History of the Study for the Center of Religious Life

The idea for a center or institution that would facilitate a sustained, interdisciplined reflection on religious life in the United States grew out of a series of conversations. A group of men and women religious in the Washington DC area gathered to share, test and develop the idea. It was then presented to the Assemblies of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) for support and sponsorship. CMSM and LCWR offered both and undertook consultations with theology schools to determine a base for the Center. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago (CTU) was agreed upon. In 1998 the Center was established by the CMSM, LCWR and CTU.

Barbara Kraemer, OSF, was hired as the first Director of the CSRL in 1998. Mary Charlotte Chandler, RSCJ became the second Director in September, 2003.

Grants for seeding the Center’s foundational years were solicited from member institutes of LCWR and CMSM. In 2002 the Joint Board of CMSM and LCWR supported a plan for annual memberships in the Center to secure funding for the core administration of the Center on an ongoing basis. Fundraising is done for specific programs.