Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious
Encyclopedia
The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR) was formed by the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in 1992 to promote religious life in the United States. The CMSWR serves as a parallel organization to but is unaffiliated with the Leadership Conference of Women Religious
.
Their male counterpart for leaders of monasteries and other men's religious institutes is the Conference of Major Superiors of Men.
In January 2009, the Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
announced it would conduct an apostolic visitation of U.S. women religious to examine their quality of life, ministries, and vocation efforts. The chairperson for the CMSWR, Mother Mary Quentin Sheridan, R.S.M., welcomed the visitation and encouraged members to cooperate.
s or congregations of women. The CMSWR represents 20 percent (about 10,000) religious women in the United States. CMSWR member organizations are faithful to the Vatican
and the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB), and their members wear an identifiable religious habit
and are active in an apostolate. According the Study on Recent Vocations the average median age of nun
s and sisters in CMSWR institutes is 60, and among those who joined in the past 15 nearly half are under 30.
The vast majority of women's congregations do not belong to this group who indetify with a vison of religious life from the past, wearing habits, etc. Most of the groups of women religious of the US belong to the Leadership Confernce of Women Religious.
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious is a canonically approved membership organization which exists as a support system and corporate voice for leaders of institutes, or congregations, of women religious in the United States.The conference has more than 1500 members, whose congregations...
.
History
In October 1995 Pope John Paul II (and the Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life) designated the CMSWR as a canonically approved national association of Women Religious for the United States who felt the Leadership Conference of Women Relgious (LCWR) did not represent their views. Composed of the leaders of women religious communities in the United States, the group is dedicated to Mary, Mother of the Church and Patroness of the Americas. Members of the Council wish to serve the Catholic Church and foster the progress and welfare of religious life in the United States.Their male counterpart for leaders of monasteries and other men's religious institutes is the Conference of Major Superiors of Men.
In January 2009, the Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for everything which concerns institutes of consecrated life and Society of Apostolic Life regarding their government, discipline, studies, goods, rights, and...
announced it would conduct an apostolic visitation of U.S. women religious to examine their quality of life, ministries, and vocation efforts. The chairperson for the CMSWR, Mother Mary Quentin Sheridan, R.S.M., welcomed the visitation and encouraged members to cooperate.
Membership
CMSWR is an assembly of superiors (leaders, such as Mothers Superior) of Roman Catholic religious orderRoman Catholic religious order
Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular ; monastics ; mendicants Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular (canons and canonesses regular...
s or congregations of women. The CMSWR represents 20 percent (about 10,000) religious women in the United States. CMSWR member organizations are faithful to the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
and the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB), and their members wear an identifiable religious habit
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
and are active in an apostolate. According the Study on Recent Vocations the average median age of nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s and sisters in CMSWR institutes is 60, and among those who joined in the past 15 nearly half are under 30.
Purpose
CMSWR's purpose is to be active on behalf of its member organizations; establish collaboration among major superiors; provide a forum for participation, dialogue, and education on the Church's teachings on religious life; promote unity among major superiors and testify to their union with the Magisterium and the Holy See; cooperate with the U.S. Conference of Bishops; and support organizations such as the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO), which ensures financial support for retired religious personnel.The vast majority of women's congregations do not belong to this group who indetify with a vison of religious life from the past, wearing habits, etc. Most of the groups of women religious of the US belong to the Leadership Confernce of Women Religious.