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T
he LCWR execu-
tive committee met
from July 15-19 at
the Serra Retreat House in
Malibu, California. Margaret
OBrien, OSU, facilitator for
the 2005 and 2006 LCWR
national assemblies, joined
the committee for part of
the meeting to nalize plans The LCWR executive committee at the Serra Retreat House
for the 2005 assembly. The in Malibu, California (standing): Carole Shinnick, SSND;
plans include several engag- Margaret OBrien, OSU Maria Elena Martinez, OSF; Rose Jochmann, OSF; Mary
ing processes for reection Catherine Rabbitt, SL; and Constance Phelps, SCL; (seated)
and dialogue on the direction for LCWR for the future, Beatrice Eichten, OSF and Christine Vladimiroff, OSB
including a dynamic plan for conversation among the
14 assembly presenters and conversation session lead-
ers on the nal day of the assembly. Discussion among LCWR Commemorates 60th Anniver-
and feedback from the participants at the assembly will sary of Bombings of Hiroshima and
be key to setting directions for LCWR as it moves into
the future. Nagasaki: August 6 and 9
The executive committee members worked on a num-
ber of other issues during their meeting including:
T
his is the time of year for many sisters will remember is if you loved
transitions. Many of you have them. And my contribution to that
or are completing your ministry word of wisdom is that love sees and
of leadership and moving on to other seeks goodness. It means that the
endeavors! Many are entering into this ministry we do nds its energy in our
ministry and are experiencing the steep experience of the goodness of God
learning curve that comes with the job! and in our love for our sisters. That
Whether you are serving for the rst and a commitment to see the goodness
time or as a recycled leader, you are in each person and event changes
beginning a journey into an unknown everything. The wonder to me is how
future with your sisters and colleagues. much love I receive and how blessed
I feel by the love of my sisters and my
As I reect on these transitions, I God. It turns my world around and
am reminded that, regardless of the will never, never let me be the same.
important and signicant things we are called to do as
leaders of our communities, the core of our ministry is To all of you who have served and loved your
love. communities as leaders, we say Thank you! Thank
you for the commitment, energy and vitality you have
Before being elected, as I was discerning about brought to your communities and to LCWR. We will
leadership, I heard a song1 that periodically comes back
to me as a reminder, a challenge, and an afrmation.
The ministry we do nds its energy
Love, love changes everything in our experience of
Hands and faces, earth and sky
Love, love changes everything the goodness of God
How you live and how you die..
and in our love for our sisters.
Love, love changes everything
How you follow, Why you lead miss you. To you who are beginning your ministry
Love will turn your world around of leadership, we say Welcome! We look forward
And that world will last forever.. to building relationships of support and challenge as
we seek to serve our communities, our church and our
Yes, love, love changes everything world with delity and love.
Live or perish in its ame
Love will never, never let you be the same
Nothing in the world will ever be the same
1
Love Changes Everything, Andrew Lloyd Webber,
After election, a wise woman reminded me that from the musical Aspects of Love
while our leadership will do many things, What the
LCWR Update -- August - September 2005 -- page 3
gious of Japan, and with the Japanese people. LCWR Endorses Childrens Sabbath
LCWR members are encouraged to invite their mem-
bers to engage in several activities:
L
Some members will be participating in one of four ma-
CWRs Think Tank VIII, The Roar and the
jor events on August 6:
Whisper, will be held in Tampa, Florida, Febru-
ary 12-14, 2006 and will be facilitated by Patricia
Nevada: Many Stories, One Vision for a Nuclear-Free
Siemen, OP. The yer is now available in the LCWR
World sponsored by Pax Christi USA and the Nevada
Members Information section of the LCWR web site.
Desert Experience held August 4-7, 2005 in Las Vegas,
The yer will also be made available to member congre-
Nevada at the test site (www.paxchristiusa.org)
gations justice, peace, and environmental coordinators.
