"Sister Says: ‘Be Adult Catholics"

Sister Mary Waskowiak, President of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas will speak at Saint Xavier University for the Catholic Colloquium lecture series. Her lecture is titled "Sister Says: 'Be Adult Catholics.'"

The lecture will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 1 at Saint Xavier University in the Warde Academic Center's Butler Reception Room, 3700 W. 103rd St. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Drawing on her commitment as a Sister of Mercy and her broad experience in Catholic Church ministries, Sister Waskowiak will address some of the challenges that religion and faith pose for all adult believers.  How does one hold together faith in a transcendent God and membership in a less than perfect religious organization? 

Sister Waskowiak has served as President of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas since July 2005. Prior to her role as president, Mary served as councilor on the Institute Leadership Team from 1991 to 1999 and as President of the Sisters of Mercy Regional Community of Burlingame, Calif., from 2003 to 2005.

Sister Waskowiak also served as President of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) from 1996 to 1999, during which time she participated as official observer to the Bishops' Synod for the Americas at the Vatican. Her prior ministry experiences include secondary education, parish ministry, seminary field education, Sisters of Mercy vocation and formation ministry, and directing Mercy Center in Burlingame. Sister Waskowiak has served as facilitator and/or presenter for groups of women and men religious in Argentina, Chile, England, Guyana, Ireland, Peru, South Africa, the United States and Zambia.

The Catholic Colloquium series is sponsored by the Office for University Mission and Heritage. It honors the responsibilities of a Catholic university to its many constituents and illustrates how Catholic universities are resources for examining contemporary civic and social questions.

For additional information, please contact the Office for University Mission and Heritage at (773) 298-3981 or mareska@sxu.edu.