A Glossary of Terms Commonly Used by Women Religious

Some terms and words commonly used within religious communities are often unfamiliar to the general public. Following is a list of “sisterspeak” terms and their definition in “everyday speak.”

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LCWR

Leadership Conference of Women Religious, a canonically approved organization of Sisters who are leaders of their congregations in the U.S. The Conference has approximately 1000 members, who represent about 95 per cent of the 75,000 women religious in the U.S.

Leadership team

Those elected within a congregation to govern (usually consist of a president and council).

Lectio Divina

A meditative approach to reading scripture, Lectio Divina literally means "holy reading."

Lauds

Morning prayer in the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours.

Liturgy of the Hours

Also called the Divine Office, the Liturgy of the Hours is the prayer of the Church in which the Psalms are recited in choir.

 

Used with permission of NCNWR