Loretto Magazine, Fall-Winter 2010, part 1 - Loretto Community

Fall/Winter 2010 Volume 52, No. 3“. . . when you did it to one of the least of thesemy brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me.”— Matt. 25:40

About this issue . . .LorettoLoretto's newest mission in Faisalabad, Pakistan, has already hadIt is summer more than time, its share and of our hardships traditional and challenges issue in which as the to four salute Sistersof Loretto living there seek to identify their ministry. Their efforts weresome special members of those who make Loretto bloom - ourjubilarians. In late summer, They just are as celebrating the political either situation 25 calmed years, down 50 years, and the or work 75years of teaching of membership began again, Loretto extraordinary We are flooding blessed throughout this year the with Punjabregion called upon the sisters to help those who have lost their homes18 members of this special club, five diamonds, six golds, andand livelihoods. See the story and current photos, page 4.seven silvers. We also proudly salute our many donors and paytribute In Notes to those & News: community Liz Deines makes members perpetual who vows have as passed a Sister away. of Loretto,already interrupted by an outbreak of sectarian violence earlier this year.enjoying a solemn ceremony and a lively celebration with her family,friends, and Loretto Academy students and colleagues in El Paso, page 6.As always, your comments, suggestions, questions, and critiquesof Loretto A new book, Magazine “Hidden are in the welcome. Same Mystery: Thomas Merton and Loretto,”lends real insight into the friendship and spiritual inquiry of religiousphilosopher Thomas Merton and Loretto President Mary Luke Tobin SLduring the 1960s, see page 7. The fifth piece in our series Journey toJubilee 1812-2012, reaches back to the decade between 1960 and 1970when remarkable changes in the worldwide church sparked profoundchanges in Loretto. Sister Mary Luke’s own words tell of her experiencesin Rome during the Second Vatican Council.Contact Neysa Chouteau CoLby mail at 327 Enola Avenue, Kirkwood, MO 63122-3420by e-mail at neysa327@charter.netOur 2010 Silver Jubilarians — all Loretto co-members — tell their storieson page 13 and share the ways they find Loretto is relevant and meaningfulto them today. In other news, the highly successful fifteenth annual Sistersof Loretto Golf Tournament and Silent Auction in Denver this Augusthelped raise money for the retired sisters and provided great enjoyment forgolfers and bidders alike, page 8.ContentsUpdate on Pakistan flooding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Newly vowed Sister of Loretto in El Paso . . . . . . . . . 6Book review: “Thomas Merton and Loretto” . . . . . . . . . 7Story 1....................................page XAnnual golf tournament supports retired sisters . . . . 8Series: Journey to Jubilee 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Loretto's 2010 Silver Jubilarians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Story 2....................................page XRemembrances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Memorials & Tributes of Honor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17For your information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Longer StoryHeadline.............................page XXAbout the Cover: Photo courtesy of theLoretto Sisters, Faisalabad, Pakistan.The torrential rains and devastating floods inCentral Pakistan affected many thousandsof families living near Loretto's new missionin Faisalabad. Through the Catholic diocesein that city, the Sisters of Loretto helpeddistribute tents, food, water, and medicine.This father and son are carrying water, a tentand bags of rice they had just received at thediocese aid station for flood victims.LORETTO COMMUNITYSisters of Loretto • Co-members of LorettoWe work for justice and act for peacebecause the Gospel urges us.Loretto Community members teach,nurse, care for the elderly, lobby,minister in hospitals, provide spiritualdirection and counseling, resettlerefugees, staff parishes, try to stopthis country’s nuclear weaponsbuild-up, work with the rural poor, andminister to handicapped, alcoholic,and mentally ill adults. Our ministriesare diverse.Founded in 1812, Loretto includes235 sisters and 216 co-members.Co-members are those who, bymutual commitment, belong tothe Loretto Community through asharing of spirit and values and whoparticipate in activities that furtherour