August 2016 is the one-year anniversary of my profession of final vows, my first “vow-iversary” one might say! This month I also attended the LCWR Assembly as a representative for Giving Voice along with fellow Core Team member, Chero Chuma, CSJP. Margaret Wheatley set the stage with the opening talk entitled, “Finding Ground in the Age of Groundlessness.” She closed her remarks with some profound insights into the significance of vows.
“Let us bring the gifts that differ, and in splendid varied ways… Sing a new church into being. One in faith and love and praise.” With the words of this song, over 20 sisters in their 40’s both began and ended their weekend gathering, August 5 - 7th in Seattle, Washington, Under the theme of “Emerging and Empowering: Mercy as a lens for leadership” we gathered to pray, share, contemplate, and build community. (And of course have a bit of fun too!)
Giving Voice is excited to welcome two new people this month. Ryan Hoffman has been hired as our Communications Coordinator. Ryan comes to us with a wealth of creativity, energy and experience working with Catholic organizations. His expertise in communications will be a great assistance to the Core Team in attending to the needs of the ever-expanding Giving Voice network! Ryan adds, "I am thrilled to join Giving Voice and partner with young women religious as they answer a call to Gospel love and service.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to all the women's congregations who have sent donations and prayerful support to Giving Voice in response to our annual appeal. You can find a list of supporting congregations on our website. The generosity of these communities makes the work of Giving Voice possible.
Giving Voice sisters, you are invited! Giving Voice / SOA Watch Convergence at the Border, October 7-10, 2016
Catholic sisters are in ministry and advocacy positions in places as diverse as medical clinics in Kenya and the streets of New York. Helping these sisters tell their stories is at the core of Global Sisters Report, a journalism project of National Catholic Reporter Publishing Co. and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. We're looking for a woman religious with a deep understanding and appreciation for the scope and complexity of the global sisterhood who can share that knowledge with a global team of reporters and writers.
Don't forget that you can read more reflections by younger women religious in the regular Horizons column on Global Sisters Report.