Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious

The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR) is a national association representing the major superiors and vicars of Catholic women's religious communities in the United States. It is one of two principal associations of leaders of women's religious institutes in the country, the other being the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). CMSWR was established in 1992 after a number of communities sought a parallel organization that they regarded as more explicitly aligned with the teaching authority of the Catholic Church and the Holy See. The Vatican granted provisional approval on June 12, 1992, through the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and definitive approval followed on October 26, 1995, during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. The council is not a commercial product brand. Its role is organizational, ecclesial, and representational. It promotes cooperation and communication among member institutes, provides education and dialogue concerning Catholic teaching on consecrated life, encourages unity with the pope, and supports collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is also one of four United States federations of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life recognized by the Holy See, alongside the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, LCWR, and the United States Conference of Secular Institutes. CMSWR member communities are generally distinguished from LCWR-affiliated communities by their governance terminology and institutional identity. CMSWR represents institutes whose leaders are described as major superiors rather than simply leaders, and many of its member communities are associated with the wearing of recognizable religious habits. Comparative vocation research cited in discussions of the two organizations has described CMSWR institutes as having a younger demographic profile and stronger recent growth in vocations than LCWR institutes. The cited 2009 study reported a median age of approximately 60 for sisters in CMSWR institutes, compared with 74 for those in LCWR institutes, and found that CMSWR communities were more likely to have several novices. By December 2020, CMSWR was described as representing 112 religious congregations with approximately 5,700 women religious in the United States. The same account characterized this membership as roughly 30 percent of women religious in the country, although the proportion varies according to the population measure used. The council's activities include internal coordination, leadership formation, communication among superiors, and engagement with Catholic authorities. It has also participated in major ecclesial developments affecting women's religious life in the United States, including the apostolic visitation announced in 2009 to examine religious communities' quality of life, ministries, and vocation efforts. CMSWR's public identity is therefore centered on fidelity to Catholic ecclesial authority, support for religious vocations, community collaboration, and the representation of institutes of consecrated life. Its membership consists of religious congregations rather than individual consumers, and its influence is exercised through governance, formation, dialogue, and relations with the Holy See and United States Catholic leadership.

CMSWR emerged from debates within American Catholic women's religious life during the 1980s. Some religious communities believed that the existing Leadership Conference of Women Religious had moved toward secular and political concerns and had become associated, in their view, with positions insufficiently aligned with official Catholic teaching. These communities sought authorization for a separate association whose identity would more clearly emphasize fidelity to the Magisterium and unity with the pope. The Holy See granted provisional authorization for the new association on June 12, 1992, through the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The organization was eventually given definitive approval on October 26, 1995, under Pope John Paul II. This approval established CMSWR as one of the federally organized groupings of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life recognized by the Holy See in the United States. Its stated work has centered on collaboration and communication among member communities, participation in discussions about religious life, education in Catholic teaching, unity with the pope, and cooperation with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The council represents major superiors and their vicars, reflecting the canonical governance structures of its member institutes. Its communities are often publicly differentiated from LCWR-affiliated institutes by the use of the term major superior and by the wearing of recognizable religious habits. Research on recent vocations helped shape the public comparison between CMSWR and LCWR communities. A 2009 study cited a substantially younger median age among sisters in CMSWR institutes and reported that CMSWR communities were more likely to have multiple novices. The same research indicated that a smaller share of newer entrants to CMSWR institutes were over age 40 than among entrants to LCWR institutes. These figures were used to describe CMSWR institutes as having a younger and, in some cases, growing membership profile, although they do not describe every member community equally. In January 2009, the Vatican announced an apostolic visitation of American women religious to assess quality of life, ministries, and efforts to encourage vocations. Cardinal Franc Rode's congregation appointed Mother Mary Clare Millea to oversee the visitation. CMSWR publicly welcomed the process and encouraged its members to cooperate. In October 2010, chairperson Sister Regina Marie Gorman and former chairperson Sister Ann Marie Karlovic, O.P., met Pope Benedict XVI at the Apostolic Palace in Rome. The council marked its twentieth anniversary in March 2012. On that occasion, its board of directors met Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, then president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation. By December 2020, CMSWR was described as representing 112 congregations with approximately 5,700 women religious in the United States. Mother Mary McGreevy, RSM, was identified as chairperson, Mother Anna Grace Neean, OP, as assistant chairperson, and Cardinal Justin Rigali as the episcopal liaison appointed by the Holy See. CMSWR's institutional history is therefore closely connected with questions of Catholic identity, religious governance, vocation development, and the relationship between women's religious institutes and the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. It functions as a representative and coordinating body rather than as a commercial enterprise.

• 2020

  Membership reported at 112 congregations

  [1]Council of Major Superiors of Women Religiousen.wikipedia.org

  The council was reported to include leaders of 112 congregations representing approximately 5,700 women religious.

• 2012

  Twentieth anniversary

  [1]Council of Major Superiors of Women Religiousen.wikipedia.org

  CMSWR celebrated its twentieth anniversary and its board met Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella.

• 2010

  Meeting with Pope Benedict XVI

  [1]Council of Major Superiors of Women Religiousen.wikipedia.org

  CMSWR representatives met Pope Benedict XVI at the Apostolic Palace in Rome.

• 2009

  Apostolic visitation announced

  [1]Council of Major Superiors of Women Religiousen.wikipedia.org

  The Vatican announced a visitation examining the life, ministries, and vocation work of American women religious; CMSWR encouraged cooperation.

• 1995

  Definitive approval

  [1]Council of Major Superiors of Women Religiousen.wikipedia.org

  CMSWR received definitive approval from the Holy See on October 26.

• 1992

  Provisional approval by the Holy See

  [1]Council of Major Superiors of Women Religiousen.wikipedia.org

  The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life granted provisional approval for the association on June 12.

A Holy See-approved association of Catholic women's religious institutes in the United States, emphasizing fidelity to Catholic teaching, ecclesial unity, religious vocation development, and collaboration among major superiors.

• 2009

  Support for the apostolic visitationOther

  Background

  The Vatican initiated an examination of American women's religious communities, including their quality of life, ministries, and vocation efforts.

  Action taken

  CMSWR welcomed the visitation and encouraged member communities to cooperate fully.

  Aftermath

  The visitation became an important event in contemporary discussions about Catholic women's religious life in the United States.

  Source

• 1992

  Formation of a parallel associationStrategy

  Background

  Some Catholic women's religious communities sought an association that would emphasize fidelity to the Magisterium and unity with the Holy See.

  Action taken

  CMSWR was formed with provisional authorization from the Holy See.

  Aftermath

  The council later received definitive approval and became one of the Holy See-recognized United States federations for institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life.

  Source

1. 1Council of Major Superiors of Women Religiousen.wikipedia.org