Leadership Conference of Women Religious
(LCWR) Annual Assemblies
Each year, hundreds of leaders of sisters’ congregations meet at the annual Assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. We’ve never been there (we’re lay people, not sisters), but we closely follow online and the national office staff has told us about them. LCWR assemblies sound as if they’re communal, contemplative gatherings for inspiration, wisdom, and mutual support, with necessary business carried out in the same Spirit that pervades the rest of the week.
The assemblies are open to LCWR members (leaders of congregations) who may participate fully in all aspects of the assembly, LCWR associates who participate without vote, and guests invited by the conference. Year by year, the assembly is moved to various sites around the country.
For us, the annual presidential addresses give extraordinary insight into US sisters – the challenges they face at the moment, and the wellsprings of sustaining grace in their lives. The keynotes and award acceptance speeches inspire and challenge us. LCWR’s webpage for each year has translations of many speeches, DVD purchase info, and more.
The assemblies are open to LCWR members (leaders of congregations) who may participate fully in all aspects of the assembly, LCWR associates who participate without vote, and guests invited by the conference. Year by year, the assembly is moved to various sites around the country.
For us, the annual presidential addresses give extraordinary insight into US sisters – the challenges they face at the moment, and the wellsprings of sustaining grace in their lives. The keynotes and award acceptance speeches inspire and challenge us. LCWR’s webpage for each year has translations of many speeches, DVD purchase info, and more.
2019 LCWR Assembly
Imagining Leadership in A Global Community
The Assembly took place August 13-16 in Scottsdale, AZ.
2019 presidential address – "Divinest Sense at the Heart of Religious Life" - Sister Sharlet Wagner
2019 keynote - "Imagining Leadership in a Global Community" – Sister Pat Murray, UISG
2019 Assembly letter to President Trump: More than 600 LCWR members call on President Trump to stop all divisive and polarizing rhetoric
2019 assembly justice resolution and action - Creating Communion at the Intersection of Racism, Migration & Climate Crisis
2019 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Norma Pimentel
2019 brief video highlights of the assembly
2019 SwS compilation of press coverage, Assembly materials, anything else we find
2019 presidential address – "Divinest Sense at the Heart of Religious Life" - Sister Sharlet Wagner
2019 keynote - "Imagining Leadership in a Global Community" – Sister Pat Murray, UISG
2019 Assembly letter to President Trump: More than 600 LCWR members call on President Trump to stop all divisive and polarizing rhetoric
2019 assembly justice resolution and action - Creating Communion at the Intersection of Racism, Migration & Climate Crisis
2019 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Norma Pimentel
2019 brief video highlights of the assembly
2019 SwS compilation of press coverage, Assembly materials, anything else we find
2018 LCWR Assembly
Being the Presence of Love: The Power of Communion
The Assembly took place August 7-10 in St. Louis.
2018 presidential address – "Comunión 'En Salida': An Apostolic Call for our time in Religious Life" - Sister Teresa Maya
2018 keynote - “In the Image of the Trinity: To Be Is To Be in Relation” – Sister Gloria Schaab
2018 keynote - “Trinity as Source, Word, and Spirit of Love: Relationship to the Core of Reality” – Heidi Russell
2018 keynote - “The Mystery of the Incarnation: Revelation of the Triune God as a Vulnerable God” – Brother Simón Pedro Arnold and in Spanish
2018 assembly resolution and action - Being in Communion: Standing against Racism
2018 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Anita Baird
2018 brief video of the assembly
2018 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we find
2018 presidential address – "Comunión 'En Salida': An Apostolic Call for our time in Religious Life" - Sister Teresa Maya
2018 keynote - “In the Image of the Trinity: To Be Is To Be in Relation” – Sister Gloria Schaab
2018 keynote - “Trinity as Source, Word, and Spirit of Love: Relationship to the Core of Reality” – Heidi Russell
2018 keynote - “The Mystery of the Incarnation: Revelation of the Triune God as a Vulnerable God” – Brother Simón Pedro Arnold and in Spanish
2018 assembly resolution and action - Being in Communion: Standing against Racism
2018 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Anita Baird
2018 brief video of the assembly
2018 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we find
2017 LCWR Assembly
Being the Presence of Love: The Power of Transformation
2017 presidential address – The Future Enters Us Long Before It Happens: Opening Space for an Emerging Narrative of Communion – Sister Mary Pellegrino
2017 keynote – Will the Circle be Unbroken? Leaning into the Mystery of Resurrection Faith – Christopher Pramuk
2017 keynote – We Stood in the Place of Death and Heard the Living Call Our name – Jan Richardson
2017 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Constance FitzGerald
2017 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we found
