The Umbrella in The Storm

Hope Unbroken: The Carmelite System Launches Carith Ministries at LCWR 2025 Atlanta, GA.

Against the backdrop of faith-filled dialogue and a spirit of unity, The Carmelite System officially launched Carith Ministries at the 2025 Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) August 12–15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. The gathering, themed “Hope Unbroken: Journeying in God’s Promise,” drew hundreds of women religious leaders from across the nation, offering a space to discern, inspire, and collaborate for the good of all life on the planet.

Representing the Carmelite System and Carith Ministries were Trish Gathers, President and CEO; Tara Dhar; Sammie Orih; and Yossi Levine. Their presence was more than symbolic—it was a declaration of a renewed mission to revitalize Catholic healthcare’s footprintwhile honoring the legacy entrusted to them by the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm.

“Launching Carith Ministries here, among sisters and leaders committed to the Gospel, feels like planting seeds in the richest soil,” said Trish Gathers. “We are not just preserving buildings; we are preserving a way of caring that is rooted in compassion, dignity, and faith. Carith is about ensuring that Catholic healthcare continues to be a sanctuary for the vulnerable—now and for generations to come.”

Diamonds, Not Marbles

The Carmelite booth became a focal point of connection during the conference. Attendees lingered, drawn by an unexpected and poignant metaphor—the story of playing marbles with diamonds. Shared by the Carmelite team, the story illustrated the danger of undervaluing sacred resources, such as the Church’s healthcare ministries. “Too often, we treat these precious missions as ordinary,” Gathers explained. “Carith exists to remind us that these ministries are diamonds—gifts from God to be cherished, protected, and put to their highest use.”

The Umbrella That Speaks

Adding to the richness of their message, the Carmelite System and Carith Ministries presented visitors with a special gift—an umbrella. This was no casual token; its meaning was profound. The umbrella symbolized the provision of shelter, a visual reminder that Carith seeks to offer covering, support, and protection so that other ministries can continue to thrive and provide the sacred services for which the ground beneath them was consecrated. “Just as an umbrella shields from the storm, Carith provides a protective covering for ministries facing the winds of change,” Gathers noted.

Mother Mary Rose, Prioress General of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, praised the launch: “The mission of Carith is in harmony with the heart of our congregation’s call—to be ‘kinder than kindness itself.’ We see in Carith a faithful guardian of our ministry, ensuring that the works of mercy entrusted to us will endure in a rapidly changing world.”

A Welcome Embrace

The acceptance of Carith Ministries at LCWR was both warm and affirming. Leaders from

diverse congregations expressed interest in collaborative strategies to safeguard their own ministries, underscoring the conference’s call to action:

“We, the members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, are living the Gospel call at a critical juncture in human history… We embrace our responsibility to make choices that support the good of all life on this planet.”

In this spirit, Carith Ministries emerged from LCWR 2025 not simply as a new initiative, but as a movement of hope—an embodiment of the conference theme. As the Carmelite team departed Atlanta, they carried with them both the joy of a successful launch and the weight of a sacred mission: to protect the Church’s healthcare heritage with the same care and reverence one would give to a diamond—and the steadfast shelter of an umbrella in the storm.

Carith’s Calling - Join us.

The conference itself echoed the urgency behind Carith’s mission. In their 2023–2028 call, LCWR members affirmed. But for The Carmelite System and Carith Ministries, that responsibility is clear: protect the vulnerable, preserve the mission, and journey in God’s promise with hope that cannot be broken.

Learn more visit  https://www.carithministries.org/ https://www.carmelitesystem.org/

Call +1 518-728-5234, 518-527-5055

DOWNLOAD THE FULL ARTICLE