By Jenny Kraska
A standing ovation is a rare thing at any conference. It is even rarer among women religious whose lives are marked by humility, contemplation, and a preference for substance over spectacle.
Yet that was precisely the response Archbishop William Lori received following his address to the 2026 National Assembly of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR), held under the theme, “250 Years of Freedom: Daughters of the Church from One Generation to the Next.”
Freedom, Faith, and the American Experiment
Addressing major superiors from across the United States, Archbishop Lori framed the 250th anniversary of American independence not merely as a celebration of the past but as an invitation to examine the future.
He challenged attendees at the conference taking place on Sep 17-20 in Florissant, Missouri, to ask a fundamental question: “What has become of freedom?” and argued that the answer is ultimately spiritual before it is political.
The Archbishop praised the remarkable achievements of the American experiment while also acknowledging the fractures visible in contemporary society: polarization, loneliness, declining trust, and a diminished capacity for genuine dialogue.
Yet his message was not one of pessimism. Rather, it was a call to renewal rooted in holiness.
“Before there can be renewal of institutions, there must be renewal of persons,” he reminded the assembly.
Why Women Religious Matter
One of the most compelling aspects of the address was Archbishop Lori’s explanation of why women religious have a unique contribution to make in the renewal of society.
Consecrated life, he argued, is not an escape from the world but a transformative witness within it.
The evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience reveal what authentic freedom looks like and challenge the false notions of freedom that often dominate modern culture.
“Every authentic consecrated life becomes a living statement that another way of being human is possible,” he said.
The Archbishop emphasized that generations of sisters have shaped America not primarily through political influence but through the formation of consciences.
Long before debates about civic education and social capital, women religious were teaching virtue, building communities of trust, and helping young people recognize Christ in one another.
The Forgotten Architects of Freedom
A recurring theme throughout the address was the often-overlooked role of women religious in American history.
While Americans rightly remember presidents, founders, and political leaders, Archbishop Lori pointed to the countless sisters whose names may never appear in history books but whose impact on the nation has been immeasurable.
They welcomed immigrants, cared for the sick during epidemics, educated generations of children, and built institutions that became pillars of communities throughout the country.
Drawing on examples such as St Frances Xavier Cabrini, Mother Mary Lange, Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, and St Elizabeth Ann Seton, he illustrated how women religious embodied freedom through radical trust in God, Steinbeck to others, and unwavering fidelity to their vocation. Their lives demonstrated that influence often flows not from power but from holiness.
Forming a Nation’s Moral Imagination
Perhaps the most memorable line of the address came when Archbishop Lori suggested that the greatest contribution of women religious was not the schools, hospitals, orphanages, and ministries they built.
“The greatest achievement of American women religious,” he proposed, “has been the formation of the nation’s moral imagination.”
Before children learned algebra, they learned mercy. Before they became voter, they became disciples. Before they debated political questions, they learned gratitude, virtue, and the examination of conscience.
In an age when many worry about the future of democracy, the Archbishop reminded his audience that free societies ultimately depend upon virtuous citizens and that moral formation remains essential to preserving authentic freedom.
A Message of Hope for the Next 250 Years
As he turned toward the future, Archbishop Lori encouraged the sisters not to measure success by numbers, influence, or institutional size.
The world, he said, does not need religious women who are merely efficient administrators. It needs women who have been “seized by Christ,” whose lives testify that God is real, holiness is possible, and sacrificial love still transforms the world.
His conclusion echoed the Assembly’s theme of generational faithfulness. The next 250 years will undoubtedly bring challenges no one can foresee, but the answer remains the same as it was for the founders and foundresses of religious communities: fidelity, trust in Providence, and confidence in Christ.
“We move forward,” he said, “not because we know exactly what the future holds, but because we know who holds the future.”
It was a message that deeply resonated with the women gathered in the assembly. Their standing ovation was not simply an expression of appreciation for a well-delivered speech.
It was a recognition that Archbishop Lori had stimulated something many consecrated women have lived for generations: that the renewal of the Church, the nation, and the culture begins with hearts wholly given to God. – Vatican News