mission.For more information about theLoretto Community, contact:Loretto Community Membership Staff4000 So. Wadsworth Blvd.Littleton, CO 80123-1308Phone: 303-783-0450Fax: 303-783-0611Web: www.lorettocommunity.orgLoretto Magazine is publishedthree times a year by the LorettoDevelopment Office.Development Director:Denise Ann Clifford SLAssociate Development Director:Donna Mattingly SLCommunications Director:Jean M. SchildzEditing, Layout, and Production:Carolyn DunbarAdvisory Panel:Martha Alderson CoLDenise Ann Clifford SLRegina Drey SLPJ Manion SLSusan Swain SLEditorial Office:Loretto Central Office4000 So. Wadsworth Blvd.Littleton, CO 80123-1308Circulation Office:Loretto Staff Office590 E. Lockwood Ave.Webster Groves, MO 631192 • Loretto Magazine

Dear Friends,Autumn has arrived, arrayed in royal gold, ruby red, luscious orange andrustic brown! I marvel at the Creator’s colorful canvas as summer bowsto the regal entrance of fall and stirs new and different feelings within us.This year autumn also marks the end of the first decade of this 21 st century, acentury welcomed with hopes for peace and understanding among all peoplesof the earth. Unfortunately, these years have been marred by terrorism anddestruction, devastating natural disasters, prejudice, hate crimes, war, violence,political tensions, financial upheaval, and unemployment.Although we can do little to solve the world’s problems, we can do much withinour own family and communities to heal and build relationships. We can askourselves, what needs to change in my life? How do I make those changes happen?Am I willing to let go of the feelings and hurts that separate me from others?Am I willing to take the first steps toward reconciling differences, mendingmisunderstandings? How much do I need versus how much do I want?Autumn is the season to reflect on the past months, to recount and give thanksfor the bountiful blessings of this year. As I review the year 2010, I am especiallygrateful . . .. . . for Loretto benefactors who have generously shared their resources, supportingus and our ministries through another year of financial uncertainty;. . . for our departed friends who invested in our future through remembrance ofLoretto in their estate planning;. . . for the overwhelming response to our special appeals for our sisters andbrothers in Haiti and Pakistan who have suffered devastating disasters this pastyear; and. . . for the love and appreciation of Loretto and our efforts.Autumn invites us to change and challenges us to look at our lives, ourrelationships with God and one another, family members, friends, coworkers,all those we encounter along life’s journey. Autumn is a time to take stock, toexamine our lifestyle, evaluate our investments, and rethink our use of personalresources and the resources we share with all inhabitants of our earth.May autumn rekindle these embers in each one of us, igniting peace and love inevery heart, home, family, nation . . . and our world. Happy Thanksgiving!With gratitude and appreciation to each of you,Denise Ann Clifford SLDirector of Development

notes and newsSpecial Report from PakistanBy Denise Ann Clifford SLAll of our Pakistani sisters are nowsafe at home in Faisalabad. SistersNasreen Daniel, Maria Daniel,Samina Iqbal, and Iffat Peter had beenvisiting their own families during thesummer school break when the devastatingfloods hit the Punjab region, making itdifficult to return to their convent.At the request of Bishop Coutts ofthe Diocese of Faisalabad, our sistersimmediately began preparing anddistributing food to a village of womenbrick makers and their children who losteverything in the flood. Their presenceis a comfort and support to these womenand their families. Our sisters openedtheir own home to a couple and their fourchildren who were also victims of theflood. The mother is helping our sisterswith food preparation for distributing toother victims.All have received the necessaryvaccinations to protect them from thediseases that plague the country in theaftermath of the flood. The La SalleBrothers reopened their school for classesin September, and our sisters are backin the classrooms teaching and helpingwith the three-to-twelve-year-olds everymorning.Afternoons and evenings are spentministering to the multitude of floodvictims living in nearby refugee camps.Although the waters have receded,the heat and humidity are intense withtemperatures rising to 115 degrees.Standing water serves as breeding groundfor disease-carrying insects, and