The Cecilia Meighan, RSM Institute of Law and Religious Life

Virtually Together: The 30th Cecilia Meighan, RSM Institute of Law and Religious Life

FOUNDRESS OF THE CECILIA MEIGHAN, RSM INSTITUTE OF LAW AND RELIGIOUS LIFE: Cecilia Meighan, RSM, EdD, JD
Our founder and first Director (until 2008) died on September 12, 2014 after many years of service as a teacher, administrator, and lawyer as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Community of the Sister of Mercy of the Americas. For the first 21 Institutes of Law and Religious Life, she served as inspiration, mentor, and friend to many faculty members and participants. We count on her continued presence, guidance, and inspiration as we continue this Institute named in her honor.

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Theme of Year III (part of the three-year cycle):         
The Religious Institute: The Choice to be Part of the Public Life of the Church 

Interactive Virtual Sessions: August 20 - November 19, 2026
Virtual Program Schedule:
Dates: August 20, September 3 and 17, October 1, 15, and 29, November 12 and 19
Day: Thursdays
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM (Eastern Time)

The Institute offers professional development to elected and appointed leadership of Roman Catholic religious congregations. The program is also invaluable to those members to whom leadership has delegated responsibilities for the life and ministry of the members. Over the course of the interactive virtual Institute, attendees can seek input from faculty and also from the experience of their peers.

This program will enable you to:
·        Gain a new perspective on the role and responsibilities of leadership
·        Interact with those who share similar responsibilities and challenges
·        Discover alternative solutions to problems
·        Create a network of peers

Meet our Faculty:

DEBORAH M. CERULLO, SSND, JD, JCL
Director of Institute
Deborah M. Cerullo SSND is an attorney and canonist whose primary focus is the legal issues of religious institutes.   From 2003 to 2016, she served as the principle attorney at the law office of Deborah M. Cerullo, SSND in Providence, RI and has served on the faculty of the Institute of Law and Religious Life on an ongoing basis since 2003.  Prior to 2003 she served on the law faculties of the University of Notre Dame and Boston College and as a legal services attorney in both secular and faith-based organizations.  In 2016 Deborah was elected to the provincial council of the Atlantic-Midwest Province of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and completed her term in 2021.  She has since returned to full time consulting work with religious institutes.

KELLY CONNORS, pm, JCD, PhD
Sister Kelly Connors is a Sister of the Presentation of Mary and a member of the US Province. She completed her studies in Canon Law at St. Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. With the specialization in Religious Law, Kelly has worked for diocese, taught at universities, and currently gives retreats on religious life and the vows, provides workshops and conferences for religious and their collaborators, and consults with individual religious and leadership teams, as well as collaborating with several Conferences for Major Superiors throughout the world.  Kelly served one term on her General Leadership Team (2017-2023) and has returned to full-time consulting.  In addition to her availability to assist religious congregations and conferences, she works part-time at the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.


INSTITUTE AGENDA:

Topic	Date	Session
1. Introduction/2. Refresher on Key Concepts	8/20/26	One
3. Forms of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Associations of the Christian Faithful	8/20/26	Two
4. Mission of the Institute	9/3/26	One
5. Common Life of the Institute	9/3/26	Two
6. Authority within the Church	9/17/26	One
7. Abuse of Authority	9/17/26	Two
8. Administration of the Institute's Mission	10/1/26	One
9. Financial Support of the Institute's Mission (Fundraising)	10/1/26	Two
10. Interdependence between the Institute and Local Church	10/15/26	One
11. Relationship between the Apostolic See and the Institute	10/15/26	Two
12. Alienation/Sale or other transfer of Property	10/29/26	One
13. Allegation(s) and Legal Complaint(s) against a Member	10/29/26	Two
14. Associates of the Institutes	11/12/26	One
15. Immigration/Religious Workers	11/12/26	Two
16. Moral Issues in our Times Impacting Religious Institutes	11/19/26	One
17. Concluding Session and Case Studies	11/19/26	Two

 

If you have any questions, please email MUConf@misericordia.edu or give us a call at 570-674-6161.

With much gratitude,
The Center for Adult and Continuing Education