March 2006 Leadership Conference of Women Religious Newsletter

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

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LCWR Update -- March 2006 -- page 1

Inside this issue:

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March 2006

LCWR Think Tank 2006

Dates and Sites Announced for Upcoming

Assemblies

6(continued on page 3)

History Project Promotional Materials

Available

A

t its recent meeting in Tucson, Arizona, theLCWR national board looked at some of themost important issues facing religious life and

the conference today. The agendas at both the LCWR

board meeting and joint meeting with the board of theConference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) includ-ed many of the topics needing careful consideration byreligious at this time. Among the items on the agendaswere:

follow-up to the LCWR assembly 2005 recommen-dationsfollow-up to the CARA study on the policies, prac-tices and procedures of congregations of womenreligious regarding sexual misconduct of members

a revised assembly resolution processthe LCWR history projectthe relationship of US women and men religiouswith the institutional churchupcoming assembliesthe national religious retirement collection andthe ongoing retirement needs of women and menreligiousthe InterAmerican Conference in Bogota, Colombiathe LCWR dues structurean update on NACPA study of the LCWR national

LCWR National Board Meets in Tucson

Responding to the Critical Issues FacingReligious Life Leadership Today

The LCWR and CMSM national boards met atthe Redemptorist Renewal Center in

Tucson, Arizona from February 18-22.

officethe Leading from Within Retreatapproval of a redesigned LCWR logothe regional jubilee celebrations

Lynn Levo, CSJ, from the staff of Saint Luke Institute,joined the LCWR board for discussion of the CARAstudy results. Helen Maher Garvey, BVM, chair of theLCWR History Committee, was present for discussionof the history project; and Mary Jo Moran of the Na-

tional Association of Church Personnel Administrators(NACPA) joined the board by phone for discussionof the national office study. Mary Charlotte Chandler,RSCJ joined the joint boards for an update on the Centerfor the Study of Religious Life and a discussion of thefuture of religious life, and Andre Fries, CPPS andJanice Bader, CPPS were present for the discussion onthe national religious retirement collection. Also partici-pating with the 21-member board in the meetings were


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From the LCWR Presidency

Falling in Love in an Absolute, Final Wayby Mary Dacey, SSJ -- LCWR President-Elect

Even with our best efforts, it isvirtually impossible for womenreligious in leadership not to be

concerned with diminishmentagingmembers and decreasing numbers.

In December and early January I expe-rienced the deaths of three women reli-gious in the Philadelphia area. Thoughthey were members of three differentcongregations, and their ministries andpersonalities were significantly differ-

ent, they were all in the prime of life (atleast by the new baby boomer stan-dards) when they died.

One was a charismatic leader. She sang and danced herway into the hearts of those with and to whom she min-istered. Over the years she served as formation director,

chaired LCWRs Region 3 and served as vice-presidentof her congregation. She led the joyous celebration inVatican Square when Katharine Drexel was proclaimedsaint, but she could just as easily lead her peers in araucous version of When the Saints Come MarchingIn. For two days, family members, friends, and reli-gious from across the country poured into a chapel thatwas far from adequate for the funeral services for BeaJeffries, SBS.

Another was a college professor. An attractive anddynamic teacher, she was always on the go. As chair ofthe education department she was active on the stateand local level. She supervised and mentored countlessyoung teachers both inside and outside the classroom.Relative, colleague, student or friend had this to say:You always knew where you stood with her, but youcould not want a more loyal and faithful person in

Perhaps, Arupes words hintat the heart of our future,

regardless of aging and numbers.Nothing is more practical than finding God.

Perhaps, diminishment is our callto an absolute, final love that shuns

what is safe and self-absorbed.

your life. Her funeral services werepacked, and several memorial serviceswere held to accommodate all whocame to pay tribute to Honor Keirans,SSJ.

