Ask Notre Dame de Namur Sr. Mary Johnson to draw a picture of a successful religious institute 20 years out. She doesn't mention whether it's liberal or conservative, where it is, how big it is, how old its members are or what they are wearing.
In her picture, it's the connecting that matters.
Successful institutes, Johnson said in an interview, will have broad and deep networks that allow them to respond to the needs of the local and the global church. Ministries to young adults and teenagers and ministries to the wider population will reinforce each other and keep charisms fresh and relevant.
"I like to quote Teilhard de Chardin when he says, 'The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason to hope,' " Johnson said, going on to describe "hopefully a vibrant mix across generations that will enhance the mission of that organization and lead it into a future."