Conference Proceedings
To Tangle or To Tango: The Reconfiguration of Religious Institutes
Sydney
Australia October 2005
Why a conference on the reconfiguration of Religious Institutes at this point in history and what does this movement mean for the Church?"
Answering this question required a multi-disciplinary approach and an interplay of praxis and theory. It was no simple conversation which is summed up in the following quote:
For a while I guess we were all dancing together, in a sort of tango with seven people and a large dog. Maybe it was more of a tangle than a tango.
The conference "To Tangle or To Tango: The Reconfiguration of Religious Institutes" was held in Sydney Australia in October 2005. It attracted 430 participants from Australia , New Zealand , New Guinea , Italy , Singapore , Canada , USA , United Kingdom , Ireland and Jamaica . The participants were not promised answers but an opportunity to converse with women and men of Religious Institutes about the potential of reconfiguration to enable the vitality of both mission and community life.
The reflections were enriched by the theology of Rev Richard Lennan and Sr Patricia Fox rsm, the sociology of Sr Patricia Wittberg sc, the canonical perspective of Rev Francis Morrisey OMI, the psychological implications of change by Drs Gerardine Taylor and Tony Robinson and the organisational perspective of Dr Maureen Cleary.
Within this rich tapestry of theoretical underpinnings were stories of a variety of Religious Institutes that have embarked on a reconfiguration or structuring process. These reflections were generously provided by Sr Marie Chin rsm, Sr Breege O'Neill rsm, Sr Lorraine Campbell sm, Br Peter Rodney fms, Sr Lorelle Elcock OP, Rev Denis Travers cp and Sr Denise Fox rsm.
Anne Quirk. Dancing with Great-Aunt Cornelia : Referred to by Dennis J. Billy CSSR in his article "Right relationships in Consecrated Life". Review for Religious , Sept-Oct 2002.
The Conference organisation recognised that the participants would need a reflective space in which to dialogue. Gathering and Closing Reflections were energetically led by Sr Val O'Hara rsm. The "Artists in Residence" Pauline Clayton and Sr Rosemary Crumlin rsm created a space and environment to explore, depth and communicate whatever ..
The continuing reflection was assiduously assisted by the Critical Responders, Sr Marlette Black pbvm, Sr Mary McDonald sgs and Br Graham Neist fms who daily feed back to the group the key issues they heard emerging in the Conference processes.
I am extremely grateful to the wise women who encouraged me to pursue the idea of holding this Conference; their support gave me the confidence to proceed. It would not have been possible without the enthusiastic and generous contributions of the Presenters, Reflection Leader, Artists in Residence, Critical Responders and the hundreds of women and men from Religious Institutes who continue to inspire me with their dedication and commitment to religious life.
The Spirit was at work in this Conference. These words of Jeremias emerged as a reoccurring theme:
"I know the plans I have in mind for you
-it is Yahweh who speaks-
plans for peace, not disaster,
reserving a future full of hope
for you".
Maureen Cleary
Conference Convenor
Conference Presentations
The text of the following presentations can be found in "Conference Proceedings: To Tangle or To Tango" which is available from our Bookstore.
- The Rise and Fall of Catholic Religious Institutes: What Can the Present Tell Us About the Future?
Sr Patricia Wittberg sc
- Faithfulness, Change and the Church
Rev Richard Lennan
- Ten Important Things to Remember About Reconfiguring from a Canonical Perspective
Rev Francis Morrisey OMI
- Mission Impossible: Reconfiguring 44 Separate Congregations and over 10,000 Women
An Interview with Sr Marie Chin rsm, Sr Breege O'Neill rsm and Geraldine Doogue
- We Stood at the Crossroads and Looked.
Sr Lorraine Campbell sm
- Waltz, Flamenco, Jig and Salsa: Restructuring for Vitality - the Experience of an International Congregation
Br Peter Rodney fms
- Risk the Journey, Celebrate Hope: A Story of Union
Sr Lorelle Elcock OP
- A Strategic Plan to Strategic Priorities to Strategic Directions
Rev Denis Travers cp
- Becoming One: A New Creation for Mission - Aotearoa New Zealand Mercy Story
Sr Denise Fox rsm
- Reconfiguring and the Art of Living Communion
Sr Patricia Fox rsm
- Tangling and Tango-ing Through the Organisational Processes of Reconfiguration
Dr Maureen Cleary
- Crossing the Rubicon
Dr Gerardine Taylor and Dr Tony Robinson
- Critical Responses
Sr Marlette Black pbvm, Sr Mary McDonald sgs and Br Graham Neist fms.
You might also be interested in seeing some of the Conference Images
