LCWR Update — May 2015 — page 1 May 2015 Pope Francis Meets with LCWR Representatives Photo by L’Osservatore Romano Photo by L’Osservatore Joan Marie Steadman, CSC; LCWR executive director; Janet Mock, CSJ, former LCWR executive direc- tor; Carol Zinn, SSJ, LCWR past president; and Marcia Allen, CSJ, LCWR president-elect; meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican. CWR officials, while on their annual visit to Rome, were invited for a private audience with Pope Francis on April 16. At the conclusion of their 50-minute meeting, the LCWR officials stated, “We were honored to have this opportunity for such an extensive conver- sation with Pope Francis that centered on Evangelii Gaudium, the pope’s apostolic exhor- Ltation that has so deeply impacted our lives as women religious and our mission in the world. Our conversation allowed us to personally thank Pope Francis for providing leadership and a vision that has captivated our hearts and emboldened us as in our own mission and service to the church. We were also deeply heartened by Pope Francis’ expression of appreciation for the witness given by Catholic sisters through our lives and ministry and will bring that message back to our members.” (continued on page 3) LCWR Update — May 2015 — page 2 From the LCWR Presidency A Global Heart in a Global Church for a Global World by Carol Zinn, SSJ — LCWR Past President sually when we sit down to put and among the persons we met. Such our thoughts on paper, we are was the power of the prophetic role of sitting at a desk in an office on religious life, called always and every- the actual ground of our home where to the periphery, the margins, the Uplanet, Earth. I am sitting at a tray table vulnerable, and the marginalized. on a flight at an altitude of 42, 000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean on my way Nowhere was the heart, church and home from the LCWR annual visit to world more global than in the person Rome. Quite a different venue, offering and presence of Pope Francis. Our quite a distinct vista to say the least! encounter with him was truly that—an encounter. I left that encounter trans- However, the venue and vista do provide formed in ways that are yet to be real- a framework for reflection on much of ized, I’m sure. I heard the vocational the experience of the 2015 LCWR con- call again, anew. I felt the baptismal versations with the many and varied promise and profession commitment Congregations and Pontifical Councils to live this life for the life of the world we visited. The pastoral care of mi- We are called to tend the sorrow again, anew. And I recognized in grants and refugees, justice and peace Francis the fullness of the messages issues of unprecedented proportions, and suffering of all peoples, shared in all the other conversations social communications with the inher- to temper the polarization and throughout our 2015 annual visit: we ent complexities of human excellence are each called to “BE” a global heart as well as exploitation, promoting politics in all ways possible, in a global church for a global world. the new evangelization of peoples to tender the hurt and hatred We are called to tend the sorrow and rooted in the Gospel message of suffering of all peoples, to temper the inclusion and reverence, the realities wherever we find it, and polarization and politics in all ways of religious life in the United States possible, to tender the hurt and hatred and around the world, the necessity to transform the anguish and wherever we find it, and to transform of inter-religious dialogue in service anger whenever we experience it. the anguish and anger whenever we of reconciliation and unity, and the experience it. depth of faith brought to bear on the lives of God’s People, all living beings I am halfway across the pond, as they and God’s Holy Creation---all of these conversations say about the transatlantic flights, but I have not really touched the very heart of what it means to be part of a left Rome yet. There remains much to pray, ponder, and Global Church in a Global World. practice as I prepare to arrive home. I am grateful that the Easter season continues to offer itself as we, togeth- The persons with whom we met and shared in these er, journey towards Pentecost. Surely the gifts of the conversations, though, made flesh the very Heart of Spirit will come on all of us again, anew this Pentecost. God and evoked within me the emergence of a Global May we, the members of LCWR, prepare ourselves to Heart at a new, Easter-like depth; the kind we read receive the gifts we most need to “BE” a global heart in about in the post-Easter encounters with the Risen One. a global church for a global world. May we help one an- In each conversation I found myself surrounded by other maintain the venues and vistas needed to respond grace and deeply moved by the passion and compas- to the vocation