LCWR 2016 Assembly
Aug. 9-12, 2016 -- 800 leaders of congregations of women religious gather in Atlanta for the annual Assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious
After the Assembly:
Background
- LCWR Summary of the Assembly
- LCWR Animoto of Assembly highlights and key quotes
- Global Sisters Report editor Gail DeGeorge reflects on her experience as a "newbie" at the Assembly. She writes that the Assembly was "transformative" for her. Beautiful article, please read. This one-week immersion in LCWR culture mirrors the transformation that we in Solidarity with Sisters continue to find in accompanying LCWR since 2012. She notes: "the assembly used the practice of contemplative dialogue, which is centered on deep listening and reflective participation to achieve a new level of understanding. While we as press did not participate in the "deep listening" groups, the effects of the process were notable.... I thought of all the parish councils, organizations groups I've been involved with that could benefit from learning and adopting this practice." And GSR weekly staff meetings will now include a minute of silence -- as our Solidarity with Sisters meetings now regularly include a period of contemplative dialogue.
- Sister Nancy Sylvester reflects on the Assembly as a whole, where "women religious embraced contemplation and action. It is the ground of our being.... I sense so strongly that women religious are ready to embrace the future with all the joy and suffering it holds from this contemplative space with a renewed heart and a new zeal for transformation. As we move into the future we join our energy with so many others who believe in the transformation of our world."
- Sister Colleen describes the impact on her -- a young woman religious -- of Sister Marcia Allen's presidential address and its clarity and hope in looking at reality. "Demographic collapse is tough ground to build a case for hope on. Yet that's exactly where Marcia Allen, CSJ, began her presidential address, entitled "Transformation – An Experiment in Hope." "Just as Marcia Allen says that transformation is an experiment in hope, so is religious life today. It is an experiment that we take part in — that we give our whole selves to. In faith that leads to hope, we traverse the landscape.... In dialogue with one another and with God, reinvention begins. Collapse becomes the means for resurrection, and new life surfaces on a horizon you never saw before."
Background
- The theme is Embracing the Mystery: Living Transformation. Page 1 of overview.
- Contemplative engagement was an important structure throughout the Assembly. Fine interview on plans, with LCWR's Sister Annmarie Sanders. Great how-to video and description by Sister Liz Sweeney who will serve as Assembly listener, reflector, and guide. Brief intro to her role and talk, “Fostering the Evolution of Love,” on page 2 of overview.
- Excerpt from Global Sisters Report recap of the day: "She reminded participants that in order for contemplative dialogue and communal discernment to be successful, it first needs to be cultivated 'in the culture of we.' Dialogue, creative thinking, mutual respect, reference, listening are all hallmarks of the culture necessary... '-- and don’t move on when that is not in harmony. When there's not a coherence among us it’s a signal that we have to stop and work at that coherence.'... 'We are evolving as individuals and as communities," she said. 'Individuals cannot evolve by themselves. We need to evolve as a community to make a difference in the world.' 'When we come together as coherent, intentional communities, we have access to a source of wisdom beyond us, that wants to act through us. So trusting the 'we' holds much more than any 'I' — and when we share our thinking and feeling through discernment, we are making a transformative change in the world.'" - From Global Sisters Report
- A separate space for contemplation invited participants to focus on specific intentions each day. LCWR daily intentions, with our links to possible prayers.
- TUESDAY 8/9/16 evening opening session: Recap by Dawn Araujo-Hawkins of Global Sisters Report.
- Opening included delivery/reading of a letter from Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo, OFM, Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Fr. Hank Lemoncelli, undersecretary of the Congregation, greeted the Assembly and read the letter. FULL TEXT not yet published
- WEDNESDAY
- 8/10/16 opening address: "Fostering the Evolution of Love" Sr. Liz Sweeney. Sr. Liz also led "deepening sessions" and reflections after each major address throughout the week. Sr. Catherine Bertrand also served as a facilitator.
- 8/10/16 Keynote address, morning: Dr. Margaret Wheatley spoke on “Finding Ground in the Age of Groundlessness.” FULL TEXT not yet published
- 8/10/16 "Deepening sessions" in small groups after keynote
- 8/10/16 Presidential Address by Sister Marcia Allen: FULL TEXT -
- (Specific to LCWR, it seems to me to fit this moment in our whole world.) Calls conference to transform in light of realities (history of re-invention by early US women religious leaders, current shrinking membership) and with faith/hope view of entire horizon that lets them glimpse enormous range of potential by listening to what what each of them sees. The address itself is an experience of transformation from terribly challenging realities to joyful communal hope and faith.
