A letter from President Buffy Boesen SL

In July, the Loretto Community came together for our Gathering at the Motherhouse, renewing our commitment to one another and to the mission that has carried us for more than two centuries. Since then, I have been thinking about belonging through new lenses — about what it means to create a community where everyone has a place.

That sense of belonging is reflected in this issue of Loretto Magazine. You will meet two sisters and a co-member who are celebrating 25 years as part of our Community. You will also learn about the building of a fully-accessible cabin at Cedars of Peace, called “Belonging.” This is a first step toward making Cedars a place where people of all abilities can feel welcomed and experience the beauty and quiet of this wonderful retreat center.

For me, belonging also means recognizing that we are part of a much larger human family. It calls us to see the sacredness of every human life, even when someone has committed a terrible wrong. This understanding is at the heart of our continued efforts to end capital punishment in our country. We pray, write letters and reach out to elected officials, seeking an end to executions and affirming the sacredness and dignity of every person.

Belonging is an essential part of who we are as the Loretto Community. When I think about belonging, I think of the many people who have become part of my life through Loretto — our vowed and co-members, families, friends, former students, colleagues and all who share in our mission. Each of you has helped shape who we are.

To belong means more than simply being connected. It means knowing that we are valued, that our presence matters, and that we have a place among one another. I have experienced this belonging through the friendships we have formed, the stories we share and the ways we support one another through change.

Our Loretto Community is changing. Our numbers, ages, energy and ministries are different from what they once were. Yet our need for connection remains. We continue to seek new ways to live our mission, build relationships and welcome others who share our commitment to justice and peace.

In this time of transition, belonging reminds me that we are not alone. We carry our history with us, but we also carry one another. Each person has a valued place in the continuing Loretto story.

Thank you for being part of our Community of faith, justice and peace. We are grateful for each of you and ask for your continued prayers as we walk together into the future.

Read all the articles in the fall 2026 issue of Loretto Magazine.