Religious Formation Conference

Holy places. Sacred spaces.

"I Have Met God"

🌇 "Wherever in this world we are, may we know the in which we are always held, and may we carry this for one another. On this day, this blessing is for you."

LUMINOUS HEART

When the lines
of your life
fall heavy and dark,

when the layers
lie tangled and frayed
and every story
seems a scar
written sore
upon you,

then may you
know yourself
held in that light
that gives every line
back to you,

inscribed in the love
that has always
been traced across
your luminous heart.

—Jan Richardson
from How the Stars Get in Your Bones: A Book of Blessings
janrichardson.com/books

Image: “Equinox”
© Jan Richardson
janrichardsonimages.com

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, tonight holds the fall equinox, that moment when the sun shines directly above the equator of the earth, and our days will soon begin to hold more dark hours than light. I am thinking also of friends in the Southern Hemisphere as they mark the spring equinox and the beginning of days that hold more light than dark. Wherever in this world we are, may we know the light in which we are always held, and may we carry this for one another. On this day, this blessing is for you.

LUMINOUS HEART

When the lines
of your life
fall heavy and dark,

when the layers
lie tangled and frayed
and every story
seems a scar
written sore
upon you,

then may you
know yourself
held in that light
that gives every line
back to you,

inscribed in the love
that has always
been traced across
your luminous heart.

—Jan Richardson
from How the Stars Get in Your Bones: A Book of Blessings
janrichardson.com/books

Image: “Equinox”
© Jan Richardson
janrichardsonimages.com

For Sister Maria, joining the summer community remotely was transformative. Click to learn what 'forming the formators' looks like when geography is no barrier to vibrant , shared , & transformative .

Distance Learning Proves Transformative for Sister Maria Nabakka, IHMR This summer, the Conference's ForMission program reached a milestone: Sr. Maria Nabakka, IHMR, Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Reparatrix from Uganda, became the first participant to complete…

Today begins —five days honoring Catherine McAuley, the woman who turned one house on Baggot Street into a movement that reached the world.

This painting by Jen Norton Art Studio captures her story: her House of Mercy in Dublin, and the women and children whose lives it changed.

"I am yours for time and eternity."

Today we begin Mercy Week — five days honoring Catherine McAuley, the woman who turned one house on Baggot Street into a movement that reached the world. This painting by captures her story: her House of Mercy in Dublin, and the women and children whose lives it changed.

September 23–27, we're carrying that same spirit forward with Sr. Mary Reynolds, RSM.
Full schedule at the link below — we'd love for you to join us.
https://cranaleith.org/programs/2930/celebrate-mercy-week-with-us/

Presenters at January's session:
◘ Dr. Carlos Garcia Alayon (Scripture)
◘ Dr. John Chitakure (Interculturality)
◘ Fr. Frank Donio, SAC (Ecclesiology)
◘ Sr. Nancy Shrek, OSF (Spirituality)
◘ Dr. Susan Timoney (Formation Skillset)

Registration open. Learn more below & online: relforcon.org/formission

🍁 Hello, autumn. Let go—and learn to fly.

"Long before America debated civic education, sisters were forming consciences," he said.

“Long before people spoke of 'social capital,' sisters were building communities of trust.

Long before commentators worried about polarization, women religious were teaching children to recognize Christ in one another."

Baltimore archbishop urges women religious to model renewal of American political culture At a time of deep political division and declining trust, Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore told a national gathering of women religious leaders that renewing American political culture requires more than better politics. It requires a renewal of human character, relationships and spiritual life

If you want peace, work for justice. -Pope Paul VI

😊 Thank you, Marist Brothers USA, for your membership renewal. We're for the work we do together as partners-in-mission!

As Religious Brothers Day comes to a close, we offer a prayer of gratitude for the Marist Brothers and for Religious Brothers throughout the world.
Inspired by St. Marcellin Champagnat, Marist Brothers continue to share life with young people, walking with them in the way of Mary and helping them discover hope, faith, and purpose.
May their witness continue to inspire new generations to serve young people and to build communities of faith wherever they are called.

Where are we being invited to lean into the “sacrament of nature” even more?

Daily Nourishment from Abbey of the Arts | September 21, 2026 - https://mailchi.mp/abbeyofthearts/daily-nourishment-from-abbey-of-the-arts-september21-2026

"When we encounter nature as sacrament, we can no longer objectify it."

—Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, "Earth, Our Original Monastery: Cultivating Wonder and Gratitude through Intimacy with Nature"

How do you nurture and nourish this kind of vision? Where are you invited to lean into the sacrament of nature even more?