Embracing
the Mystery: Living Transformation
Atlanta, Georgia August 9 — 12, 2016
The Leadership Conference of Women
Religious National Assembly convenes in Atlanta this week. The religious womens’
gathered leadership will be discussing the future of religious life. However,
for the first time at an LCWR national assembly, a contemplative dialogue will
be the primary vehicle for this discussion.
A Space to Be in Communion
With the World
A
hope during this assembly is to intentionally focus the energy and prayer of
the assembly in ways that places all in deeper communion with the world,
especially the places of great suffering and pain.
Contemplative Dialogue
Contemplative dialogue is
a process through which people in a conversation intentionally set aside their
biases in order to listen to others and to what others trigger emotionally in
themselves. This isn't new to LCWR or to
Catholic sisters but this Assembly will have a
unique feature with the presence of Liz Sweeney, SSJ. Liz hopes to serve the
assembly as a listener, reflector, and guide, helping members to be intentional
about listening to the movement of God as it affects each one personally and
flows among us as a communal body. This process of deep, self-emptied listening
may allow for the emergence of greater wisdom, intimacy, and receptivity as we
attend to what Spirit wants to bring forth through us right now. Liz will set a
context for these processes through a presentation on ‘Fostering the Evolution of Love’.
Two Keynote Addresses
Finding Ground in The Age of
Groundlessness
Keynote
Address on Wednesday by Dr. Margaret (Meg) Wheatley
The
external world will continue to challenge us with crises, suffering, and the
deterioration of our best human qualities. Yet we can cultivate our faith and devotion
to stay engaged with the world and persevere. In times of groundlessness, it is
the ground of being that gives us the ability to continue doing our work with confidence
and steadfastness. After many years of learning about the workings of chaos
from a scientific perspective, Meg will speak to her personal experiences of
placing contemplation at the center of her life, discovering the source of
inner peace and clarity that gives her the capacity to serve as we humans
transit through this harsh and difficult time.
Leading
from the Allure of Holy Mystery: Contemplation and Transformation Keynote Address on Thursday by Pat Farrell, OSF
The privileged work
of congregational leadership allows us to focus daily energy on issues related
to our evolving identity as women religious.
We lead from within, even as we attend to the increasing complexities of
a suffering world. There is movement, energy, and direction available to us
when we lead from our own deepest desires and authentic impulses. Contemplation aligns us with that flow of
divine wisdom and love that equips us to sustain the transformation to which we
are being called. Pat will speak of the urgency of that call for our times and
of her learnings in trying to exercise congregational and national leadership
from a contemplative space.
Being in Communion With the World
Each day’s prayer will focus
on Being in Communion With the World.
The suggested focus for prayer each day is based on the areas of concern named
in the LCWR Call for 2015-2022. To view
this LCWR Call, go to lcwr.org/about/call
Tuesday - Be mindful of
the violence of all kinds that lives in hearts and afflicts the world,
especially on this 61st anniversary of the bombing Nagasaki.
Wednesday - Be mindful of
all those people who are on the move, forced from their homes and their
families.
Thursday - Be mindful of
all the ways we impoverish Earth and its people.