residualodors are stifling. The tents that have beendistributed as temporary shelter will notsuffice when the winter months arrive.Media reports that necessary aid is slow ingetting to the neediest in the flood-ravagedareas. Loretto has been in contact withBishop Coutts, Nasreen, Maria, Iffat, andSamina in an effort to determine the mosteffective way to get help to Pakistan. Themost efficient channel is through BishopCoutts and the Diocese of Faisalabad. TheLoretto Community has agreed to serve asa conduit for donations to the flood reliefefforts in Pakistan.In his letter to Loretto President CatherineMueller, Bishop Coutts wrote, “The helpoffered by the Loretto Sisters is preciousand very much appreciated. We willensure that whatever you send us will beutilized directly for the affected people.When pooled together with the voluntaryhelp offered . . . this will be a beautifulflood of another kind — of love, ofgenerosity, and of solidarity — that willbring relief, hope and healing to manypeople who badly need it.”We want to spread the word to familymembers and friends who may want tojoin in our efforts. We have a system ofchanneling financial aid to our sisters andbrothers in Pakistan. All contributions aretax-deductible and will be acknowledgedby the Loretto Development Office staff.Contributions for Pakistan should be sent tothe Loretto Development Office in Denver,earmarked for Pakistan Flood Relief. Thesefunds will be transferred to Bishop Couttsfor use through the services provided by theDiocese of Faisalabad. We want to ensurethat funding reaches those in need and doesnot become tied up in government red tape.Our Loretto leadership and the PakistanCommittee are in contact with our sistersand will report on developments and servicesthey are rendering in Pakistan. The Lorettowebsite (www.lorettocommunity.org) willpost pictures and reports as available fromour Loretto Pakistan connection.Flood victims gather at an aid station setup by the Diocese of Faisalabad, Pakistan.Man totes away a tent and sacks of rice.4 • Loretto Magazine

All photos courtesy of theSisters of Loretto in Pakistan.notes and newsBelow: Bishop Coutts (second from left)distributes rice at the station established bythe Diocese of Faisalabad.Above: A boat will come to take these familes, with tents andstaples, back to their homes down river.As of the end of September, the Loretto Development Officehas forwarded $33,795 to the Diocese of Faisalabad. We aregrateful to every donor, and especially to the congregations ofwomen and men religious who contributed to this relief effort.Above: Samina IqbalSL (second from left)helps distribute rice tofamilies in Faisalabad.Right: Fathers wait neara supply truck to receivestaples that will sustaintheir families after majorflooding in the Punjab.Fall-Winter 2010 • 5

notes and newsNewest Sister of Lorettomakes final vows in El PasoBy Carolyn Dunbar, EditorTop left: Loretto President CathyMueller SL (left) with ElizabethDeines SL. Background: Chapel atLoretto Academy, El Paso, Texas.Photos by Donna Mattingly SL.Elizabeth Ruth Deines SL was bornin El Paso, Texas, in 1957 andappropriately made her perpetualvows as a Sister of Loretto among herfamily, friends, students, and fellow sistersat Loretto Academy, the school where shehas taught since 1997. On August 20 theschool gym was filled to overflowing forLiz’s solemn and joyous celebration.Liz first came to know the LorettoCommunity when she attended St. JosephElementary School in El Paso, which wasstaffed by the sisters. When she joined theteachers at Loretto Academy many yearslater, she began to think seriously aboutmaking a commitment to Loretto.“It was really their compassion,” she said.“I had started working in October 1997,and in January I became sick and washospitalized for a month. I had only reallybeen working there two months, and theteachers pooled their sick days so that Iwouldn’t lose any. They got a permanentsubstitute teacher so I didn’t have toworry. And they treated me like they reallycared, and that got my attention.