The third was an elementary schoolteacher whose passion for teachingspilled beyond the classroom to sacra-mental instruction and RCIA classes.She was beloved by her students, theirparents and the broader parish com-

munity where she served. Simple andunassuming, she would have been

most uncomfortable with the outpouring that occurredafter she was killed in a hit-and-run accident. From thebedside prayer vigil of her sisters to the standing-room-only funeral to the special memorial liturgy, the deathof Paul Mercedes, IHM became a media event thattouched the entire city of Philadelphia.

However distinct, these three women had one thingin common. In the words of Pedro Arupe SJ, they hadfallen in love in an absolute, final way. What hadseized their imagination had affected everything intheir lives, and that, in turn, had affected everyone whoknew them.

In light of their stories, it is difficult to focus on thepractical considerations of diminishment. Perhaps,diminishment is our call to an absolute, final love that

shuns what is safe and self-absorbed. Perhaps, Arupeswords hint at the heart of our future, regardless of agingand numbers. Nothing is more practical than findingGod.


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(continued from page 1)

LCWR staff members: Eleanor Granger, OSF; MarieLucey, OSF; and Annmarie Sanders, IHM.

Prior to the board meetings, the Commision on Reli-gious Life and Ministry also met in Tucson. Bea Eichten,OSF; Mary Dacey, SSJ; Christine Vladimiroff, OSB;

LCWR Board Meetings in Tucson Jeanne Bessette, OSF; and Carole Shinnick, SSND joinedrepresentatives from CMSM, the Conference of MajorSuperiors of Women Religious, the US Conference ofCatholic Bishops, and the National Religious Retire-ment Office for the meeting.

Information from the board meetings will be shared inmore detail at the spring LCWR regional gatherings.

Mary Charlotte Chandler, RSCJ, executive directorof the Center for the Study of Religious Life, ledthe joint boards in a discussion on the history andfuture of religious life

Lynn Levo, CSJ of Saint Luke Institute joined theLCWR board to look at follow-up steps that camefrom the CARA study on the policies, proceduresand practices of women religious congregationsregarding member sexual misconduct

Helen Maher Garvey, BVMupdated the LCWR board on theexhibit to highlight the contribu-tions of women religious to UShistory


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LCWR Board Meets in Tucson

Maryann Summa, OP;Margaret Mayce, OP; Rita

Ann Teichman, SSJ; RachaelCastillo, MCDP; and Carole

Shinnick, SSND

Bea Eichten, OSF; Jeanne Bes-sette, OSF; Christine Vladimi-roff, OSB; and Mary Dacey, SSJ

Barbara Hagedorn, SC and Paul Lininger,OFM Conv, executive director of CMSM

Bea Eichten, OSF and DominicIzzo, OP, president of CMSM

Members ofthe LCWR national boardwho will be completing their term in August

2006: Mary Horgan, SP; Rita Ann Teichman, SSJ;Mary Catherine Rabbitt, SL; Sara Dwyer, ASC;Patricia Murphy, SSND; Dorothy Jean Beyer,OSB; and Christine Vladimiroff, OSB


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Orders for the LCWR Reflection Book

Accepted Through March 15

LCWR will be publishing a new daily reflectionbook focused on the call to vision for a changedfuture. The theme of the book is Changing theFace of the Mountain, an image drawn from the presi-dential address of Christine Vladimiroff, OSB deliveredat the 2005 LCWR assembly.

The book contains reflections by 64 LCWR members onthe words of various writers and thinkers on visioning,

as well as on related passages of scripture. The objec-tives of this publication are:

Provide LCWR members with a spiritual tool thatcan aid their reflection on significant themes perti-nent to religious lifeProvide LCWR members with a resource that can beshared as well with their own membersFoster a bond of unity in prayer among LCWRmembers, other women religious and anyone elsewho wishes to utilize the reflections. More than22,000 copies of the 2005 reflection book were sold,enabling many people to join in prayer around a

common theme.

The book is designed for use in June, July and August.

