Today was opening day at the LCWR national assembly in St. Louis.  One of the sisters in attendance reports the following:

“All day at the hotel, and I understand also at the airport, supporters greeted us with signs, smiles and warm greetings. Each time I hoped to go out to say thanks, there were media there with boom mikes and big cameras – so I didn’t get to meet any of them.

The spirit here, as I read it today, is positive, peaceful, thoughtful and hopeful. The opening ritual called us to openness to the Spirit. We realize that this is serious business, and it’s laced with music and laughter. There will probably not be anything to announce at the end of the week, as we’ll be processing a next best step all week – with over 900 of us at 110 or so tables, it will take some time to collate everything and distill the wisdom.

It was announced tonight that Archbishop Sartain will participate in the Board meeting (without specifying that he will participate in its entirety), and that this will be the first real conversation with him.

I don’t know that there’s anything more to be said, except that it’s privilege to be here…and that Barbara Marx Hubbard reminded me in a brief hallway conversation that ‘chaos always precedes transformation.’”

For another perspective, see the NCR article on the meeting of past LCWR presidents and another one on an overview of the opening day process.