“The more I was with them, the more Iwanted to be a part of Loretto. I thought,I’ll be a co-member, and started workingwith that process. It was slow going.It turned out that wasn’t the path forme. Once I starting looking at vowedmembership, then things began to fall intoplace.”The process of becoming a vowed Sisterof Loretto is not taken lightly, and thatprocess takes time — six years or longer.A year of study, called the canonical year,followed by a year of ministry, and manymilestones in subsequent years completethe candidate’s preparation to make finalvows.The special ceremonies for Sister Lizbegan with a mass in the Loretto Academygymnasium. Her friends, family, and coworkers— plus the entire student body— packed the service. Sisters of Lorettofrom El Paso and other cities were amongthe guests. A choir of children from theyounger grades sang for the occasion, anda group of high school girls in flowingcostumes performed sacred dance.“I am just so happy. I guess that’s a prettysimple word, but that’s where I am. Ihave everything that I had hoped to have,and it’s all come together for me. I havethis amazing community that I’m a partof, a ministry I absolutely love, living inthe place that makes my heart sing. I’msurrounded by my family and friends I’vehad for the last 20 or 30 years. All thepieces of my life fit together and fit well.”6 • Loretto Magazine

notes and newsNew book details valuable spiritualinsights between two religious leadersBy Carolyn Dunbar, EditorThe Louisville, Ky., publishingcompany, Fons Vitae, has releaseda new book that illuminatesthe friendship betweenreligious scholar Thomas Merton andthe Loretto Community during a briefbut extraordinary eight-year period inthe 1960s. The Roman Catholic Churchwas to undergo profound changesduring that period, and the friendshipbetween Mother General Mary LukeTobin SL and the Trappist monk fromGethsemani Abbey, just 12 miles fromthe Loretto Motherhouse in centralKentucky, would help them both toexplore these changes and to lead theirrespective religious communities intowhat would become a new era forCatholics around the world.The book, “Hidden in the Same Mystery:Thomas Merton and Loretto,” isedited by Merton scholar Bonnie Thurstonand Loretto editor Mary SwainSL. In transcripts of talks, letters,interviews and other writings, readerswill find a delightful recounting of therich intellectual and spiritual exchange betweentwo accomplished religious thinkersand vigorous leaders.Mary Luke Tobin continued to study thewritings of Thomas Merton after his deathin 1968. In fact, she founded the ThomasMerton Center for Creative Exchangein Denver and also helped to found theInternational Thomas Merton Societysome years later. She lectured on his philosophiesin Salt Lake City, Los Angeles,Kansas City, St. Louis, Milwaukee, NewYork City, and tiny Dubois, Wyo., whereshe was a guest lecturer for 15 summersat the interfaith retreat center Ring LakeRanch.Loretto co-member Mary Ann Reesereviewed the book for the the Septemberedition of the Community’s newsletterInterchange. She wrote, “From itsinception, that relationship was a mutualone. Merton came to Loretto in 1960 tofind his friend Dan Walsh a job. He succeeded.Mary Luke then enlisted Mertonto speak at Loretto — to novices, sistersin the infirmary, members of the council.Hidden in the Same Mystery:Thomas Merton and LorettoBonnie Thurston, General EditorMary Swain SL, Loretto EditorPublished 2010 by Fons Vitae49 Mockingbird Valley DriveLouisville, KY 40207www.fonsvitae.comShe returned the favor by addressingGethsemani's monks about the visionof the Second Vatican Council and herparticipation there as an auditor. Theseformal meetings, interspersed with lessformal ones, as well as letters and postcards,continued until Thomas Mertondied in 1968.”Reese continued, “ ‘Hidden in the SameMystery’ shows how their friendshipnurtured both, and so many others aswell. The book came to be becauseLuke possessed several tapes of ThomasMerton speaking to Loretto novices. Histalks centered on prayer, one’s relationshipwith God, and religious vows. Heplaced particular emphasis on beingoneself, and on living the vow of povertyin our consumer society and sufferingworld. Mary Luke believed thatMerton’s talks could be helpful not onlyto those in religious life, but to seekersfar and wide. She urged that they bepublished.” And finally they were.The book is presented in three parts,including Merton's writings for Lorettoand Tobin's remarks on Merton. Thethird part is a fascinating collectionof photos of Mary Luke, the LorettoMotherhouse, and many of the sisters.In another review, the editor of TheMerton Seasonal, Patrick O’Connell,said of the book, “. . . a precious testamentto the mutually enriching friendshipof Thomas Merton and MaryLuke Tobin, and to the bonds thatconnected their religious communities.This collection of Merton’s informalconferences at Loretto and Sr. Luke’srecollections of her relationships withMerton is a gift that illuminates the livesand witness of these two giants of thetwentieth-century American Church.”Fall-Winter 2010 • 7

