By Sister Kathleen Steinkamp

With a theme of “Probing the Gospel” over 600 sisters from across the nation met at Saint Louis University August 14-18 for the fourth annual convention of the National Assembly of Women Religious (NAWR).

NAWR was organized from the desires of individual sisters working in various diocese across the country who saw a vision goal of having a national organization capable of representing all sisters on a grassroots level.

There are presently 95 member sisters’ conferences, 42 individual NAWR groups and 2700 individual members.

Sister Catherine Pinkerton, national chairperson, in giving an account of the past year spoke of ‘mountain vision –valley need,” mentioning “the growing recognition of the assembly as a voice for sisters, as a resource for numerous groups who understand and appreciate the importance of women religious in the Church and society, as an organization to be invited wherever there is a movement toward coalition, convergence or discussion on an issue related to national and global justice and equality.”

During the past year Sister Catherine has represented NAWR at meetings of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the National Council of Catholic Laity, the National Conference of Bishops, the North American Diakonia, the National Federation of Priests’ Councils, the Mexican American Cultural Center on the Hispanic Agenda, Sisters Uniting and the National Assembly of Religious Brothers

Members of the NAWR Board have attended various other conferences including the NCEA, the meeting of the American Conference of Vicars in Rome, the National Coalition for Responsible Investment, Notre Dame Institute for Personnel Directors, the Aspen Consultation on Global Justice, the International Conference on Religion and Peace in Louvain and Sister Catherine will attend the 1974 Synod of Bishops in Rome.

Convention keynote addresses included scripture scholar and author Sister Kathryn Sullivan, RSCJ, who led convention delegates through “Probing the Gospel” in a search for justice issues. Cesar Chavez, president of the United Farm Workers assisted the assembly in “identifying justice issues” testifying to the spirit of justice.

Following “Future Projections: Justice Issues” by Joseph Holland, staff associate of the Center for Concern in Washington, D.C., convention participants agreed to publicize the issue of world hunger through a united, prayerful and visible way by a symbolic fast of bread and water the eve of the convention’s closing. Money usually spent for the evening meal was sent to Bread for the World Foundation.

Many individual committee and workshops sessions held during the convention included pastoral ministry, religious life, social concerns, education and women in church and society.

Among other resolutions passed conference will urge the president and congress to vote for an immediate increase in food aid and the building of a world food security system. In an effort to promote the holy year theme for reconciliation, the National Assembly of Women Religious will work for an extended active amnesty for all those alienated from the Church and civil society.

The assembly sent telegrams of regret to the 11 Episcopalian women whose ordination was declared invalid by their House of Bishops. A telegram sent to the head of the ruling body of the Episcopal Church read as follows:

“We regret decision of House of Bishops and hope for a considered review of this matter and eventual recognition of full participation of women in official ministry.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Sister Kathleen Steinkamp, RSM, attended the convention as a voting delegate from the Atlanta Conference of Sisters.)