U.S. women religious welcomed the conciliatory tone of a Vatican report on religious life and expressed appreciation for its acknowledgement of the important ministry that they practice in the life of the church. They also said the report, released on Dec. 16, opens a new beginning for women religious, as the apostolic visitation process that ran from 2009 to 2012 concluded. “The positive tone and the clear affirmation found in the document give us new energy to move on in our critical role,” said Sister Mary Johnson, a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and a professor of sociology and religious studies at Trinity Washington University. Sister Nancy Conway, president of the Congregation of St. Joseph, called it a “welcome ending” to the visitation. “I perceive this as a great shift in tone, for which I am very grateful.”

This article appears in January 5-12 2015.