notes and newsFifteen years and counting . . .Tournament and auction raise funds for retired sistersBy Denise Ann Clifford SLThe Development Office is pleasedto announce the results of the 15 thAnnual Golf Tournament heldAugust 21. This year we raised $21,196for the Loretto Retirement Fund. Thiswas accomplished through the efforts ofa wonderful Golf Committee, our loyalKnights of Columbus and the Ladies’Auxiliary, the hospitality afforded by theLoretto Center and Havern School, and allthe generous community members whocontributed their time, talent, and treasureto make the event a success.We send our heartfelt thanks to all thosewho volunteered to work at the golfcourse, the live and silent auctions, thespaghetti dinner, and the clean-up crew.We are grateful for the wonderful bakerswhose culinary talents filled the “KonventKitchen” with goodies galore underSister Marie Joann Rekart’s guidance. Wemarvel at the creativity of our Lorettocraftswomen who, at the urging of ComemberTheresa Kinealy, wowed thecrowd with their artistic endeavors.We appreciate the support and enthusiasmthat you gave us in the DevelopmentOffice and the welcome extended to ourguests who return each year, renewingtheir relationship and friendship withLoretto. We look forward to our “SweetSixteen” tournament in 2011.Above: Golfers arrive at Raccoon Creek Golf Course inLittleton, Colo., at sunrise to compete in the Fabulous FifteenthAnnual Sisters of Loretto Golf Tournament. Aboveright: Auctioneer Bob Kern gets ready for Loretto's first“live” auction segment, a resounding success. Right:Sponsor and golfer Barbara Hennigar shows off herlive auction winnings — a basket of Kentucky Bourbonand goodies from Maker's Mark Distillery; basket donorDonna Mattingly SL (with camera) congratulates her.8 • Loretto Magazine

1633 —1812Catholics Settle in America,Loretto Story Begins1812 — 1830Loretto Foundation and Early Days;Moving Beyond KentuckyOn the road to Jubilee 2012From 1960 to 1970 . . .Second Vatican Council startsdecade of renewal in Loretto1830 — 1900Education Mission Expands;Loretto Pushes Westward1900 — 1960Education Efforts Diversify;First Loretto Infirmary Opens1923: Loretto in ChinaEditor’s Note:A Vatican Council is one of the highest decision-makingbodies in the Roman Catholic Church; in authority secondonly to the College of Cardinals. With all the pomp andcircumstance of Rome, such a Vatican Council convened onOct. 11, 1962. Four years later, the Council of “Vatican II,” asit came to be known, had enacted 16 “texts” initiating some ofthe most profound changes ever to sweep through the CatholicChurch and throughout the religious world. The liturgy wouldhenceforth be in the language of the people, and there would beincreased openness and cooperation with other religions anddenominations.Traditionally, such august convocations had been the provinceof men only. No women allowed. One of the Vatican II “firsts”was the invitation to 15 prominent women leaders of the churchto attend as official “auditors.” They had no voting authority butcould participate on several commissions charged with draftingthe Council’s resolutions. Mary Luke Tobin SL was MotherGeneral of the Sisters of Loretto at that time. She was among the15 women who were invited; eight other women were eventuallyadded to their number before the Council ended.In 1996 Mary Luke recounted those events as an invited speakerfor a series of lectures called, “The Spirit of the Century: TheTwentieth in Review,” given at First Plymouth CongregationalChurch, United Church of Christ, Englewood, Colo. What followsare excerpts from that talk in her own words.1960 — 1970Decade of Renewal;Loretto Studies Guidelines, Governance1960: Loretto in Latin America1970 —1990New Government Structure;Loretto Works for Justice/Peace1989: Loretto in Ghana1990 —2000Co-membership Continues to Flourish;Loretto and Ecological Awareness2000 —2012Loretto Leadership Expands;Sister Communities Embrace2009: Loretto in Pakistan2012Loretto Celebrates 200th Jubilee!Fall-Winter 2010 • 9