- 8/10/16 LCWR resolution committing them to examine the root causes of injustice, particularly racism - FULL TEXT
- 8/10/16 Wednesday Full-Day Recap by LCWR (on Facebook)
- "The annual LCWR assembly, held this year in Atlanta with nearly 800 participants, opened last night with a beautiful contemplative ritual. Today the participants heard Sister Liz Sweeney, SSJ speak on "Fostering the Evolution of Love," followed by author Dr. Margaret Wheatley who told her own personal story of how contemplation sustains her efforts to enter into and stay with the pain of the world in an address entitled "Finding Ground in the Age of Groundlessness." In the afternoon LCWR president Sister Marcia Allen, CSJ delivered her address, "Transformation -- An Experiment in Hope." The members also passed a resolution committing them to examine the root causes of injustice, particularly racism."
- 8/10/2016 Wednesday Full-day Recap/report and "highlight" tweets from Global Sisters Report
- THURSDAY
- 8/11/16 Keynote address, morning: Sister Pat Farrell - FULL TEXT
- Transformative spiritual reflections, both beautiful and challenging. E.g., “Contemplation can hollow out receptivity in us” to “the reign of God, the reign of Love…. The indwelling presence of the Divine is forever accessible to us. We need only wake up to the mystery of Love always present, always capable of transforming us and our world…. The capacity for inclusive love that grows within cannot be contained and compels us toward transformative action in the world…. Can the reign of God be ushered in from unexpected or unauthorized sources? Can God’s reign of Love emerge even from places of evil, persons of ill repute, from the dirty, the ugly, the violent and the rejected? I think that is what the Gospel image insinuates, a truth applicable at both personal and social levels…. The reign of God invites our total response. Nothing matters more, nothing matters more… There is a yearning for God that is hard-wired into us. Our capacity for the infinite is never satisfied with anything less.”
- Sister Pat said that contemplation was the source of LCWR's peace in response to the 2012 mandate. "Before LCWR leaders visited CDF and received the mandate, we sat together in a circle of silent prayer for an hour. We entered that critical Vatican meeting in a state of deep peace. I was not aware of any fear whatsoever, either in myself or of the other LCWR leaders. I have often wondered what our initial response to the mandate might have been if we hadn't come together from that contemplative space."
- As an aside - Sr. Pat's comment led me to wise Sr. Helen Garvey's reflection on the year 2015, and on how LCWR lived through the mandate - rich in insight.
- Sister Pat ended by inviting the Assembly to join her in singing Holy Mystery -- I'm guessing this one by Brett Younker? In Global Sisters Report's story, "a sister later described [this] as a 'Magnificat moment,' noting that as the women sang, there was a sense of oneness that could only be expressed in song because of its depth."
- 8/11/16 "Deepening sessions" in small groups after keynote
- 8/11/16 Reflections by Sr. Liz Sweeney
- Election of LCWR officers
- 8/11/16 whole-day recap from LCWR on Facebook:
- "Today at the LCWR assembly former LCWR president Sister Pat Farrell, OSF addressed the assembly on "Leading from the Allure of Holy Mystery: Contemplation and Transformation," where she shared her own experiences of contemplation, particularly as a congregational and LCWR leader. Participants engaged in contemplative dialogue in small groups to apply insights from Sister Pat to their own lives. The conference elected Sister Teresa Maya, CCVI as the next president-elect. They also heard insights from the LCWR leadership, and engaged in a contemplative process to further deepen their experience of this day of the assembly."
- 8/11/16 whole-day recap/report and "highlight" tweets from Global Sisters Report.
- FRIDAY
- 8/12/16 Prayer and presentation on Racism and US Religious Life - historian Shannen Dee Williams. Summary below is from the tweets from Global Sisters Report . Full report at GSR by Dawn Araujo-Hawkins.
- The history of black sisters is a dangerous memory for the church. It reminds us that anti-black racism was a feature of Catholicism, just as the rest of the world. Black women religious experienced painful exclusion and racism.
