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Connect with Loretto through our stories of action, conscience-raising, education, faith, history, human interest, humor, hope, justice and peace, reflection, remembrance and vision – all embracing the common good. Learn more about the Loretto Community.
By Ayla Toussaint The first part of this blog post was written for us by Loretto’s second archivist, Sister Matilda Barrett! Found in the archives vault, this short chapter recounts the story of Loretto’s shortest mission: Belen, New Mexico – Our Lady of Sorrows Convent – (1900/9/28-1900/10/5) The shortest-lived Loretto foundation, if one may call…
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This remembrance is just a little bit shorter than PJ’s long life. I could blame the length on PJ, who insisted on living life to the full. I certainly did try to make it shorter. As PJ the journalist knew well, distilling a long, rich life takes time and talent. So here is PJ’s story,…
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The Loretto Mission Activities Team represents the Community committees, networks and some offices. They met at the Motherhouse to share their work and develop strategies to do it better. They reviewed Loretto’s five-year goals and recent Assembly resolutions on immigration and sustainability. Representatives of the Pakistan, Guatemala, Peace and Latin America/Caribbean committees, the Earth and…
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Every year we grow different vegetables and share them with our neighbors. Last year when I was at the Motherhouse, Nancy Wittwer very generously offered to help me to buy good seeds, which are now giving life and strength to many. We never use any pesticides in our garden; it is organic. We are very…
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Six young women from outside Lahore and ten teachers from our school joined the Loretto sisters for a three-day discernment retreat. The first day began with these questions: Why am I here on this planet earth? What is the meaning of my life? Where is God calling me? What gives me energy and joy? What…
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“I’ve loved ‘learning the art’ of fundraising and connecting with our many generous friends and supporters,” says Denise Ann Clifford, as she completes 23 years as Loretto’s Director of Development and prepares for her new ministry as Community Life Coordinator at the Loretto Motherhouse. Until 1996, Denise Ann spent most of her professional years as…
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The United Nations works through commissions, members of countries’ delegations, that join together on specific issues. For example, the Loretto Community is concerned with girls’ rights and women’s liberation, so we host a delegation each year to the annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held in March. This particular commission…
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Mary Ann McGivern opened the first day of the August Loretto Link gathering relating a story from her novitiate days that taught her that solemn times can include the delight of friendship and celebration. By the last day we knew that 31 people had been shot and killed in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio. Our…
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The sunshine-yellow of a large field of mustard plants was the flowing theme of the co-membership commitment ceremony of Earna Rae Volk on June 15. “As soon as I heard of my acceptance into the process of becoming a co-member, I started preparing for this day,” mused Earna. Her family, friends and Community were not…
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Meet Erica Stewart, our new Assistant Loretto Volunteer Coordinator in Denver! Erica’s pronouns are she/her. She recently moved to Colorado and is thrilled to start a new adventure accompanying Loretto Volunteers at the new Denver site. Erica has worked for the past four years at her alma mater, Stonehill College, in Massachusetts, directing its Community Engagement…
Read MorelIia Delio muses on the future of religious life: “I anticipate religious life in the 21st century will be more provisional and local than institutional and permanent. … What form will this new type of religious life take? Many forms, for love and compassion know no bounds.” Ilia suggests “our challenge is to make a radical shift in our thinking…
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As a participant in LCWR’s Collaborative Leadership Development Program (CLDP) in 2013-2014, I recently was invited to attend this year’s Leadership Collaborative Biennial Conference in Chicago as a participant on a panel. The Leadership Collaborative (LC) was created to support the vowed, associates and co-members who had completed CLDP. It was designed, in the words…
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