JUSTICE
THROUGH
ACTION
By Erin Reder
C
ollaboration with others to reach a common goal has always been near and dear to S. Louise Lears’ heart. Most recently she has found the perfect opportunity to bring her passion for justice work to a ministry of action and advocacy.
When she arrived in Washington, D.C., S. Louise began attending vigils, rallies and protests related to current justice issues. This allowed her the opportunity to begin thinking about what groups she might want to work with, and one that consistently was present was the Franciscan Action Network (FAN). She reached out to the organization’s executive director and shortly after found herself on staff in FAN’s Washington, D.C. office.
After eight years in congregational leadership, S. Louise took time during a sabbatical and the pandemic to reflect on her next step. Wishing to be closer to her family in Baltimore, Maryland, and hoping to become more involved in the peace and justice arena, S. Louise found herself being called to the Washington, D.C. area. With the full support of the SC Leadership Council she moved to the nation’s capital to begin a new chapter.
A well-established organization in the area, FAN is recognized for its S. Louise Lears (second from left) is grateful to advocacy efforts within core issues related be living at the Sr. Anne Montgomery House, an to peace making, care for creation, intentional community founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. poverty and human rights. S. Louise was immediately attracted to the Franciscan spirituality and values – and says she considers herself to also As S. Louise explained, she only knew one thing when be a Franciscan-hearted person, a well-known term amongst moving to the area – where she would be living! As a member Franciscans. of the Sr. Anne Montgomery House in the northeast section of Washington, D.C., she is living in an intentional community founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (RSCJ). The house is named for longtime peacemaker S. Anne Montgomery, RSCJ, and provides a oneyear experience of community living for two to four young women interested in spirituality and social justice. Currently there are five women living in the house — three women religious, a young woman from Burkina-Faso and another young woman born in the U.S. Both are studying at local universities. The women share morning prayer, cooking responsibilities and chores, and they keep each other up-to-date about what’s going on in the peace and justice world in Washington, D.C. “It is a real gift for me,” says S. Louise. “I am particularly inspired by the faith and desire for community of the young women. It’s a marvelous living community, very welcoming.” 20
In her volunteer role as director of creation care advocacy, S. Louise keeps herself updated on the many facets of care for
S. Louise Lears (second row, right) attends a voting rights rally in Washington, D.C. I n t e rcom
