A record gathering of over 400 Lay Associates and Vowed Religious met at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York over the Memorial Day weekend. The theme of the conference was “Fan into Flame the Gifts of the Spirit.” The conference was sponsored by NACAR, The North American Conference of Associates and Religious, and hosted by Iona College and the Congregation of Christian Brothers, this conference occurs every two years. 

Dr. Ann Carr, MD, a pediatric specialist and lay affiliate of the Maryknoll Missioners, opened the conference by sharing her passion for mission with stories of her ministry to the disenfranchised as a Maryknoll Affiliate in Latin America, India and the United States. She called those present to see “flames of hope in a broken world.” Dr. Carr was preceded in her address by a spirited procession complete with bells, drums, banners and dancers that ushered in conference delegates from throughout the United States, Canada and Italy. 

Edwina Gateley, founder of the Volunteer Missionary Movement in England in 1969, and Genesis House for women involved in prostitution in 1983, was the keynote speaker. Using stories from her experience preparing laity as missioners in the developing world and as minister to the women on the street, she called conference delegates to bring their gifts as associates and religious to the margins of society, just as Jesus did. 

Terrance Moran, CSSR, who coordinates Hispanic ministry for the diocese of Paterson, NJ, gave a special welcome to Spanish-speaking associates, religious and guests. At breakout sessions on Saturday afternoon, hosted by Sandy Figuerosa, associate and Maria Iglesias, SC local Latina Associates and religious spoke of their experiences of community and their involvement as associates. 

Other Saturday sessions featured Margaret Thompson, SSJ on the Gift of Art and Prayer; Suzanne Golas, CSJP on the Gift of Earth Community; John Freund, CM on the Electronic Age: Gift of Technology; Suzanne Elesser of the Ignatian Lay Volunteer Corps on Organizing Volunteer Ministry for Mission; Colleen Kelly on the Gift of Peaceful Tomorrows; Grace Ann Troisi, SC on Leadership to Develop Leadership in Others and Gail DeMaria, CSJP on Issues for Associates When Congregations Merge. 

The liturgy of Pentecost was celebrated by the conference, with father John Freund, CM presiding and Kathleen Deignan, CND leading liturgical worship with Schola Ministries.  Co-Chairs for the bi-annual conference were Elizabeth Begley, Maryknoll Affiliate and Bernadette Dougherty, SSJ. 

The North American Conference of Associates and Religious was founded in 1996 to assist Religious congregations in the development of lay associates with whom they could share their charism and mission. Since its founding, NACAR has built a network of support for associate leaders and members. It conducts workshops for religious congregations and intercongregational groups on associate issues and publishes a magazine, The Associate, which has become a voice for the movement. NACAR has also conducted research on the associate movement and shows more than 27,000 associates throughout the United States and Canada. 

Sister Mary Clark, SSJ of Wheeling attended the conference along with several associates and religious from PA. She reports that Edwina Gateley will be the keynote speaker at the Annual Wheeling Associate gathering in September 2005. 

For more information about the Sisters of Saint Joseph Associates, contact Sister Mary Clark at 304-232-8160, srmclark@aol.com or Janice Dugan at 304-873-3247,  Janice1018@peoplepc.com

Home