- Historically most black women were not allowed to go into religious life as first-rank sisters. Black women initially joined orders of white women in the U.S.; they usually joined because they were able to pass as white.
- Williams spoke about the Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary. The group was founded in Georgia as a congregation of Black sisters, but moved to Harlem to escape from racist threats and actions.
- The vast majority of black women joining orders in the early 1900s had their existence erased from their order's archives. Many other black women went to Europe, where they were accepted into orders and stayed for training. While Native Americans were sent to White orders, Black women were always sent to Black orders. Most orders did not open up to Black women completely until the 1970s. Some sisters were forced to take vows separately.
- "Reconciliation cannot begin without the truth," said Williams. She received a standing ovation at the close of her presentation. After two formal responses, the Assembly used ritual to express its commitment to breaking the bonds of racism.
- A responder, per GSR report: "In order for women religious to be inclusive, Baird said, they must be open to not only have honest conversations about race, but also expanding their culture experiences — even if they don't yet have women of color in their community. 'What have you done in terms of your reading, your learning, looking at history?' Baird asked, 'Because history's taught from one perspective. Who are you reading? What conversations are you having? What speakers are you bringing in?'
- (From GSR Report): "At this year's assembly, LCWR took a first step in addressing issues of race and religious life. Williams' presentation was meant to set the stage for this year's conference resolution, which committed LCWR members to 'examine the root causes of injustice, particularly racism, and our own complicity as congregations...'"
- 8/12/16 Moving Forward: Conversation with Margaret Wheatley and Sisters Pat Farrell and Liz Sweeney - told via the tweets from Global Sisters Report (no need to join Twitter; keep choosing "Read next page"). More in this report from Global Sisters Report.
- 8/12/16 Installation of LCWR officers. Few have bios, so the links are various -- e.g., organizations or writings:
- President: Sister Mary Pellegrino article in America (superb) and her Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden, PA
- Past President: Sister Marcia Allen - bio by her Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, KS
- Incoming President: Sister Teresa Maya - open letter about religious life, and bio via her Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio
- 8/12/16 LCWR 2016 Outstanding Leadership Award presentation to Sr. Janice Bader, who until June 3 headed the National Religious Retirement Office during challenging years
- From LCWR May 2016 Update newsletter: "Janice is well-known to many women and men religious throughout the country for her work with the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO). She served as the NRRO project director of retirement services from 2000-2007, and in 2008 became its executive director. In April her congregation, the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood from O’Fallon, Missouri, elected her superior general. During her years of visionary service at NRRO, Janice developed programs to assist religious communities as they provide adequate care for their frail and elderly, and at the same time, plan for the institute’s future. Her creativity, as well as her passion for the mission of religious life, have been instrumental in helping communities navigate these turbulent times. It is with great joy that the conference honors Janice for such essential and selfless service."
- Report from Global Sisters Report
- 8/12/16 whole-day recap from LCWR on Facebook:
- "Today, the last day of the LCWR assembly, began with a powerful presentation by Dr. Shannen Dee Wiliams who shared an historic oveview of the racism experienced by Black women religious in the US. LCWR members, Anita Baird, DHM and Dawn Tomaszewski, SP responded to Dr. Williams and all participants engaged in a ritual to break the chains of racism and to ask forgiveness for our participation in this injustice. Next the assembly listened to a conversation among Dr. Meg Wheatley; Sister Pat Farrell, OSF; and Sister Liz Sweeney, SSJ as they shared the insights and ideas that surfaced within them during the assembly. Later the assembly engaged in a process of contemplative dialogue to name the graces the participants received during these days, as well what they wish to commit to as they go home. The assembly also ritualized the transfer of leadership as they thanked Sister Sharon Holland, IHM with a prolonged standing ovation for her service to the conference in the presidency, acknowledged Sister Mary Pellegrino, CSJ as the new president, and Sister Teresa Maya, CCVI as the president-elect. Tonight the assembly will honor Sister Janice Bader, CPPS as she receives LCWR's 2016 Outstanding Leadership Award."
- 8/12/16 whole-day recap/report and "highlight" tweets from Global Sisters Report - no need to join Twitter - keep choosing "read next page" to end
- Full Assembly Schedule
- ORDER CDs and DVDs of individual sessions or packages of all recorded sessions here