As this newsletter comes to you, we are in the season of Fall, where the colors of the leaves are beautiful, striking, refreshing, and even exhilarating! The squirrels are scampering about, and creation becomes a treasure box for us to enjoy its gifts.
This is a continuation of Sr. Pat Murray's talk at the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) last August. Her fifth point is: Engage in web-watching and web-weaving. Sr. Pat referenced the Mennonite theologian and peace activist, John Paul Lederach, who used the term "moral imagination" to describe something "which calls people beyond what is immediately apparent and visible." Lederach [...]
It's not often that one has an evening of complete wonder and awe. Yet, a group of friends and I had just that on the afternoon and evening of September 29th. We were at Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis for the final concert of the St. Louis Jesuits. I heard it was sold out in record time and so [...]
Continuing in the presentation from Sister Pat Murray, IBVM, at the annual Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) I write about her fourth point: "Celebrate our luxurious cultural diversity." She asks the the question of religious leaders: "How can we bring a positive contribution to the challenge of global intercultural living? " She suggests that congregations "demonstrate a new way [...]
From Tuesday, September 17 through Friday, September 20, the Women of Providence in Collaboration held a conference for Associate Leaders of their various congregations. The theme of the conference was: Providence Spirituality and Contemplative Dialogue. The presenter was Leslie Keener, CDP from the Melbourne, KY group. Leslie used Scripture, reflection questions, and her own life stories to help the group [...]
In her presentation at the annual LCWR assembly, Sr. Pat Murray, IBVM gave six images for leadership in a global world. I have written about the first two of them. This one is the third: Embrace Vulnerability. She was speaking about religious life and our institutions and how we are experiencing a greater fragility and vulnerability. She said: "In a [...]
Today is a day of remembering one of the worst days in American life. On September 11, 2001, more than 3000 people lost their lives in the attack on the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and in the field in Pennsylvania. It was an act of extreme and unthinkable violence. The world could not believe that it had happened as we [...]
In a previous post I wrote about the keynote address at the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) held in Arizona by Sr. Pat Murray, IBVM. In that address she listed six images, the second of them is: Be present at the borderlands. There are many people today who want to help those fleeing their country's borders for a safe [...]
At the beginning of the last century, Americans came together through protests, strikes, and union negotiations to fight for the dignity and justice in the workplace. Women and men marched and raised their voices for a 40-hour work week, weekends, and workplace safety laws. It is through their courage and determination that today we enjoy many protections that are often [...]
At the 2019 Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) assembly the keynote address was given by Sister Pat Murray, IBVM. It was a powerful reflection on religious leadership. She began with some opening remarks on our globalized world and on how the face of consecrated religious life is changing. She quoted Pope Francis who "expressed his hope for a growth [...]
