Winds of Change from Rome

Article about Leo Vincent's reelection as Mother, 1965

Letter from Leo Vincent Regarding The Second Vatican Council, 1967

Mother Leo Vincent was re-elected to the role of Mother General at the Chapter of 1965, which was not much of a surprise to any of the Sisters. However, her second term would prove to be filled with challenges very differnt than her first. Instead of the process of starting and expanding Mount Saint Mary College, she now had to contend with how to incorporate new changes from Rome.

Vatican II was finishing up in Rome after years of discussion, and the changes it sought to implement were being finalized. Laity were increasingly being brought into Church Life, and given greater participation in the liturgy. For the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, this coincides with the transformation of Mount Saint Mary into a lay college. However, with Vatican II also came more radical changes in their everyday life as part of a religious order. Mother Leo Vincent would have to walk a tightrope between progressive and conservative Sisters, facilitating changes to the order while also not going too far or too fast. It was a balancing act that tested Mother Leo Vincent's leadership. She had to see the congregation through these changes and be able to continue to support the college she just finished building.

There were three major issues addressed during her second term: Democratization of Leadership, Decline in Postulants, and Change of Dress.

Minutes from the Superiors Meeting of October 10th, 1959

Letter Regarding Constitution Changes for the Newburgh Dominicans, 1965

While most of the changes to the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh happened during the Extraordinary Chapters of 1967 and 1968, the roots for this transition started as early as her election in 1959. As we can see from the minutes of the same October 10th meeting that started the fundraising campaigns, Mother Leo Vincent was also addressing the freedom of Sisters.

Mother Leo Vincent never was an authoritarian like the Mother Generals were supposed to be at that time. She never really even liked the implications of the title 'Mother General', preferring to be more of a 'guiding' force than a 'directing' one. We can see in the minutes that Leo Vincent began relaxing some of the direct control of the Mother, delegating certain permissions to local Superiors for things such as home visits. This trend would continue during the Chapter of 1965, where the chapter delegates would strip away the need for permission to go on protests and the ability to go on a home visit without a companion. As well, usually when a new Chapter happens a Mother and her council would dictate constitutional changes and the delegates were expected to agree and were mostly a formality. However, under Mother Leo Vincent she opened the chapters up to open discussion and amendment based on the consensus of the delegates.

All of these small changes lead to an overall general shift towards a more democratic method for leading the congregation. Mother Leo Vincent, a silent contemplative type, leaned more on her council and local superiors to handle the bulk of the decision making. She stepped in to facilitate changes and made the final descisions when necessary. During this time the election of delegates amongst the congregation was changed, loosening the requirements for being a delegate and allowing more voice during chapters. These changes would build over time to create the democratic councils that is currently in place.

Letter from Leo Vincent on Shrinking Numbers of Sisters, 1970

One interesting change in the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh around this time was a decline in membership. Sisters began withdrawing from religious life, some retired or were out due to illness, and others were simply not making it to Final Profession. The trend was clear that the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh would continue to lose members. Mother Leo Vincent was lenient on letting go of Sisters who did not want to pursue a religious life, while still holding firm the importance of one's vows. She was very devout, but saw that times were changing and as such, the congregation needed to adjust to the new era. 

One of the major consequences of this decline in membership was the withdrawl away from outside ministries. Previously, Sisters from the Newburgh congregation would travel where they were needed to set up and run schools. Exasperated by the shrinking number of Sisters and the need to staff the College, there were less Sisters able to minister at other schools. These problems would continue into the next administration under Mother Mary Francis McDonald and beyond.

The most interesting and divisive change brought to the council was that of dress code. Up until this point, all Sisters were required to wear the long Habit with a full veil, regardless of circumstance. However, we again see the winds of change with the incorporation of laity into religious life and the general changes in society. This was an era of free spirit, and the younger and more progressive sisters were using Vatican II as an oppourtunity to push for changes in the habit dress and veil. 

A conservative herself, Mother Leo Vincent initially rejected these dress code changes, seeing that Sisters should always present in proper attire. The changes began with a number of Sisters who were talented at design and sewing, sketching changes and preparing new shorter dresses in anticipation of change. Mother Leo Vincent's inital answer was a definitive no, but saw that change was going to happen regardless of her personal views. In early 1968, she designated six committee members to research the issue, and bring back designs for a shorter habit and a change in veil. 

This first change to be enacted was the veil change, and then slowly the habit was modified until one day Sisters were allowed to don lay clothes. While this change was gradual and would go long past her time as Mother, Leo Vincent was at the heart of the initial steps. Asked to comment on this time period years later, she said that she wanted to "never [turn] those pages back; it was too painful a time." This quote accentuates the division amongst the Newburgh Sisters on the matter of dress. Mother Leo Vincent had to walk a balancing act between conservative Sisters who wanted no change at all, and radical Sisters who wanted too much change, too fast. She used the latter part of her second term as a guiding force to modulate this change. This was arguably the hardest part of her time as Mother, given how contentious and heated this debate would get between the two opposing sides.

All of these discussions would continue past her time as Mother, to her successor Sister Mary Francis McDonald. While Sister Mary Francis was a conservative Sister as well, the veil change and relaxing of dress code happened early into her time as Mother. The compromises made then were underpinned by the tightrope Mother Leo Vincent was forced to walk.