"Radical Spirit", a visit with Sister Joan Chittister 

Sister Joan offers a light to guide us in this time of contradictory values and upheaval in every major institution of society. This guide comes from a 1500-year-old tradition, Benedictinism, and its model of the values of the individual and of the community formed by these individuals. The hallmark of the Rule of Benedict, the chapter on humility, brings to the world of today, an antidote to the destruction of relationships and the narcissism that typifies the culture of our time.

Joan Chittister is an articulate social analyst and influential religious leader of this age. For over 40 years she has dedicated herself to advocating for universal recognition of the critical questions impacting the global community. Courageous, passionate and charged with energy, she is a much-sought after speaker, commentator, counselor and clear voice across all religions. A Benedictine Sister of Erie, PA, Sister Joan is an international lecturer and award-winning author of over 50 books. She has won 16 Catholic Press Association awards for her books, as well as numerous awards for her work for justice, peace, and equality, especially for women, in church and in society.

A founding member of The Global Peace Initiative of Women, a partner organization of the UN, she works to develop a worldwide network of women peace builders. As co-chair of this group she has facilitated gatherings of spiritual leaders throughout the Middle East, in Asia, Africa, the Far East and Europe in an effort to spread an interfaith commitment to peace building, equality and justice for all peoples. A regular columnist for the National Catholic Reporter, Sister Joan has received numerous awards and recognition for her work including the U.S. Catholic magazine award For Furthering the Cause of Women in the Church and twelve honorary degrees from US colleges and universities.

She has served as president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, (an organization of the leaders/superiors of Catholic religious women in the US), president of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses (197490) and was prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie for 12 years. Sister Joan received her master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and her doctorate from Penn State University in Speech Communications Theory. In 1996 she was an Elected Fellow and Von Hugel lecturer of St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge University in England. She has served as president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, (an organization of the leaders/superiors of Catholic religious women in the US) and was prioress of her Benedictine community for 12 years. She is the founder and executive director of Benetvision: a resource and research center for contemporary spirituality located in Erie.