Mary Luke Tobin SLExcerpted from a 1996 talk.Ilove to talk about VaticanII because to me it wasa great turning point inthe Catholic Church whena very important series ofchanges took place. It wascalled by a great pope, JohnXXIII, and it involved theRoman Catholic bishops ofthe world — all 2,500 ofthem. They came from allparts of the world and met inRome for four tumultuous,productive years. Vatican IIintroduced major changes into an ancient institution that has beensaid to be unchangeable. Well, the church is able to be changed,and we witnessed those changes.I am going to tell you what I consider the three most importantchanges that Vatican II introduced. First of all, it’s true thatneither I nor any woman ever expected to get there, but the groupof women that I represented, the Sisters of the United States, hadelected me president. They said to me, when we met after myelection, “Well, Vatican II is going on. Why don’t you go overthere? We know women are not officially invited, but you canstand around the corridors, learn what you can and come backand tell us about it so we’ll know what’s going on.”So I got on a ship and started out for Rome in the fall of 1964.While I was on the ship, a young staff worker came up to me andasked my name. I told him, and he said, “There’s a telephone callfor you up in the wireless room.” I didn’t know you could get atelephone call on a ship! I went to the wireless room, and sureenough, there was a telephone and a wireless operator with a littlegreen eye shade. He said, “This is the first time I’ve had threetelephone calls for one woman at the same time!” Something wasbrewing.I went, delighted, to the phone, and the voice at the other endsaid, “This is so-and-so of the New York Times. How do youElaine Prevallet SL“I have vivid memories of the excitement and hopeexpressed so enthusiastically by Sister Mary Luke in1996. Luke experienced the thrill of discovering thatthe Catholic Church can change! And truly Loretto didchange! Our doors opened: “the world” which had oncebeen avoided as seductive, was now the arena of ourmission. “We work for justice and act for peace becausethe gospel urges us” became a mandate for ourcommunity. Though the 50 years since Vatican II haveseen regression rather than the hoped-for advances,Loretto holds onto trust and hope: the Spirit of God willnot be bound!feel about being invited to Vatican II?” I said, “Would you pleaserepeat that?”The powers in Rome had made the momentous decision to invite15 women from around the world to attend as auditors of VaticanII. (No threat to 2,500 bishops.) The 15 of us — later there wereeight more — became official participants from then until the endof Vatican II. It was a marvelous experience.This even indicated that the old church has the potential andpower within it to bring about enormous changes — and it did!Young people growing up as Catholics today have no idea of howthose changes affected not only the liturgy of the church, but somuch else in their upbringing.Somebody asked me the other day,“Now that the pope won’t ordainwomen, are you going to leave thechurch?”“How ridiculous can you be?” I said.“Of course not. I don’t intend to leavethe church ever. It’s my heritage, it’smy background, it’s the richness it hasbrought to my life. Of course not.”“Well, then, what are you going to doif you’re excommunicated?” someoneasked. I said, “I’ll figure that out at thetime.”Of course, I think that the ordinationof women depends on one’s conceptsof both men and women being equal.There are differences, of course.In fact, the French say, “Vive ladifference!” Yet basically men andwomen share the same human nature.There are differences, but they are notdecisive differences. That leads to thefirst principal statement of Vatican II.Every form of discriminationagainst persons, either becauseof religion, nationality, race orgender, must be overcome anderadicated as contrary to God’sintent.Illustration of St. Peter's Basilica domeThe Gospel is in those words. For me it was a sentence worthmemorizing. That’s what we were told to do and taught to do, andwe have to find it again in every age.In RomeWhen I reached Rome, I soon met the other women from otherparts of the world, and we developed wonderful rapport. Oneof the most important was a woman from Australia namedRosemary Goldie. Rosemary was well known in Rome. She wasin the Office of the Laity there and is a brilliant, gifted woman10 • Loretto Magazine

