Reflections on the 2023 LCWR Assembly

Drawn by sacred mystery: a journey of hope

Reflection by Mary Margaret Murphy

Thanks to Barbara Nicholas, the Sisters of Loretto was one of the congregations whose leadership challenged the decision by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) to move forward with Dallas as the location for their 2023 assembly. The concern stems from Texas Governor Abbott’s strong opposition to migrants expressed in his inappropriate actions. As a result over $86,000 was donated by LCWR members to show support for the migrants and for the sisters ministering to them at the Texas border. I hope to secure some of those funds for the El Paso migrant ministry.

In the past, because of scheduling overlap, the orientation for the Loretto volunteers and the LCWR assembly coincided. So it was with great excitement and gratitude that I anticipated my first LCWR assembly.

Amazingly, in a room filled with 700-plus LCWR members and guests, the environment created an ambiance of peace, reflection and contemplation — plants, candles and religious icons beautifully displayed on the stage where huge banners announced the assembly’s theme “Drawn By Sacred Mystery: A Journey of Hope.” Adding to this, a gifted young minister, Dr. Glen Thomas Richard Rideout, led us in songs, dance and gestures.

Dr. Brian Swimme’s keynote reflection, “Cosmological Spirituality of Catholic Sisters,” was the highlight of the assembly for me. He explained “the development of the universe takes place through the power of relationship. At every new level of development relationships determine the directions of the universe unfolding. After a certain span of time in which all the elements are created in the core of a large star, it explodes and because of this explosion we exist. Every element of our body was fashioned inside a star. The explosion of a star is a primary revelation of love at a cosmic level. A love that is a divine giveaway. A love that holds nothing back. A love exemplified by the history of Catholic sisters. A love that reveals the heart of divinity. The star dies, and in its final act of generosity the future of the universe is born. Take this image to heart. This is a cosmological form of your love.”

At the conclusion of his reflection he added a moving, personal note. He gratefully recognized Thomas Berry and the many sisters who contributed to and influenced his own journey into cosmological spirituality.

Then he addressed those of us assembled:

“Drawn by Sacred Mystery we are entering a new world of new cosmology and new spirituality. And after all you have given, we ask you for yet one more thing. That you tell your story of your spiritual journeys. You poured yourself out, you gave away your lives. Because of the death of a star, Earth’s life came forth. The Paschal mystery is woven into the very fabric of the universe. Because of you my life and the lives of millions of others came forth. It is a time to celebrate your journeys into the spirituality of a supernova — the generosity, the spirituality of the common cosmic Christ.”

Reflection by Mary Catherine Rabbitt

The 2023 LCWR General Assembly closed with a banquet on Aug 11, during which the LCWR Outstanding Leadership Award for 2023 was presented to Donna Markham, OP. Donna is an Adrian Dominican sister who, from 2015 to June 2023, served as president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA). A psychologist, Donna had previously served as president and CEO of Southdown Institute in Ontario, Canada, for 10 years. She is also a past president of LCWR.

During her tenure at CCUSA, Donna was faced with countless migrants coming into our southern border states, overwhelming the local Catholic Charities office with needs for basic services such as food, clothing and temporary shelter. She reached out to LCWR for help in securing the assistance of volunteer sisters. In her remarks that evening, Donna told the story of this response: “Thus began an extraordinary collaboration between LCWR and CCUSA. Well over 300 sisters volunteered to go to the border. I found myself moved
to tears. They went fully aware of the risks.” Sisters provided invaluable services to migrants in 2021-2022. Donna continued, “They went!” She said, “Serving in faith-driven leadership, especially in times of multiple and escalating crises, changes us. We will never be the same again. Fear diminishes. We become emboldened to take norm-shattering risks in radical service to the mission. The human anguish and call to respond are so compelling that any concern for our own safety simply dissipates. We no longer are uncomfortable with the tears that accompany our encounters with such mystery.”

By the way, I couldn’t help but notice (with pride) that included in that evening’s program was a list of all of the past recipients of the LCWR Outstanding Leadership Award, beginning with the first awardee in 2003, our very own Mary Luke Tobin. It was a lovely way to end the assembly and be moved to action upon returning home the next morning.

Reflection by Vicki Schwartz

While there were several memorable moments at the LCWR gathering, what consistently touched my heart and soul were the times of prayer. For me, those sacred minutes truly reflected the theme of the assembly, “Drawn By Sacred Mystery: A Journey into Hope.” During those times, I was moved by the profound silence of the more than 700 women in attendance, all followers of the Gospel and united in our desire to find and to follow the call of the Spirit.

During the prayer, much of the music was led by Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout who teaches worship and liturgical design at Meadville-Lombard Theological Union. The songs were relatively easy melodies to follow, but the lyrics were quite stirring — lyrics such as, “Who am I becoming, because we are?” prompted much reflection.

Maria Elena Martinez, OSF, facilitator, opened each assembly session with the call of the singing bowl, a few words of invitation to God’s presence and a few moments of silence. Those were the times that were the most moving for me. Some thoughts/feelings that were with me in those prayers included the following: “All will be well” (Julian of Norwich); “Don’t worry, be happy” (Bobby McFerren); “It’s no accident that you were elected to leadership at this time” (Carol Zinn). I was also thinking of Margaret Wheatley’s reflections in “So Far from Home,” “Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well. It’s the certainty that something is worth doing no matter how it turns out.” The memory of our prayer time in Dallas, as well as Margaret Wheatley’s urging, continue to accompany me as we work on imagining Loretto’s future.