Once again, due to the generosity of an LCWR congregation who made a large donation creating an assembly scholarship fund last year, and to several congregations who graciously contributed to it this year, we are pleased to offer scholarship assistance to leaders who may not be able to fully finance attendance at the LCWR Assembly. 

If you would like to join us at the assembly in Detroit, and are interested in exploring the possibility of being partially financed by the scholarship fund, please contact Carole Shinnick, SSND, LCWR Executive Director at 301-588-4955, cshinnick@lcwr.org, or Suzanne Delaney, IHM, at sdelaney@lcwr.org.

The scholarship fund can be applied to the costs of registration and hotel expenses, as well as to assistance with additional LCWR membership (which may be necessary since the assembly is only open to LCWR members.)

Some priority will be given to congregations who did not receive funding last year, but in fact, all decisions will be made on a congregation-by-congregation basis.  

The assembly is a major opportunity for ongoing formation in the ministry of leadership, as well as a chance to be with others who share that ministry. 

You are most welcome to call for additional information.

The All-Africa Conference: Sister to Sister - Invitation to Lunch

Something unique, inspiring and hope-filled will have begun to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa before the 2003 LCWR annual assembly in Detroit, MI.  

As the LCWR membership learned last year, the All-Africa Conference: Sister to Sister will bring together African women religious to listen, learn and develop strategies for themselves to respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.  

Over 100 local Sisters will gather in Nairobi, Kenya, August 12 - 18, 2003, and go forth with the mission of bringing the insights and spirit from this Conference to communities in which they presently minister.  

So that you may learn more about the suffering that the Sisters confront in Africa, be touched a bit by their hope and strength, and explore ways that we can continue to reach out Sister to Sister,  Margaret Farley, RSM, and Eileen Hogan, RSM, invite you to a “brown bag” lunch on Saturday, August 23rd, from 1:15 to 2:15 in the Renaissance ballroom on the fourth level of the Detroit Marriott.  Food for your little brown bag can be purchased in the food court.
                                                                                                        Eileen Hogan, RSM

 
NATRI National Conference

The 2003 NATRI National Conference will be held in Albuquerque, NM, from September 24 – 27.  The theme for the 2003 National Conference is Embracing Hidden Treasures.  While united in our common faith, we recognize the hidden treasure in the diversity within and among religious institutes.  Since institutes vary widely in charism, size, ethnic heritage and community culture, a special focus this year is appreciating and working with diversity in one’s professional realm.  Keynote speaker Angeles Arrien will bring her background in the application of multi-cultural wisdoms and varying work-styles and personalities to bear on universal issues of leadership, followership and organizational responsibility.  In addition, several workshops will focus on the hidden treasures of leaders, finance officers, co-workers, the religious institutes, and the gifts of each.

The conference meetings will be at the Albuquerque Convention Center, and housing will be in three hotels that are all within two blocks of the Center.  The Southwest atmosphere will 
permeate the gathering, both inside the conference and outside the walls of the Center.  In addition to the tours offered through the NATRI Conference there are numerous 
opportunities in the area to sample the many cultures of the Southwest. 

Contact NATRI for additional copies of the registration materials at 301-587-7776 or natri@natri.org.

New Resource Available on LCWR Website in Fall

A list of funds sponsored by religious congregations of men and women and open to applicants beyond the sponsoring congregation will be posted to the LCWR web site this fall.  The list is the final product of a project funded by the Conrad Hilton Foundation and based on data from a survey developed by one representative from each of the participating organizations – CMSM, LCWR, and Hilton.

Due to simultaneous personnel changes at both Hilton and LCWR, the project came to a halt after data were gathered and a preliminary report drafted at the end of 1999.  In January 2003 in dialogue with Joyce Meyers, PBVM, current Executive Director of the Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters, LCWR resumed implementation, updated pertinent data via phone survey, and completed the project.

A hard copy of the list will be available in June by contacting Eva McCrae at LCWR by phone 301- 588-4955, ext. 232, or e-mail emccrae@lcwr.org.   

From the Executive Director’s Desk…

It is 4:00 AM on Sunday, May 11th and I can’t sleep.  I returned last night from our annual visit to Rome, and my body clock has not re-set itself yet.  I am enjoying my first “real” cup of coffee in two weeks - Dunkin’ Donuts Vanilla Nut – yum!  Sooner or later I will empty that suitcase on the floor and will begin the great laundering process scheduled for today.  But first I want to do what all good travelers do when they get home – share some snapshots with you.

