ACHA Honors Leadership Conference of Women Religious

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious has been chosen to receive the first annual “Service to Catholic Studies Award” of the American Catholic Historical Association for their sponsorship of the “Women and Spirit” exhibit currently traveling around the United States. The exhibit, Women & Spirit, describes how Catholic sisters helped shape the history and culture of the United States. The award will be conferred by incoming ACHA President Larissa Juliet Taylor at the annual banquet, January 8, 2011 at the Marriott Boston Copley Place.

The Service to Catholic Studies award acknowledges the exceptional contributions of those who promote the study and research of the history of Catholicism apart from teaching and publication. “Women & Spirit” in the words of Sister Karen Kennelly, “celebrates the contributions of women religious to American life.” In so doing, the LCWR has substantially advances the hopes of U.S. Catholic historians who have attempted to fold the American Catholic story into the larger narrative of American history. Relying on advice from scholars like Dr. Carol Coburn and Sister Kennelly and the many gifts of the LCWR committee that planned and advanced this project, this significant display has skillfully intersected the work of women religious with some of the major developments and figures of American life. Eighty five entities, religious and secular, helped to underwrite this project and it has already been displayed in Cincinnati, the Smithsonian, and is currently at Ellis Island. It is scheduled to visit every region of the United States and will conclude its tour at the California Museum of History at Sacramento–an institution created and promoted by First Lady Maria Shriver.

In past years, there have been a number of excellent local exhibits highlighting the Catholic contributions to a city or a state. However, none has ever been done on the size and scale of “Women & Spirit” nor reached so many people across the nation. This exhibit makes clear what Catholic historians have long known: the prayers and work of women religious have not only built the Catholic Church–they have helped to build the nation.

In the words of Professor Steven Avella the current President of the ACHA, “this award is not only intended to affirm this excellent exhibit, but also to pay tribute to religious women in the United States and to underscore our appreciation for their loyalty and service to the mission of the Church. Our Association has been blessed over the years with women religious whose scholarship and gifts to the work of Catholic history have enriched us all.”

Visit the Women and Spirit exhibit on the web at womenandspirit.org.