we so love and that the church and sion with which the many people who minister in these world so needs. Truly, we have been cleared for land- offices spoke. Such was the power of the presence of a ing! And the journey begins for the life of the world! Global Church for a Global World. Such was the power of the passion of a Global Heart palpably present within LCWR Update — May 2015 — page 3 Pope Francis Meets with LCWR Representatives 3Pope Francis and Marcia Allen, CSJ 6Pope Francis with Carol Zinn, SSJ Photo by L’Osservatore Romano Photo by L’Osservatore Romano Photo by L’Osservatore Romano Photo by L’Osservatore Romano 5Pope Francis with Joan Marie Steadman, CSC 4Pope Francis with Janet Mock, CSJ LCWR Update — May 2015 — page 4 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Concludes Assessment of LCWR On April 16, the Vatican press office and LCWR issued the following press release. Officials of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), Arch- bishop Peter Sartain and officers of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) met April 16. Arch- bishop Sartain and LCWR officers pre- sented a joint report on the implemen- tation of the CDF doctrinal assessment and mandate of April 2012. The joint report outlines the manner in which the implementation of the mandate has been accomplished. The Congregation accepted the joint report, marking the conclusion of the doctrinal assessment Joan Marie Steadman, CSC; Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia, OP; CDF of LCWR. Present for the April 16 general secretary; Monsignor Steven Lopes, CDF staff; Carol Zinn, SSJ; Marcia meeting were His Eminence Gerhard Allen, SSJ; Archbishop J. Peter Sartain; and Janet Mock, CSJ outside of the CDF Cardinal Müller; Archbishop Peter offices following their meeting on April 16, 2015 Sartain; Sr. Carol Zinn, SSJ; Sr. Marcia Allen, CSJ; Sr. Joan Marie Steadman, CSC; and Sr. Janet Mock, CSJ; and other officials of CDF. Sr. Sharon Holland, IHM, president of LCWR, was During the meeting, Archbishop Sartain and the LCWR unable to be present for the meeting but commented, officers outlined the process undertaken by the bishop “We are pleased at the completion of the mandate, delegates and LCWR over the past three years, noting which involved long and challenging exchanges of our the spirit of cooperation among participants through- understandings of and perspectives on critical mat- out the sensitive process. Cardinal Müller offered his ters of religious life and its practice. Through these thoughts on the doctrinal assessment as well as the exchanges, conducted always in a spirit of prayer and mandate and its completion. He expressed gratitude mutual respect, we were brought to deeper understand- to those present for their willing participation in this ings of one another’s experiences, roles, responsibilities, important and delicate work and extended thanks to and hopes for the Church and the people it serves. We others who had participated, especially Archbishop learned that what we hold in common is much greater Leonard P. Blair, Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki, and the than any of our differences.” past officers and executive directors of LCWR. Archbishop Sartain added, “Over the past several Following the meeting, Cardinal Müller said: “At the years, I have had the honor of working with LCWR conclusion of this process, the Congregation is confi- officers and meeting a large number of LCWR mem- dent that LCWR has made clear its mission to support bers through the implementation of the mandate. Our its member institutes by fostering a vision of religious work included the revision of LCWR statutes; review of life that is centered on the Person of Jesus Christ and is LCWR publications, programs and speakers; and dis- rooted in the Tradition of the Church. It is this vision cussion of a wide range of issues raised by the doctrinal that makes religious women and men radical witnesses assessment, LCWR, and the bishop delegates. The assis- to the Gospel, and, therefore, is essential for the flour- tance of CDF officials was essential to the great progress ishing of religious life in the Church.” (continued on page 5) LCWR Update — May 2015 — page 5 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Media coverage and analysis of the conclusion of the doctrinal assessment occurred worldwide. Links to Faith Concludes Assessment of LCWR some of the coverage follow: (continued from page 4) • New York Times we made. Our work together was undertaken in an • New York Times editorial atmosphere of love for the Church and profound respect • PBS NewsHour for the critical place of religious life in the United States, • National Public Radio and the very fact of such substantive dialogue between • NBC News bishops and religious women has been mutually ben- • Wall Street Journal eficial and a blessing from the Lord.