Registration is now open with a due date of December
Tennessee: Several busloads of women religious from
1, 2005.
around the country are traveling to Oak Ridge where
LCWR Update -- August - September 2005 -- page 4
LCWR Supports Immigration Campaign Texas from June 23-25, 2005. Bishops from both Mexico
and the United States, as well as bishops from Central
T
America were numbered among the 200 participants.
he US Conference of Catholic Bishops and a num-
One of the speakers was Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
ber of Catholic organizations with national net-
Archbishop of Washington DC. Participants acknowl-
works launched in May Justice for Immigrants: A
edged that more intensive church efforts are needed on
Journey of Hope, an immigration campaign with four
behalf of migrants for the following reasons:
specic goals:
The migration of people in this era of increasing
1. Educate the public, especially the Catholic com-
globalization of economies is a sign of our times
munity, about church teachings on migration and
that challenges governments, civic society and the
immigrants.
Church to ensure human responses.
2. Create political will for positive and comprehensive
There is a growing sentiment of negativity toward
reform.
migrants, largely born from misunderstanding and
3. Achieve legislative and administrative reforms
misconceptions
based on principles articulated by the Catholic
Inadequate public policies intensify the plight of the
bishops.
most vulnerable migrants faced with danger, family
4. Organize and support Catholic networks to help
separation, and inhumane conditions.
qualied immigrants obtain the benets of the
The increasing emphasis on border enforcement
reforms.
has contributed to a deterioration of the condi-
tion of migrants while not diminishing the ow of
A core group of Catholic organizations is working to
migrants.
promote the campaign in all dioceses in the United
The church at all levels must recommit herself to
States. While LCWR and CMSM are not connected to
provide a loving pastoral presence for migrants
diocesan structures, the conferences are core members
before, during and after their journey.
with a commitment to support the campaign in ways
appropriate to us.
Attending bishops signed an agreement to increase
coordination in advocacy on behalf of migrants, to
The Ofce of Migration and Refugee Services (MRS)
increase cooperation in educating the Catholic faith-
has also established a comprehensive website intended
ful in both countries about immigration, to expand the
to be a resource for efforts on behalf of the campaign:
dialog and collaboration to include the Central Ameri-
www.justiceforimmigrants.org.
can bishops, and to increase coordination to promote
public policies that address the root causes of migration
One of the rst challenges is to assure that each bishop
through the elimination of poverty.
promotes the campaign in his diocese by appointing a
point-of-contact to be the liaison with MRS. If any
In acknowledgment of the last agreement, the elimi-
LCWR member knows that the diocese in which she is
nation of poverty, the US Catholic Campaign will
located has not identied a point-of-contact, especially
be coordinated with the Catholic Campaign Against
in dioceses where sisters are working with immi-
Global Poverty, initiated by the USCCB and Catholic
grants, she is invited to encourage the bishop to make
Relief Services. That campaign aims to reduce poverty
this appointment in order to promote the work of the
through trade, aid, and debt reforms.
campaign and to send the name of the person to Leo
Anchondo, campaign manager, at LAnchondo@usccb.
org. LCWR Bids Farewell to its Business
Another challenge is the US climate of negativity
Manager
I
toward immigrants, including many in the Catholic
nes Moldiz, who has served as
community. The MRS ofce has received a number of
LCWRs business manager since
negative responses to the campaign. Such attitudes
2003, completed her work at
highlight the necessity of this particular campaign.
the conference on July 15. The LCWR
staff wishes her many blessings as she
Following the announcement of the USCCBs campaign,
moves on to new endeavors.
a bi-national migration conference was held in El Paso,
LCWR Update -- August - September 2005 -- page 5
T
interested in updated information on formation
ministry, a changing dimension of religious life. RFCs he Congress will be held October 13-16, 2005 in
two-day orientation program (Nov. 30 - Dec. 1, 2005 in Tucson, AZ. Participants will journey into the
San Antonio) is for those new to formation ministry, desert for reection through storytelling and
including directors and leaders with responsibility for experience engaging the question: What is the respon-
formation. The RFC Congress (Dec. 1-4, 2005 in San sible contribution of the church in the United States
Antonio) also provides quality input on theologies of in mission with the global community today? For
religious life. Contact RFC at rfc@relforcon.org or 301- further information and online registration see: www.
588-4938 for more information. uscatholicmission.org.