In the early 1970’s, God’s Spirit began moving lay men and women to find ways to embrace and live the charisms of many religious communities in Canada and the United States of America. Groups of like-minded people, commonly known as associates, began forming, and the increase in their numbers was quite rapid. A new movement was born, one based on the mystery of call and response to the particular charism of each community’s founder/foundress.
By the 1980’s, leaders of many associate groups reached out to associate groups of other religious communities, both to share how the Spirit was moving with them, and to begin addressing mutual concerns. Eventually, the need to have an even wider forum developed and thus, the first North American Conference of Associates and Religious (NACAR) was created.
At the first conference of communities in 1996, it was decided by those present to establish a permanent conference network of associates and religious in North America. Jean Sonnenberg, Associate of Bon Secours, and Sr. Ellen O’Connell, SC, who had worked to birth the conference, became the founding co-directors. NACAR has continued to grow and remains the only professional organization to support and serve associates and vowed members as they proclaim their call to live the charism of their religious congregations.
Over the years, NACAR has continued to hold a biennial conference, offer workshops in the United States and Canada, and provide guidance and support to any member congregation seeking assistance.
