LCWR Assembly 2022: Mystical Wisdom: Following Spirit's Beckoning

Exploring Mystical Wisdom

All around us, we see the world reawakening to the essential role that the spiritual realm plays in securing the future of the planet. Reliance on data, research, productivity, and more is, of course, paramount for the wellbeing of the world, but that reliance needs to be balanced with a valuing and full incorporation of the metaphysical realm into all that we do.

With our lifelong commitment to a spiritual life that honors mystery, our contributions as women religious are perhaps needed now more than ever. For this reason, this LCWR assembly will focus on how we can draw even more fully on our rich spiritual traditions so as to contribute to the building of this spiritual realm with even greater strength.

Assembly Highlights

As the LCWR membership grows in its diversity of cultures and ages, we will draw on the richness of some of the traditions and perspectives alive within the conference. Set in a context of a series of spiritual conversations, the assembly will provide input into the mystical wisdom available to us and help us to recognize, share, and celebrate the wisdom we each carry within ourselves. How might we deepen our access to the wisdom that surrounds us so that we may amplify it and bring it to the tables at which we sit and the many circles with which we interact? The fate of the world – with its multiple challenges – is calling for us to respond to this urgent need with these precise gifts that women religious possess.

Main Speakers

Our spiritual conversations on mystical wisdom will be launched by Constance FitzGerald, OCD and M. Shawn Copeland, two women who have dedicated their lives to interpreting mystical tradition so that it sheds light on our lives today and unlocks a way into the future.

Constance is a contemplative theologian and a member of the Carmelite Community in Baltimore where she has served as prioress, formation director, archivist/historian and treasurer. She was a founder of the Association of Contemplative Sisters in the United States and a founding member of the Carmelite Forum, a group of scholars dedicated to opening contemplative prayer and life to people through the contemporary interpretation of the Carmelite classics.

Shawn is professor emerita of systematic theology at Boston College and is known for her work in theological anthropology as well as political theology. Among her many achievements, she was the first African American and first African American woman to serve as president of the Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) and in 2018 became the first African American theologian honored with CTSA’s prestigious John Courtney Murray Award. In 2021, she and Laurie Cassidy edited Desire, Darkness, and Hope: Theology in a Time of Impasse, a collection of essays that engage the thought of Constance FitzGerald.

The conversations between Constance and Shawn, who will join the assembly live from Baltimore, will open the way for many conversations throughout the assembly where participants will draw upon their own and one another’s wisdom to make sense of the times in which we live and strengthen themselves on this important spiritual journey.

LCWR president Jane Herb, IHM will deliver the LCWR presidential address. 

Reflection Partners

At three times during the assembly, six LCWR members will share in pairs how they are accessing mystical wisdom as they process the proceedings of the assembly. 

Gayle Lwanga Crumbley, RGS resides in Cincinnati, Ohio and is a member of the leadership team for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. She has worked in parish ministry, as well as coordinating the national office of justice and peace for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.

Sheena George, CSJP, a native of India, is a member of the leadership team for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. Her background includes young adult ministry, chaplaincy, refugee camp work in France, and the opening of a house of hospitality for asylum refugee women.  

Joyce Shanabarger, OSF is the general community leader for the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. With a background in education and spirituality, she has ministered in an Ignatian organization.  

 Nicole Trahan, FMI, is a Marianist Sister living and ministering in Dayton, Ohio. Her work in her province includes vocations and pre-novitiate director, and head of education on her provincial council. She also serves the Marianist Family on the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative's Racial Justice Issue Team.

Lyan Tri, ACI, a native of Vietnam, serves in leadership for the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as well as director of St. Raphaela Center. She has worked in youth and vocational ministry and has served in formation ministry for a number of congregations of women and men religious in the Philippines and Vietnam.

Maria Sheila Undang, O Carm, serves in leadership for the Congregation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Prior to coming to the US she served as an assistant hospital administrator, school finance officer and region treasurer and formation director for her congregation in the  Philippines.

Contemplative Processing/Making Meaning

As with recent LCWR assemblies, the 2022 gathering will incorporate contemplative processing so that participants may collectively listen carefully for the movement of God’s Spirit among them. Processing will be especially directed to assisting members to find meaning in their own ministry of leadership as well as empowering them to support their own institute members find meaning in this era of significant challenge and change. We are looking for LCWR members willing to serve as facilitators at their tables. If you are open to serving in this way, please indicate this on your registration form. Table facilitators need to participate in a one-hour orientation on Tuesday, August 9 at 4:30 PM.

