In my last column for The Catholic Spirit, I made mention of Mother Mary Clare Millea, ASCJ, who has been appointed by the Vatican’s Congregation for Consecrated Life and Secular Institutes to coordinate the current visitation of women religious in the United States.
That They May All
Be One
Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
The purpose of the visitation is to preserve and foster religious, consecrated life in this country so as to promote the life-giving works that flow from the respective charisms of each congregation or secular institute.
Archbishop Nienstedt's Calendar
» Tuesday-Thursday, July 27-29: Participating in an episcopal ongoing formation leadership session conducted by the Catholic Leadership Institute in Charlotte, N.C.
» Sunday, Aug. 1:10:30 a.m., St. Paul, Macalester College: Closing Mass for Steubenville North 2010.
» Tuesday, Aug. 3: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Scheduling meeting with staff.
1:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archbishop’s Council meeting.
» Wednesday, Aug. 4: 2 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Catholic Services Appeal study committee.
» Friday, Aug. 6: 10 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archbishop Harry Flynn’s 50th anniversary fundraising committee meeting.
» Saturday, Aug. 7: 5 p.m., Lino Lakes, Church of St. Joseph: Sunday liturgy.
» Sunday, Aug. 8: 10:30 a.m., Maplewood, Church of St. Jerome: Sunday liturgy and luncheon celebrating the parish’s 70th anniversary.
» Monday, Aug. 9: 6 p.m., West St. Paul, Church of St. Joseph: Dinner with rectory residents.
» Tuesday, Aug. 10: 7:30 a.m., St. Paul, The St. Paul Seminary: Mass and breakfast meeting with the St. Paul’s Outreach board of directors for the School of the New Evangelization.
» Thursday, Aug. 12: 9 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Meeting of the Caleb Club.
Most secular professions have periodic evaluations to determine if they
are meeting the goals of their respective mission. In the world of
academia, this is done through accreditation visits wherein peers of
the same profession evaluate the programs of a college or university to
determine if they measure up to their intended standards.
Such evaluations are essential in the life of an institution as it
seeks to improve and move forward. I believe the same reasoning applies
to the present apostolic visitation.
Dramatic changes
Every objective observer knows that religious life has changed
dramatically in the past 50 years. New ministries have been founded and
good works have flourished in areas of education, social services and
health care, not to mention many others.
At the same time, the number of women entering consecrated religious
life has fallen dramatically. In order to ensure that the invaluable
witness of consecrated women religious continues into the future, some
evaluation of the situation at this time seems logical, if not overdue.
This, I believe, is what has prompted the present visitation.
A few persons have written to me expressing a concern that this action
is punitive and judgmental. They fear it demeans women religious. I
disagree. This is not an interrogation or even an investigation, but an
evaluation. The documents requesting information are the same for all.
The questions are public for all to see.
One concerned couple wrote to chastise me for allegedly giving a
million dollars of archdiocesan money to support this project. I
didn’t know whether to laugh or cry!
Where do people come up with such false information? In point of fact,
I gave not a penny of archdiocesan monies to this project, primarily
because we don’t have it to give. Believe me, if there were a million
dollars lying around, I would put it toward reducing our own
indebtedness! Of that, you can be sure!
Thankful for ministry
I remain grateful to the women religious who have positively influenced
my vocation to the priesthood as well as those with whom I have had the
privilege to minister in three different dioceses where I have served.
I firmly believe that the results of the present apostolic visitation
will only enhance their witness and good works as we move together
into the future.
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