2017 keynote – Will the Circle be Unbroken? Leaning into the Mystery of Resurrection Faith – Christopher Pramuk
2017 keynote – We Stood in the Place of Death and Heard the Living Call Our name – Jan Richardson
2017 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Constance FitzGerald
2017 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we found
2016 LCWR Assembly
Embracing the Mystery: Living Transformation
2016 presidential address – Transformation: An Experiment in Hope – Sister Marcia Allen
2016 keynote – Finding Ground in the Age of Groundlessness – Margaret Wheatley
2016 keynote – Leading from the Allure of Holy Mystery: Contemplation and Transformation – Sister Pat Farrell
2016 slides – Fostering the Evolution of Love – Sister Liz Sweeney
2016 Response to the presentation on racism and religious life – Sister Dawn Tomaszewski
2016 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Janice Bader
2016 Homily for the Feast of St. Clare of Assisi – Fr. John Pavlik
2016 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we found
2016 keynote – Finding Ground in the Age of Groundlessness – Margaret Wheatley
2016 keynote – Leading from the Allure of Holy Mystery: Contemplation and Transformation – Sister Pat Farrell
2016 slides – Fostering the Evolution of Love – Sister Liz Sweeney
2016 Response to the presentation on racism and religious life – Sister Dawn Tomaszewski
2016 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Janice Bader
2016 Homily for the Feast of St. Clare of Assisi – Fr. John Pavlik
2016 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we found
2015 LCWR Assembly
Springs of the Great Deep Burst Forth: Meeting the Thirsts of the World
2015 presidential address – Attitudes of Heart and Mind – Sister Sharon Holland
2015 Opening Reflection – Sister Janet Mock
2015 keynote – Surprised by Joy: Springs from the Great Deep Illuminating Religious Life – Sister Janet Mock
2015 keynote – The Spirit Moving over the Great Deep: The World’s Thirsts, Our Response – Father Stephen Bevans
2015 slides – Contemplation, Dialogue, Discernment – Sister Catherine Bertrand and Sister Mary Jo Nelson
2015 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Janet Mock
2015 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we found
2015 Opening Reflection – Sister Janet Mock
2015 keynote – Surprised by Joy: Springs from the Great Deep Illuminating Religious Life – Sister Janet Mock
2015 keynote – The Spirit Moving over the Great Deep: The World’s Thirsts, Our Response – Father Stephen Bevans
2015 slides – Contemplation, Dialogue, Discernment – Sister Catherine Bertrand and Sister Mary Jo Nelson
2015 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Janet Mock
2015 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we found
2014 LCWR Assembly
Holy Mystery Revealed in Our Midst
2014 presidential address – The Music in the Heart of God that Sings through our Lives – Sister Carol Zinn
2014 Opening Reflection – Sister Nancy Schreck
2014 keynote – However Long the Night – Sister Nancy Schreck
2014 keynote – What’s a Leader to Do? – Sister Nancy Schreck
2014 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Elizabeth Johnson
LCWR Call 2015-2022
2014 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we found - Check News for 2014
2014 Opening Reflection – Sister Nancy Schreck
2014 keynote – However Long the Night – Sister Nancy Schreck
2014 keynote – What’s a Leader to Do? – Sister Nancy Schreck
2014 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Elizabeth Johnson
LCWR Call 2015-2022
2014 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we found - Check News for 2014
2013 LCWR Assembly
Leadership Evolving: Graced, Grounded, and Free
2013 presidential address – A Delicate Weaving – Sister Florence Deacon
2013 The current reality of religious life in the United States – Sister Janice Bader
Related slides
Related reflection materials
2013 Embracing the Future, Graced, Grounded, and Free – Sister Helen Maher Garvey
2013 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Pat Farrell
2013 Assembly and Board Meeting Press Release afterwards
2013 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we found - Check News for August 2013
2013 The current reality of religious life in the United States – Sister Janice Bader
Related slides
Related reflection materials
2013 Embracing the Future, Graced, Grounded, and Free – Sister Helen Maher Garvey
2013 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Pat Farrell
2013 Assembly and Board Meeting Press Release afterwards
2013 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we found - Check News for August 2013
2012 LCWR Assembly
Mystery Unfolding: Leading in the Evolutionary Now
2012 - Mystery Unfolding: Leading in the Evolutionary Now
2012 presidential address - "Navigating the Shifts" - Sister Pat Farrell
2012 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Sandra Schneiders
2012 Press release after the LCWR Assembly
2012 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we found - Check News for August 2012
2012 presidential address - "Navigating the Shifts" - Sister Pat Farrell
2012 Outstanding Leadership Award acceptance – Sister Sandra Schneiders
2012 Press release after the LCWR Assembly
2012 SwS compilation of press coverage, tweets, Assembly videos, anything else we found - Check News for August 2012