y Mark Tenney.and accomplished linguist. I sat next to her because I certainlydid not know any other languages. She translated for me manyof the things that had to be in Latin because the bishops wouldn’thave caught onto them if there weren’t. She was invaluable.The second important change I brought home from VaticanII was a statement by Rosemary Goldie. The women auditorswere given permission to serve on some of the commissions.The commissions were working on documents, and they weregathering from all the bishops how the documents should bephrased.Rosemary and I were put on the “Commission on the Church inthe Modern World” where I reallywanted to be. There was a Frenchtheologian there, Yves Congar washis name. He died very recently. Hegave a little speech in front of thecommission meeting, and he said,“You know, I want to say somethinggood about women in the church.”And so he read a very beautifulsentence. Then he looked over to usand said, “Rosemary, what do youthink about my sentence?”She didn’t answer. He said, “Come,Rosemary, tell me what you thinkabout inserting my sentence.” AndRosemary made the statement thatI have carried around with me eversince. She said, “Pére Congar, youcan leave out all those nice flowerysentences about women. All you needto say is that women expect of thechurch to be treated and recognizedas the full human persons they are inthe church, and that’s enough.”I don’t think he understood to theday he died what she was saying.“Recognized as full human persons inthe church and treated accordingly.”When I came back to the UnitedStates, that was one of the twomessages I certainly brought with me.I am a believer that the tradition we are rooted in is veryimportant, and I am also a believer in the fact that this traditionbrings both good and bad things out of it. We have to think ofsome bad things about the total Catholic tradition, and we have tosee them as that. But we also have to think of some beauties andriches in the Catholic tradition that we celebrate today.Another significant step the Council took was to talk about thechurch and the churches. The idea of salvation only within theCatholic Church was banished. The Roman Catholic Church isone among the Christian churches, and the ecumenical movementis to be encouraged.Mary Catherine Rabbitt SL“When I entered Loretto in the fall of 1964, VaticanII was in progress and Mary Luke Tobin (then knownas Mother Mary Luke) was there! So, my entire 46years in the community have been influenced byVatican II. Loretto, together with many other religiouscommunities, took the reform efforts to heart. Lorettoin a post-Vatican II world was (and still is) open topossibilities.I know that I personally would never have had theopportunity to go to law school and practice law as amember of the community were it not for the reformsof Vatican II. Now, there is no turning back!Maureen McCormack SL“It was an exciting time to be alive in a church thatwas alive. We were in the thick of it because ourown Mary Luke Tobin was there. During the 10 yearsthat I had been a Sister of Loretto before women’sparticipation in Vatican II, the structures of religious lifewere my daily bread and just what my spirit needed.Now we were embarking on a new path. We tookthe call for renewal very seriously. The changes inreligious life and in the church allowed fresh breezesto enter my being and transform my spirit. Mostdramatic for me were changes in the liturgy, in the roleof the laity, being enriched by other faith traditions,and being part of a single global community.There was also another passage in the same document on “theChurch and the Churches.” It said that the Catholic Church mustopen itself to the churches of the world, including the churchesof the East. I have always loved that study anyway, and so it wasa delight to me to hear Catholics encouraged to look to the Eastand find something of the great traditions of the East that wouldbe a learning experience for all of us. And I have. For that reason,I think for Vatican II to open its doors in that direction was veryvaluable for me.I would take those three highlights as the most important. My lifewas forever changed in the sense of being open to the things thatVatican II opened.People I met made a great difference to me. Some of them arestill living, some are not. One of them still living is a greatBenedictine monk named Godfrey Diekmann [he has since died].He was editor of Worship magazine for a number of years. Wegot acquainted early because I wanted to learn from him why heFall-Winter 2010 • 11

