformation.

January 14 19, 2007Franciscan CenterTampa, Florida

An experience of input, quiet, contemplative space,a variety of ritual experiences, and some opportunity for

group and individual spiritual direction.

Facilitators:Mara Elena Martnez, OSF

Margaret OBrien, OSU

Open to the first 25 national memberswho register and send a deposit

Registration forms will be sent to all membersonline in July

Leang Wt Rre

Legal Resource Center for Religious2007 Legal Seminar

T

he 2007 LRCR Legal Seminar will be held March8-11, 2007 in St. Louis, Missouri with the theme

Flowing Waters: Channeling Energy ThroughTurbulent Waters.

Two pre-seminar workshops are planned: Canon andCivil Law 101, an introductory workshop on civil andcanon law of religious, and Canon and Civil Law 301which will cover more advanced legal topics affectingreligious life. Seewww.lrcr.orgfor additional informa-tion or call 301-589-8143.
http://www.lcwr.org/http://www.lcwr.org/http://www.lcwr.org/http://www.lrcr.org/http://www.lrcr.org/http://www.lrcr.org/http://www.lrcr.org/http://www.lcwr.org/


5/8


6/8


LCWR Nin Offic Stff Nws Upcoming LCWR DatesLCWR Assembly

Atlanta, GeorgiaAugust 18 22, 2006

LCWR Leading from Within RetreatFranciscan Center

Tampa, FloridaJanuary 14 19, 2007

LCWR Think TankVilla Maria del Mar

Santa Cruz, CaliforniaFebruary 26 March 1, 2007

LCWR New Leader WorkshopThe Retreat Center at St. Johns

Plymouth, MichiganMarch 15 18, 2007

LCWR AssemblyKansas City, MissouriAugust 1 5, 2007

LCWR-CMSM Joint AssemblyDenver, Colorado

August 1 4, 2008

LCWR AssemblyNew Orleans, LouisianaAugust 11 15, 2009

Update is an official publication of the LeadershipConference of Women Religious published monthly and

distributed to members nationally.

Editor: Annmarie Sanders, IHM8808 Cameron Street Silver Spring, MD 20910Phone: 301-588-4955 Fax: 301-587-4575E-mail: [email protected]. Website:www.lcwr.org

Update

LCWR Welcomes New Staff Members

L

CWR welcomed two persons to the national officestaff on June 1.

Exv AstMarianne Benson, who servesas the executive assistant, comeswith an extensive backgroundwith nonprofit organizations andexperience working on CapitolHill for several years. She holds abachelor of arts degree in sociol-ogy from Marquette Universityand a master of education degree

from Framingham State College.Her husbands work in the for-eign service provided Marianne the opportunity to livein six countries in Latin America and to become fluentin Spanish. She is the mother of two sons.

LCWR-CMSM RpistAlberta Quaye, the receptionistfor LCWR and CMSM, is origi-nally from Ghana, West Africa.She is currently a student atMontgomery College, TakomaPark, where she is majoringin radiology. She is soon to bemarried and is the mother of afive-year old son.

Also on June 1, Carol Glidden as-sumed the position of LCWRs administrative assistant,after serving one year as the LCWR-CMSM receptionist.
http://www.lcwr.org/http://www.lcwr.org/http://www.lcwr.org/


7/8


All We Have is Now

Carole Shinnick, SSND

Fr t LCWR Exv Drer

I

am on a flight from Los Angelesbound for St. Louis and then on toBaltimore. Like most flights these

days, it is packed. There are two toddlerswho have been crying since we took off screaming actually in chorus. Theytrigger each other at higher and higherfrequencies not unlike microphonefeedback in a crowded auditorium. Theparents seem to be from the let them ex-press themselves school of child-rearingand fail to notice the clenched teeth andagonized expressions of other passengers.

Our pilot, no doubt someone who dreamed of being atour guide when he was young, is providing a runningcommentary as we fly eastward. Theres Las Vegas offto the left side and the Grand Canyon to the right. Thenappers are not enjoying his tour. And I cant see thesights from my aisle seat. A few bars from The GrandCanyon Suite play in my head.