LCWR members, associates and subscribers will receivea copy of the publication. Proceeds from the sale of thebook are used to assist LCWRs operational budget.Forms for ordering addtional books are available on theLCWR website under Publications at http://www.lcwr.org/lcwrpublications/2006re.ectionorder.pdf

Changing the Face of the Mountain LCWR Board Approves Dates forUpcoming Assemblies

Although every effort was made by LCWR toretain New Orleans as the site of the 2007 as-

sembly, LCWRs conference planners, Nix andAssociates, has advised LCWR to reschedule its NewOrleans assembly to 2009. LCWR has now procured asite in Kansas City, Missouri for the 2007 assembly.

The LCWR national board approved these sites at theirFebruary meeting, and gave approval jointly with theCMSM national board to hold the 2008 joint meetingin Denver, Colorado. The dates for these meetings arefound on page 7 of this newsletter.

Promotional Materials Developed forLCWR History Project

The LCWR national board affirmed the work ofthe LCWR History Committee on the exhibit tohonor the contributions of women religious to UShistory.

Among the next steps of this project is the work to raisethe needed funds for the exhibits creation. The commit-tee, under the leadership of Helen Maher Garvey, BVM,engaged the assistance of development consultantsMadeline Franze, SSJ and Mary McFadden, SSJ to drafta development plan. The committee also contractedwith Design Island Associates to create the exhibit, aswell as the promotional materials needed for fundrais-ing.

In March, all LCWR members and associates will re-ceive in the mail a copy of the brochure created by De-sign Island in collaboration with the committee. Mem-bers and associates are asked to notify Carole Shinnick,SSND with the names of any persons or organizationswho can be approached by the LCWR staff and commit-tee members as potential donors. Additional copies ofthe brochure are available.

More information on the history project will be sharedat the regional meetings.
http://www.lcwr.org/lcwrpublications/2006Reflectionorder.pdfhttp://www.lcwr.org/lcwrpublications/2006Reflectionorder.pdfhttp://www.lcwr.org/lcwrpublications/2006Reflectionorder.pdfhttp://www.lcwr.org/lcwrpublications/2006Reflectionorder.pdfhttp://www.lcwr.org/lcwrpublications/2006Reflectionorder.pdfhttp://www.lcwr.org/lcwrpublications/2006Reflectionorder.pdf


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The Catholic Alliance for the Common

Good Holds Strategy Retreat

In June-July, 2005, the Catholic Alliance for theCommon Good was incorporated with the mis-

sion of promoting the core values of the Catholicsocial justice tradition and the best of US civic values:the dignity of the human person, justice, concern forthe poor, and the common good. The alliance promotesthese values through media relations and coordinationto forge a new faith voice in the public arena. LCWR isrepresented by its associate director for social mission.

From January 27-29, 2006, representatives of Catholicorganizations, universities, and community groups meton St. Simons Island, Georgia, with Alliance staff, theo-logians and legal experts to interact around the mission

and purpose of the alliance, identify core values onwhich to focus messaging, and map what each bringsto the alliance. LCWR brings primarily its field orconstituency, as well as credibility, and a historical com-mitment to working on justice issues.

A process of identifying core values to be promoted inmedia messaging and with local Catholic groups wasled by Michael Culliton, Director of NETWORK Educa-tion Project. Key strategies are: communicate aggres-sively, coordinate local and national Catholic groupsdedicated to the common good, and build bridges tosimilarly inspired interfaith efforts. Local organizationis essential. The hope is to influence both 2006 electionsand 2008 national elections with the fullness of Catholicsocial thought.

Justice for Immigrants Campaign atCritical Juncture

The USCCB Justice for Immigrants Campaign, ofwhich LCWR is a core member, reports that 70dioceses now have an official point of contact.In some other dioceses there is active involvement butno official contact has been appointed. The campaign

continues to focus on education at the parish and otherlocal levels, but at this moment urges thousands ofphone calls to US senators in anticipation of a legislativevote by the end of March.