Marian McAvoy SL“The 1960s brought changes to the church, certainly,as well as to Loretto. My own life is an example. Thedecade saw me move from a high school Englishteacher wearing a habit to a religious educator incontemporary garb teaching Catholic adults about thetheological basis for the Vatican Council and preparingthem to take on roles as decision makers on parishcouncils. A new master’s degree in pastoral theologyhad prepared me for this work.As a delegate to Loretto’s Special Chapter in thelate ’60s, I celebrated as that body accepted a newgovernment structure for the community based onshared participation in decision-making, both on thepersonal and the communal level. The respect for eachperson and his or her capacity to make decisions asadults was a part of two key principles of the Council’sdeliberations: subsidiarity and collegiality. They are, I’mglad to report, still operative within Loretto.Denise Ann Clifford SL“The years after Vatican II were exhilarating times inthe church. I was involved in parochial school educationwhen the changes of Vatican II began to filter downthrough ecclesial levels to the parishes. The leadershipin Loretto had already initiated a major study of ourrule and customs, and had implemented changes incommunity life and religious attire.Before Vatican II, we were respected as “the nuns” whotaught the children in the parish school and religiouseducation program. As the spirit of Vatican II unfolded,we were recognized leaders and teachers in the processof creating a new image of church as the “people ofGod.” We were . . .. . . nominated and elected to newly formed parishcouncils and committees;. . . selected for new liturgical roles: ministers of theEucharist, lectors, cantors;. . . instructors in adult education classes in scripture,theology, and parenting classes especially in regard tothe sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, and Eucharist;. . . members of study groups exploring andrecommending how to implement the directives ofVatican II in our individual parishes; and. . . creating and renewing communities dedicated tothe work of the Gospel.was so concerned about making the liturgical movement a part ofVatican II.He was on the committee and he did it. He did a lot of thingsbesides turning the altar around and establishing the vernacular asthe language of worship.The Council ended by the first of the year of 1966. So inDecember of 1965 there was a great outdoor finale. I rememberthe bishops were sitting in long lines in front of St. Peter’s, and ifyou’ve been there you know how big it is. Up at the front, right infront of the door, was seated the pope, who by this time was PaulVI. He was seated facing out, and all the bishops were in rows.Again, this is colorful drama, very rich in its presentation, withthe marvelous Gregorian chant singers.I must give you something of the setting. The picture that Iwant to describe is enormously colorful. Those bishops in theirrobes of purple, and then the white, and then the gold, and thenSt. Peter’s, and then all the lights on, all the candles lighted— it was a great celebration, a great time. It was a great visualrepresentation of a church bringing itself together.The program at the end of the Mass was to honor certain peoplein the church. They brought people out in fours, and the first werefour artists. They came out and made a little bow to the pope andwent up and received from him a little scroll. Then they went offand four historians came forward, then four musicians. Finallyfour women, and they bowed and went up and got their littlescrolls.I turned to Godfrey Diekmann, who was sitting next to me, and Isaid, “Godfrey, that’s all wrong.”“Wrong, Sister? What’s the matter with it? They should honorthese people for what they’ve done for the church.” I said, “I’lltell you what’s wrong, Godfrey. Women are not a category in thechurch!” He looked at me and he said to me, “Sister, you’re right.But we don’t see it, we don’t understand it, and you’re going tohave to explain it to us.”I thought that was a pretty big man who said that to me, and soevery time thereafter he mentioned it in print, I wanted to thankhim an extra time because he has lived up to this vision in someof his own writings.No, women are not a category in the church. The church itselfis men and women. Men and women attempting to live out theGospel and to listen to the words of Jesus and to form that kind ofa body of people who have heard those words and who are tryingto live them out together in the church. It’s not the edifice; it’s notSt. Peter’s; it’s not any gathering of associations. It’s the men andwomen who form the church.I look back on Vatican II with great affection,not only because the changes were much in linewith what I would have wanted anyway, but alsobecause it gave me the insight that the church canchange.12 • Loretto Magazine