Here come the flight attendants, smiling cheerfully aspassengers dump Starbucks cups and Pizza Hut boxesinto their plastic bags. A dad passes by, proudly dan-dling a chubby baby in front of him. She is not scream-

ing and gets several approving smiles for her silence.Whoops we just hit some light turbulence. Thatcould mean the end of the commentary portion of ourflight. (We can only hope!)

I began this flight dutifully opening my trusty mis-salette to todays scripture readings. Ive re-read themseveral times by now, but I cant concentrate. On thisparticular Saturday morning, I would rather be in myown little prayer space at home, a candle lit, soft musicplaying. But Im here with distractions pulling on every

sense.

Vietnamese spiritual guide Thich Nhat Hahn teachesthat the way to peace is in being present totally pres-ent to the now. He posits that it is our resistanceto what is, and our longing for what isnt that is at theroot of both personal and global strife. So, I decide totry to let go and to just be present to this aluminumcylinder full of souls flying to St. Louis.

Today you as leaders find yourselves inall sorts of settings even within a fewhours. You may leave at 4:30 to catch anearly morning flight. Or you may set outbefore dawn to drive to a board meet-ing for which you are also the chair. Oryou might begin your day presiding at afuneral of one of your members. It is pos-sible that you might eat your noon mealwhile on a conference call. (I know thetime was chosen by those folks on the eastcoast again!)

Perhaps in the afternoon you meet a distressed sister for

coffee. And then, before dropping into bed, you placea late night call to a colleague in another part of theworld. Drifting off to sleep you may wonder when youprayed in the course of this particular day. You can-not recall a small candle or any soft music, and if yourlife depended on it, you could not remember even onephrase of scripture from the daily readings.

Yet, I hunch that you were very attentive to the varietyof persons who filled your day mourners, boardmembers, the distressed sister even the disembodiedvoices on the other end of the phone. My guess is that

Thich Nhat Hahn would say that today you contributedto peace and healing of the universe just by your verypresence.

Well, the turbulence has worsened, but somehow thathas rocked the screaming toddlers to sleep. Our captain

...Tc Nh H l say th today cte t eac n eng

t vrj by r ry rnc.

has stopped pointing out landmarks and seems intenton getting us safely to the ground. (Thank you!) Mylaptops battery is very low and my column is comingto an end.

Thank goodness our God is a God of crying babies,chatty pilots, struggling pilgrims, and travelers of everystripe. All is well. All is well. All is well.


8/8


From the

Center for the Study of

Religious Life

CSRL to Offer CEUs for Programs

Beginning with the September 24-27, 2006 Interdis-ciplinary Forum in New York, the Center will offerprogram participants the option of receiving Con-

tinuing Education Units (CEU) from Catholic Theologi-cal Union. Participants will indicate on the registrationform if they desire to receive CEU. A certificate will besent in the mail following the program.

For more information see http://www.religious-life.

org/programs/index.html.

RFC Congress 2007

Cple by t S t Fr:Isa r E Es r FuegMarriott City Center

Pittsburgh, PANovember 8-11, 2007

This Congress carries on the Spirit-led religiouslife theme of previous congresses of the Reli-gious Formation Conference, with keynote and

breakout speakers who will provide input and experi-ences along two tracks:

practical information for those with responsibilityfor formation ministrytransformative, visionary experiences of hope and

insight that can energize those who are living reli-gious life into the future.

A rate of $109 per night has been arranged with the ho-tel for this RFC Congress 2007. Check the RFC website(www.relforcon.org) for updates as planning continues,congress fees are set, and speakers confirmed.An event for:

Leaders responsible for lifelong learning and ener-gizing for mission in their congregationsFormation ministers

Vocation ministersMembers of formative communitiesMembers of religious congregations engaged inlifelong learning, motivating for mission, listeningfor indications of the future of religious life.
http://www.religious-life.org/programs/index.htmlhttp://www.religious-life.org/programs/index.htmlhttp://www.religious-life.org/programs/index.htmlhttp://www.relforcon.org/http://www.relforcon.org/http://www.religious-life.org/programs/index.htmlhttp://www.relforcon.org/

Documents

July 2006 Leadership Conference of Women Religious Newsletter