Franciscan Sister Louise Hembrecht reports on a National Vicar Conference in Chicago, IL.
The Felican Sisters in Chicago hosted the 49th Annual Meeting of the National Vicars Conference for Religious. There were forty-seven vicars/representatives/delegates for Religious present from across the United States including Sister Louise Hembrecht, who serves as the national secretary for the conference. The four regions of the country take turns planning the meeting with the executive officers. This year it was the Western Region who did the planning. Their theme was Remembering the Journey: Opening the Doors of Hope.
The keynote speakers, Sister Lynn Levo, CSJ, and Brother Bill Short, OFM are known to the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity because both have been speakers at the Motherhouse in past years. In addition to the keynotes on Transformation and the recent Vatican document on “Brothers,” there was a session on Immigration laws given by Sister Mary Ellen Burns, ASCJ. Breakout sessions were held on Canon Law, Consecrated Virgins, and Vocations. Several groups greeted the Vicars/Representatives/Delegates and explained their roles in being available to the needs of Religious.
Father Hank Lemoncelli, OMI, the representative from the Dicastery of Consecrated Life, Apostolic Life, and Secular institutes came from Rome to attend the conference. At one of the meals, he again complimented our Community on its Vocation Manual and said that he continues to offer it to other Communities as a guide.