Important Elements of the Assembly

August 11 -- 2:00 PM
Discerning Our Emerging Future Presentation and Process

August 12 -- 9:20 AM
LCWR Assembly Resolution Hearing
Honoring of Organizations Celebrating 50th Anniversaries

August 12 -- 11:00 - 12:00 PM and 2:00 - 3:00 PM
LCWR Looks Ahead to What Beckons -- Executive Session

August 12 -- 7:00 PM
Banquet
Presentation of the 2020 and 2022 LCWR Outstanding Leadership Awards to Patricia Chappell, SNDdeN and Pat Murray, IBVM

New Member Orientation

Any LCWR member who is attending an LCWR assembly for the first time, or any current member who has been out of leadership for a few years is encouraged to attend the New Member Orientation on Tuesday, August 9 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Participants will receive valuable information, not only about the assembly, but also about the organization.

Spanish Language

Since Spanish is the first language of several LCWR members, we will provide both professional simultaneous translation services as well as the opportunity for those leaders to be at tables where they can process the assembly in the language that is most comfortable for them. In order to have diversity at those tables, we invite any member who speaks Spanish to consider participating at a Spanish-speaking table.

In Service of the Assembly

Maria Elena Martinez, OSF will serve as the facilitator of this year’s assembly. Maria Elena is a Redwood City Franciscan. As an experienced facilitator, she has a gift for creating intercultural processes that nurture communal discernment. She is presently provincial minister of her province community in California. 

Kathy Fletcher Wray will serve as the assembly liturgist. She is the coordinator of worship and director of the St. Joseph Spirituality Center for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden, Pennsylvania.

Assembly Schedule

Tuesday, August 9, 2022
1:00 – 6:00 PM	Registration Opens
1:00 PM	Contemplation Room Opens
1:00 -10:00 PM	Exhibits Open
2:00 – 4:00 PM	New Member Orientation
4:30 – 5:30 PM	Orientation for Table Facilitators
7:00 PM	Opening of the Assembly
8:30 PM	Social

 

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Wednesday, August 10, 2022
7:30 AM	Eucharistic Liturgy
7:30 – 4:15 PM	Exhibits Open
9:00 AM	Prayer
9:20 AM	Presidential Address: Jane Herb, IHM
9:50	Table process
10:30 AM	Break
11:15 AM	Exploring Mystical Wisdom: Reflection Partners Process
12:30 PM	Lunch (on your own)
2:30 PM	Exploring Mystical Wisdom: Conversation between Constance FitzGerald, OCD and M. Shawn Copeland
3:15 PM	Break
4:30 PM	Exploring Mystical Wisdom: Refection Partners Process
5:15 PM	Closing of the Day

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Thursday, August 11, 2022
7:30 AM	Communal Contemplation
9:00 AM	Prayer
9:20 AM	Exploring Mystical Wisdom Continued conversation between Constance FitzGerald, OCD and M. Shawn Copeland
10:30 AM	Break
11:15 AM	Exploring Mystical Wisdom: Conversation Partners Process
12:30 PM	Lunch
2:30 PM	Discerning Our Emerging Future
3:45 PM	Break
4:15 PM	Process
4:40	Ending of the day
4:45 PM	Eucharistic liturgy

 

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Friday, August 12, 2022
7:30 AM	Communal Contemplation
9:00 AM	Prayer
9:20 AM	LCWR Assembly Resolution Honoring of the 50th anniversary of organizations
10:30 AM	Break
11:00 AM	LCWR Looks Ahead to What Beckons (Executive Session)
12:30 PM	Lunch
2:15 PM	Preparing to Return Home with the Wisdom of the Assembly Blessing and Sending Forth of All Leaders Blessing of LCWR Leadership
3:15 PM	Break
3:45 PM	Eucharistic Liturgy
7:00 PM	Banquet Outstanding Leadership Awards Adjournment of the Assembly

 

Hotel Amenities

Because of staffing shortages, the hotel will not be able to offer its typical services. There will be no housekeeping services during the event. A table will be available with coffee for the sleeping rooms, toiletries, and towels.

The restaurants within the hotels are not currently open, although we are in negotiation with them to see if they may be able to open during the assembly. Cash sales of breakfast and lunch items will be available.

Lost and Found will be at the hotel registration desk.

Travel

The closest airport to the hotel is the St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

Transportation to the Hotel

There is currently no shuttle for the airport, although this may change closer to the assembly.

The cost for an Uber from the airport is approximately $35 and a taxi is $35-55.

Exhibit Hall

The LCWR assembly draws a large number of exhibitors. The exhibit hall will be open at the following times:

Tuesday, August 9:        1:00pm-7:00pm, 8:30pm-10:00pm

Wednesday, August 10:  7:30am-4:30pm

Thursday, August 11:      7:30am-11:15am