I’ll call the first snapshot “The Cardinal.”  While we were in Rome, LCWR had a very engaging visit with members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Ratziner was out of town at the time, but we were invited to attend a 7:00 AM liturgy with him later in the week, and we accepted.  As we walked through St. Peter’s square in the early morning of the day of the liturgy – somewhat empty then, except for vendors setting up shop and pigeons breakfasting on breadcrumbs - we heard the clip-clip of a fast walker coming up behind us.  It was Cardinal Ratzinger, walking much more briskly than we were, briefcase in hand and ready to meet the day.  He passed us, nodded, and continued on.  I watched him greet the Swiss Guards at the gate, head for his office, dig out his keys and let himself in – simple rituals not unlike our own, as we begin our days.  I was struck by the ordinariness of it all, and how easy it is for me to forget that the persons who work in the Roman offices are, in fact, people who get up each day, gather their energies, and set out once again to give God another twenty-four hours of their best efforts.  Just like you and me.

The next snapshot is called, “Luca.”  Luca is a waiter at one of our favorite Roman restaurants, Romolo’s – named after one of the mythical twin founders of the city.  Each year when we go to Romolo’s, Luca is “our” waiter.  Luca speaks very little English and we speak very little Italian.  But somehow we have come to know and care for each other.  Luca could have become a very angry, bitter person.  It is clear that he was seriously burned at some point in his life, and his face and arms are badly scarred.  But Luca is far from bitter – he is warm, attentive, and mischievous.  (For example, he calls Kathleen Pruitt “Grand Mama!”)  He surprised us the last night we saw him by bringing each of us our favorite kind of coffee or cappuccino without even asking for our order.  He remembered our preferences perfectly!  We told Luca we were leaving soon and our evening ended with hugs and promises to see him next year.  Luca speaks to me of the beauty of the human spirit, the universality of the human heart, and – again – the blessings of the ordinary. 

The third snapshot we’ll call “The Archives.”  Our final visit was to the Congregation for Consecrated Life.  Before we left the meeting, Sharon Holland, IHM and Hank Lemoncelli, OMI gave us a tour of the offices.  The last room we saw was the place where all of the community constitutions approved by this Congregation are stored.  It is filled with hundreds of small, variously colored booklets in every language spoken in the Church – row upon row of them sitting quietly in Rome.  It was, for me, a holy place.  I felt the labor of love of countless men and women, who over the past forty years met in chapter after chapter, making revision after revision, to create this array of – truly - Holy Rules.  Each of you were there – along with your foundresses, and your “greats” (and your not-so-greats, as well!)  This room – in the shadow of St. Peter’s dome - is sacred with your labor.

So, these are my snapshots for you - the Cardinal, Luca, and the Archives.  I hope you enjoyed them.  I just noticed – the sun is almost up.  My coffee is cold.  And I really need to get started on that laundry project. Ciao.

For Your Information

Legal Seminar 2003: The 2003 Legal Seminar was held in Milwaukee, WI, April 24-27, 2003. The seminar focused on the nature of the relationship between a religious institute and its members. The opening session explored the civil and canonical meanings of membership. Workshops explored the various dimensions of this relationship. The first day ended with a thought provoking presentation by Doris Gottemoeller, RSM, PhD. The seminar continued with various workshops. The final session surveyed members in ministry, with a particular focus on emerging legal issues in the employment field. Participants expressed appreciation for the wide variety of speakers and the timely and helpful information received. For further information contact: LRCR, www.lrcr.org, 301-589-8143.

Upcoming RFC Events: Movement In Hope: Conversations On A Theology Of Religious Life - Religious Formation Congress 2003 and Jubilee 1954-2004 Sheraton Westport Plaza Chalet, St. Louis, MO,  November 6-9, 2003, with special presentations by Mary Maher, SSND, and Gary Riebe-Estrella, SVD, and theologians from diverse cultural and consecrated lifeform backgrounds. The annual Orientation for New Formation Directors program is scheduled to precede the Congress, Nov. 4-6, at the Sheraton Westport.  For more information contact the Religious Formation Conference, 301-588-4938, relforcon@relforcon.org.