More than 200 sisters of Immaculate Conception province (SND USA) gathered near Columbus, Ohio, from July 8 to 10, 2025, for prayer, learning, conversation, celebration, and recommitment to mission, ministry, and community. Sisters unable to travel viewed the proceedings via live stream and participated in discussions in their local communities.
Seated at tables of eight, the sisters listened to a video presentation by Franciscan Sister Nancy Schreck, who invited us to take a long, loving look at the power of women religious to live their mission in a time of seismic change. Superior General Sister Mary Ann Culpert offered an overview of the worldwide SND community and the contributions SND USA is making to the life and health of the congregation.
Prayer rituals of gratitude, hope, and sending, table discussion, and a Liturgy of Hope for the Jubilee Year, celebrated by Marianist Fr. James Heft, invited participants to reflect on how we will move forward in response to God’s call in today’s world. The sisters enjoyed an evening of entertainment, with games and singing.
Between sessions, more than 60 sisters sent video messages of hope and recollections of sisters who had taught them hope. The joyful energy and peace of the gathering showed the effectiveness of the years of preparation for coming together as one province and the strong relationships built during our five years of living SND USA.