In December 2005 the House passed an enforcement-only, punitive bill, HR 4437, which criminalizes bothundocumented persons and those who assist them. Thiswould include religious institutions such as hospitals,social service agencies, and congregations, as well asindividuals. The bill includes mandatory detention,deportation with no further entry, and building a wall

on the southern border with Mexico. This bill, as wellas S 1033, the McCain-Kennedy bill, and others will bemarked up by the Senate Judiciary Committee who willpresent a combined bill to the Senate. HR 4437 must bedefeated. S 1033, which calls for comprehensive immi-gration reform, not just enforcement, must be stronglysupported even though it is not the vehicle which willultimately come to the Senate. Both the USCCB andCHA are urging calls and visits to senators by localgroups and bishops in support of S 103. The campaignswebsite is:www.justiceforimmigrants.org.

Several dioceses and religious congregations are effec-tively using a DVD, Dying to Live, to put a humanface on immigration. The DVD can be obtained from theCenter for Latino Spirituality and Culture, University ofNotre Dame: http://www.nd.edu/~latino/units/dy-ing_video.htm.

LCWR associate director for social mission Marie Lucey,OSF assists with the core value identification process at theCatholic Alliance for the Common Good retreat.
http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/http://www.nd.edu/~latino/units/dying_video.htm.http://www.nd.edu/~latino/units/dying_video.htm.http://www.nd.edu/~latino/units/dying_video.htm.http://www.nd.edu/~latino/units/dying_video.htm.http://www.nd.edu/~latino/units/dying_video.htm.http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/


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Upcoming LCWR Dates

LCWR New Leader WorkshopSt. Mary of the Lake -- Mundelein, Illinois

March 30 -- April 2, 2006

LCWR AssemblyAtlanta, Georgia

August 18 -- 22, 2006

LCWR Assembly

Kansas City, MissouriAugust 3 -- 7, 2007

LCWR-CMSM Joint AssemblyDenver, Colorado

August 1 -- 4, 2008

LCWR AssemblyNew Orleans, Louisiana

August 11 -- 15, 2009

LCWR Think Tank 2006 SurvivesSnowstorm

Twenty-nine of 31 registrants for the February12-14 LCWR think tank made it to the Franciscan

Center in Tampa, Florida despite the major snowstorm of the year on the east coast. LCWR members,justice and peace coordinators, and communicationsdirectors from across the country gathered enthusiasti-cally to engage the Roars and the Whispers of theirlives in processes and rituals led by Pat Siemen, OP.

During the final evaluation participants agreed to plananother think tank for 2008 to be held on the westcoast. Although the energy of the group was for a 2007workshop, all agreed that locating a site and a presenterwas better served by a two-year planning period. Threevolunteers will undertake the planning for a site whereearthquakes rather than snowstorms may be natureschallenge!

Participants in the LCWR think tank in Tampa participatedin prayer rituals and discussions engaging the

Roars and Whispers of their lives.


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Come Fly With Me

Carole Shinnick, SSND

From the LCWR Executive Director

Iremember a time when flying wasrather elegant - an event for whichpeople dressed up in their Sunday

best, looking forward to the special experi-ence of dining 30,000 feet in the air on tinymeals served in tidy plastic service ware.No more. Flying today is a contemporaryascetic experience - necessary but hardlyenjoyable, and definitely no longer elegant.

I have my own list of dreaded words thatprelude experiences on the same par as rootcanal work and sleeping in a room with anOlympic snorer. They include (but are not limited) to:

Were expecting a pretty full flight this morn-ingWe seem to be experiencing a slight mechani-cal problemBecause of our delay, some of you may missyour connections in AtlantaAnd now all of you in group18 may board atyour leisureOur in-flight movie selection today is BigMommas HouseAnd my personal favorite - Were expecting a

little turbulence today, folks

On a recent trip to St. Louis, we were told after we hadboarded the plane that, Our flight to St. Louis will be 2hours and 7 minutes. Unfortunately the lavatory on ouraircraft is not working. Yikes!

