CSM Hosts the Conference of
Anglican Religions Orders

It was the privilege of the Community of St. Mary, Peekskill, to host the Annual Leaders’ Conference for the Conference of Anglican Religious Orders in the Americas (CAROA) this past April. CAROA was formerly know as the Conference on the Religious Life, dating back to the organization’s founding in 1950, when there were no canonical provisions for other Christian communities or episcopal recognition for hermits. The name of CAROA was legally changed this year to clarify the fact that the members represented were all religious orders recognized under Canon 30 of Title III of ECUSA and recognized in Canada by the national Synod.

Fifty-seven religious from twenty of the twenty-three religious orders came to Peekskill for the Conference, April 9–14. The Sisters of St. Mary and all our staff had cleaned and painted and moved furniture into many empty cells to make room for everyone. Even so, some of the men had to board at the Peekskill Motor Inn at the bottom of our hill. All guests were received as Christ and then put to work as family!!! A good time was had by all.

We were delighted to have Bishop Dan Herzog, our own Visitor, celebrate and preach at the opening Eucharist of the Conference. Bishop Rodney Michel, Chairman of the House of Bishop’s Committee on the Religious Life, honored us with his presence for three days of the Conference. We appreciated both these busy Bishops taking time to pray, discuss issues and have time for fellowship with us.

Dr. Peta Dunstan, St. Edmund’s College Fellow, Modern Church History and Librarian of the Divinity Faculty of Cambridge University, England, honored us with a lecture series exploring the historical relationships between Religious and U.C. Bishops. She gave us much to think about, share with our communities and Visitors, and to apply in our ongoing dialogue with the leaders of the Church in our own day.