Dear Members, Partners, and Friends of the Conference,
At the closing Eucharist of the 2023 Congress, Helen Aduku Ogbuji, CCVI reminded participants that we are “called by Love to be love.” Her reflection implored us to continue our work on the margins of society, serving those in need. In her words:
To reflect this light, religious men and women are found around the world ministering to the vulnerable immigrants and refugees at the borders and in our cities, and to the poor at the margins of society. We bring hope to families in parish ministries, to young people in youth ministries, to the elderly in our homes for the elderly, to the imprisoned in prison ministries, and in our hospitals, we take care of the uninsured. In our schools, we teach with our hearts, and we advocate for justice in social work. We are called by LOVE, to be love. We make the presence of Jesus real and felt in our world. The option for the poor is not optional for us; it is the essence of our lives and who we must be.
Sister Helen’s preaching was one of the inspiring moments from this year’s Congress. Cardinal Robert McElroy’s keynote address, Disclosing God’s Love, was another. We can’t forget, either, Sister Teresa Maya’s moving tribute to Sister Rosantina, the formator who shaped her love of religious life and has accompanied generations of others, upon receiving the Mary Emil Penet, IHM award. There were countless other moments, too.
Together in formation, we embraced the prophetic call to be people of love and light in a world of discord and division. It is who we are – and who we’ll continue to be!
Additionally, please find below important follow-up items for this year's gathering.
Media Order Form
CDs/DVDs/MP3 recordings from this year's Congress can be ordered online using this link:
Congress Digital Order Form
Congress Pictures
We invite participants to check-out the Flickr album we created with this year's Congress pictures. You can access the album here:
Congress Picture Album
2025 Congress
Make sure to save the dates for the next Congress: October 23-26, 2025 in Indianapolis. To access the video shown at Congress, click here:
2025 Site Video
Together, we thrive!
See you in Indianapolis,
Ryan Hoffmann, D.Min.
Executive Co-Director
Chair, 2023 Congress Planning Committee