And then, of course, there is the particular trial of thesecurity check. I have come to equate this aspect of trav-

eling with planters warts, used car commercials, andthe heartbreak of adult acne. In 10 seconds or less youmust take off your shoes, your coat, your jacket, removeyour laptop, and haul your carry-on up to the conveyorbelt. You must do all this, while clenching your board-ing pass between your teeth so that you can show it tothe TSA agent on the other side of the metal detector

Sometimes I have tried to find glimpses of the Divinein the airport and my fellow passengers

I wish I could tell you some ways in which you can find

meaning and redemption in flying today.

who, like a cattle-herder at the slaughterhouse, is yelling Keep it moving, folks!

I do have a plan regarding securitycheck-points. I am designing a user-friendly approach to screening thatinvolves pushcarts that can be loadedwith the travelers belongings and putthrough the screener while the persongoes through the metal detector. Afterscreening, the passenger rolls the cart toa carpeted area where soothing music,aromatherapy, and massage chairs assist

in post-screening recovery. After I patent the designI plan to split the enormous income with the SchoolSisters of Notre Dame, the Leadership Conference ofWomen Religious, and the Send-Carole-on-a-Hawaiian-Vacation Campaign.

I wish I could tell you some ways in which you can findmeaning and redemption in flying today. I know so

many of you do it and I know that all joking aside just getting there can be draining. Then you have to riseto whatever occasion is on the other end, gather yourwits, figure out how to do without the items in yourlost luggage, and be there for the people and eventfor which you have traveled. Sometimes I have tried tofind glimpses of the Divine in the airport and my fellowpassengers like the young mother I watched recentlyin the waiting area cooing over her tiny infant. Some-times I try to find everyday scripture in the signage inthe terminal like Where will your dreams take you?

(American Express) Or Add tranquility to any space.(Sky Mall catalog)

Or you can write a column about your adventures foryour newsletter. Im writing this somewhere over Ohioen route to Chicago where its raining and 23 degrees.Our flight is late and I will miss my connection toTucson. However, I have enjoyed the pleasure of yourcompany. I know you have a choice of reading materi-als. So, thanks for traveling with me.


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From the

Center for the Study of

Religious Life

CSRL Offers Ongoing Reflection onReligious Life

One of the activities of CSRL is convening in-terdisciplinary conferences and workshops toengage scholars, religious and others in reflec-tion on the data and experience of religious life.

Using the Cultural Audit Workshops

In February the center held one of its Using the Cul-

tural Audit workshops in Jacksonville, Florida. Thisis a regular offering of CSRL bringing together menand women from congregations who have decided touse the cultural audit or who are seriously thinkingabout it. Congregations use this tool to become moreself-aware of their congregational culture in light ofthe dominant US culture. Some institutes want to learnhow to be welcoming to new members from culturesother than those that already dominate in the congrega-tion. Others see it as a tool to prepare for the merger ofseveral provinces, regions or institutes.

A team of two facilitators walks the participantsthrough the various sections of the cultural audit toolproduced by CSRL explaining how it might be used.The participants do many of the exercises included inthe tool. The facilitators for the February workshopwere Gary Riebe-Estrella, SVD and Caroljean Willie, SC.Constance Phelps, SCL was a facilitator-in-training.

Interdisciplinary Forum:The Individual and the Common Good

The centers new series of interdisciplinary forumsbegins March 5 - 8. Each forum brings together scholarsfrom various disciplines and leaders from religiouscongregations to explore a current topic of interest. This

series is examining the tensions between the good ofindividual members and the good of the communitythat can be experienced in religious life today. Threecase studies are used to focus the discussion.

The next two sessions are Sept 24-27, 2006 in Jamaica,NY and April 15-18, 2007 in Los Altos, CA.

For more information on CSRL programs see http://www.religious-life.org/programs/index.htmlConstance Phelps, SCL and Caroljean Willie, SC

Participants Marcia Lunz, OSF and Sue Felice, OSF

Cultural audit participants Eileen McKenzie, FSPA;Alexine Nii, TSSF; and Jean Moore, FSPA
http://www.religious-life.org/programs/index.htmlhttp://www.religious-life.org/programs/index.htmlhttp://www.religious-life.org/programs/index.htmlhttp://www.religious-life.org/programs/index.html


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Documents

March 2006 Leadership Conference of Women Religious Newsletter