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Congress Recap: "Called by Love for Love"

Dear Members, Partners, and Friends of the Conference,

At the closing Eucharist of the 2023 Congress, Helen Aduku Ogbuji, CCVI reminded participants that we are “called by Love to be love.” Her reflection implored us to continue our work on the margins of society, serving those in need. In her words:

To reflect this light, religious men and women are found around the world ministering to the vulnerable immigrants and refugees at the borders and in our cities, and to the poor at the margins of society. We bring hope to families in parish ministries, to young people in youth ministries, to the elderly in our homes for the elderly, to the imprisoned in prison ministries, and in our hospitals, we take care of the uninsured. In our schools, we teach with our hearts, and we advocate for justice in social work. We are called by LOVE, to be love. We make the presence of Jesus real and felt in our world. The option for the poor is not optional for us; it is the essence of our lives and who we must be.

Sister Helen’s preaching was one of the inspiring moments from this year’s Congress. Cardinal Robert McElroy’s keynote address, Disclosing God’s Love, was another. We can’t forget, either, Sister Teresa Maya’s moving tribute to Sister Rosantina, the formator who shaped her love of religious life and has accompanied generations of others, upon receiving the Mary Emil Penet, IHM award. There were countless other moments, too. 

Together in formation, we embraced the prophetic call to be people of love and light in a world of discord and division. It is who we are – and who we’ll continue to be! 

Additionally, please find below important follow-up items for this year's gathering.

Media Order Form
CDs/DVDs/MP3 recordings from this year's Congress can be ordered online using this link:
Congress Digital Order Form 

Congress Pictures
We invite participants to check-out the Flickr album we created with this year's Congress pictures. You can access the album here: 
Congress Picture Album

2025 Congress
Make sure to save the dates for the next Congress: October 23-26, 2025 in Indianapolis. To access the video shown at Congress, click here:
2025 Site Video

Together, we thrive!

See you in Indianapolis,

Ryan Hoffmann, D.Min.
Executive Co-Director
Chair, 2023 Congress Planning Committee

RFC News & Notes
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The Religious Formation Conference (RFC) is a national Roman Catholic organization serving religious institutes of women and men with programs and services for those in the ministry of initial and lifelong formation, and general congregational membership.

Animated by God’s vivifying presence, the RFC will stand at the forefront of discerning the formative horizon of the emergent in religious life. In concert with members and collaborative partners, the Conference will lead in the areas of initial and ongoing formation and the professional preparation of formators.

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1525 E. 53rd St. | Suite 716
Chicago, IL 60615
Phone: 773.675.8362
Email: rfc@relforcon.org

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About RFC

About RFC

Mission, Vision, Values

Board of Directors

Staff / Contact

Membership

Congregational Members

Member Areas

Partners & Collaborators

Get news & notes

News Blog

Travel to/from

Privacy Policy

Programs

Attend a Program

ForMission

Program Cost and Payment
Dates and Location

ForMission 2.0

Life Commitment

Program Cost and Payment

Compromiso de Vida

Orientation to Formation

Program cost and payment

Webinars

Workshops

InterCongregational Collaborative Novitiate (ICCN)

Together

Program Advisory Committee

Member Areas

Scholarship Funds

Calendar

Cancellation Policies

Congress

Congress 2025

Congress 2023

Congress 2021

Congress 2019

Congress 2017

Congress 2015

Congress 2013

Congress 2011

Resources

Resources Portal

Webinar Recordings

Workshops & Presentations

InFormation Bulletins

Annual Reports

Scholarship Funds

News Blog

Online Store

Cancellation Policies

Members

Become a Member

Member Areas

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