Romeoville, Illinois, Aug. 7, 2019 - Christian Brothers Services (CBS) is sponsoring the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) 2019 Assembly program, “Imagining Leadership in a Global Community,” to be held Aug. 13-16 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“After many years of supporting the assembly through exhibiting and sponsorships, Christian Brothers Services is proud to sponsor this event at the 2019 Assembly,” said Brother Michael Quirk, FSC, Ed.D. President and CEO of CBS. “LCWR’s commitment to justice speaks profoundly to the women of faith the group represents and the moral leadership shared with CBS and the world. We appreciate the opportunity to support and partner in mission with LCWR.”
CBS will exhibit at the conference and sponsor the presidential address. The featured speaker, LCWR President Sharlet Wagner, CSC, will present the prayer and presidential address from noon to 1:30 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 15. Sr. Sharlet has served in ministry with the Sisters of the Holy Cross for 27 years. As an immigration attorney, she served with Central American Resource Center, Los Angeles, and at Holy Cross Ministries in Salt Lake City, where she later worked as Immigration Department director.
CBS also is excited to sponsor this year’s panel discussion exploring the intersection of racism, migration and the climate crisis. Panelists include Joan Brown, OSF, Maria Elena Perales and Patricia Chappell.
Brown is the executive director of the New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, which educates and inspires faith communities to act for climate justice; engages them in energy efficiency, sustainability, local food, and action for renewable energy; and advocates for public policy around climate and energy.
Perales, Director of the St. Joseph Justice Center, has been an activist in social justice throughout her career, serving roles with the Justice and Peace Office of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Coalition for Humane and Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and the Orange County Interfaith Network Board.
Chappell, a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, has demonstrated an impressive career in social work and served as the first African American Executive Director of Pax Christi, USA, the National Catholic Nonviolent Peace and Justice Movement in Washington D.C.
In addition to Brother Quirk, representing CBS will be Karen Francisco, BMT Director, Cindy McKay, BMT Senior Consultant, Brother Thomas Hetland, FSC, religious institutes relationship manager; Sister Geraldine Hoyler, CSC, religious institute consultant; Sister Yvonne Weidner, OSF, member relations associate, and Bob Fiorentino, business development specialist.
LCWR is an association of the leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States. The conference represents nearly 80 percent of the approximately 48,500 women religious in the United States. The conference assists its members to collaboratively carry out their service of leadership to further the mission of the Gospel in today’s world.
About Christian Brothers Services
Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Romeoville, Illinois, Christian Brothers Services is a nonprofit, Catholic organization that administers cooperative programs in the areas of health, retirement, property/casualty, and technology as well as financial, administrative and Catholic school consulting to church congregations, organizations and dioceses internationally.
About Catholic School Management
Founded in 1973, NCEA Financial Consulting Services focused exclusively on finance and development consulting services for Catholic school and diocesan administrators. In 1979 demand for a broader scope of services resulted in the creation of Catholic School Management (CSM). In 2014, Christian Brothers Services acquired CSM's growing operations, making CBS the national leader in consultative guidance for Catholic schools. CSM's team of experts represents more than 500 years of experience in the education field with a focus on strategy, planning and leadership.
About BMT
Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Tarrytown, New York, Brenner, McDonagh & Tortolani, Inc., BMT Management and Financial Consultants was acquired by Christian Brothers Services in 2017. Providing premier consulting services to 280 religious institutes and many sponsored ministries in need of assistance, BMT offers the management of daily operations, including accounting and financial management, benefits eligibility management, human resources, investment consulting and real estate planning and sustainability studies.