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Since 2011, The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) and the Avila Institute of Gerontology (AIG) have been collaborating to offer webinars to Religious Communities. The webinar topics are chosen by NRRO and AIG, and reflect the expressed needs and interests of Religious Communities. The co-hosted webinars do not offer continuing education credit hours. 

 

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  • Product Image: Aging, Everyone is Doing it! (NRRO Cosponsored Webinar)

    Aging, Everyone is Doing it! (NRRO Cosponsored Webinar)
    Includes a Live Web Event on 11/10/2026 at 1:00 PM (EST)

    We are all aging, but how we think about our aging, how we talk about our aging, and what we feel about our aging all impact how we actually age. *This webinar is cosponsored by The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO).

    *This webinar is cosponsored by NRRO and is free to all members of a Religious Congregation. Enter the discount code “NRRO” at checkout. Please see registration instructions for details.

    We are all aging, but how we think about our aging, how we talk about our aging, and what we feel about our aging all impact how we actually age. The challenge is that the messages from the wider culture don’t provide us with very positive or supportive images of later life. We will hear what the research tells us about those cultural images and examine some ways we can reframe how we think about aging. This webinar will provide insight into aging and seek the wisdom and experience of those who gather for the conversation.

    We will discuss:

    •  Supportive and positive verbiage to discuss aging.

    •  The research regarding cultural images on aging, and reframing our mindsets.

    •  Insight into aging and seek the wisdom and experience of those who gather for the conversation.

    Presented by Beth Long-Higgins

    Beth Long-Higgins

    Beth Long-Higgins

    Vice President of Engagement and Director

    Center for Abundant Living at United Church Homes

    Beth Long-Higgins is Vice President of Engagement and Director of the Center for Abundant Living at United Church Homes, a leading provider of healthcare and senior services in the US. She earned an M.Div. from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and was awarded their Distinguished Alumna Award in 2022. Her bachelor’s degree is from Heidelberg University in Ohio, where she currently serves on the board of trustees and from which she was recently awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters. Beth is a member of the American Society on Aging, where she has served on the Ageism and Culture Advisory Council and provided leadership in the Religion, Spirituality and Aging Collaborative. She is a trained facilitator through the National Center to Reframe Aging.

  • Product Image: Living the Paschal Mystery: Readiness, Care, and Compassion at the End of Life (NRRO Cosponsored Webinar)

    Living the Paschal Mystery: Readiness, Care, and Compassion at the End of Life (NRRO Cosponsored Webinar)
    Includes a Live Web Event on 08/18/2026 at 1:00 PM (EDT)

    This webinar offers practical, compassionate guidance rooted in both clinical expertise and the spiritual values of religious life. *This webinar is cosponsored by The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO).

    *This webinar is cosponsored by NRRO and is free to all members of a Religious Congregation. Enter the discount code “NRRO” at checkout. Please see registration instructions for details.

    End-of-life is one of the most sacred and challenging seasons in the life of a religious community, but many find themselves underprepared for it. They may be uncertain about who should be involved, how to communicate with loved ones and community members, or how to accompany a member as he or she nears death. This webinar offers practical, compassionate guidance rooted in both clinical expertise and the spiritual values of religious life. Whether you are a leader, caregiver, healthcare proxy, or community member, you will leave better equipped to serve your brothers or sisters with dignity, clarity, and love.

    We will discuss:

    • Which specialists should be involved and how to coordinate their roles effectively.

    • How to communicate with loved ones, the broader community, and healthcare proxies with honesty, sensitivity, and respect for the member's wishes.

    • Approaches to palliative and end-of-life care — including pain management, comfort-focused goals of care, hospice philosophy, and the difference between curative and palliative treatment.

    • Recognizing the physical, emotional, and spiritual indicators that signal a member is entering the final stage of life, and how your community can respond with presence and prayer. 

    Presented by Sr. Lois Wetzel, O.Carm, RN, BSN

    Sr. Lois Wetzel, O.Carm, RN, BSN

    Sr. Lois Wetzel, O.Carm, RN, BSN

    Director of Postulants and Temporary Vowed Sisters

    Sr. Lois has been a registered nurse for over forty years, serving the mission of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. She received a BSN at Mount St. Joseph College in Cincinnati and has held many nursing positions in long-term care in the areas of staff education, management and supervision, restorative nursing, infection control, and as MDS coordinator. She obtained a certificate from the Institute of Religious Formation at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and is currently serving her community as Director of Postulants and Temporary Vowed Sisters. Sr. Lois has assisted with teaching in the Palliative Care training program developed by the Avila Institute as well as teaching other clinical topics. She also enjoys presenting on spiritual topics to various groups, especially related to Carmelite spirituality.

  • Product Image: Take a Deep Breath, Listen, Then Speak: How to Have a Difficult Conversation

    Take a Deep Breath, Listen, Then Speak: How to Have a Difficult Conversation

    Sometimes, the most profound act of ministry is simply being willing to have the conversation. Difficult conversations are an unavoidable part of life, yet most of us never learn how to navigate them well. *This webinar is cosponsored by The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO).

    *This webinar is cosponsored by NRRO and is free to all members of a Religious Congregation. Enter the discount code “NRRO” at checkout. Please see registration instructions for details.

    Sometimes, the most profound act of ministry is simply being willing to have the conversation. Difficult conversations are an unavoidable part of life, yet most of us never learn how to navigate them well. For those called to serve others, it can be challenging to address conflict, set boundaries, or deliver unwelcome news. If you have ever dreaded a hard conversation or avoided one altogether, this webinar will provide practical, compassionate guidance. It will help you develop the communication skills needed to speak with clarity and confidence, even under pressure. Just as importantly, it will emphasize the human side of difficult dialogue: how to regulate your emotions, care for your own well-being, and approach challenging moments with empathy rather than defensiveness. 

    We will discuss how to:

    • Enter difficult conversations grounded and prepared.
    • Listen deeply and respond thoughtfully — honoring both the truth and the dignity of the person.
    • Communicate honestly while honoring the relationship.
    • Manage your own emotional well-being so you can remain present and grounded in challenging moments.
    • Preserve and even strengthen relationships in the midst of hard exchanges.

    Presented by Sr. Mercedes McCann, RSM, PhD

    Mercedes McCann, RSM, Ph.D.

    Mercedes McCann, RSM, Ph.D.

    Leadership Relations

    Saint John Vianney Center

    Sr. Mercedes McCann, RSM, PhD, is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.  She holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Seton Hall University, a master’s degree in psychology from Marywood University, and a Religious Studies degree with a concentration in Sacred Scripture from St. Charles Seminary. She currently manages Leadership Relations in the Consultation, Education, and Outreach Department for the Saint John Vianney Center. Sr. Mercedes has extensive experience facilitating small and large groups for religious communities, including Chapters and Assemblies. She frequently speaks to groups of religious in the United States, Latin America, Europe and the Pacific Rim on topics such as boundaries, change and transition, emotional development, and the spirituality of aging. Her particular interest is the intersection of spirituality, ministry, community, and good mental health in religious life.

  • Understanding Dementia and Brain Aging: Insights from Current Research (NRRO)

    This webinar explores what the Nun Study and other major dementia research reveal about brain aging and how those findings can be applied within religious communities. *This webinar is cosponsored by The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO).

    As people live longer, concerns about dementia and the loss of independence it can bring are increasing. What has changed is how we understand the disease—especially the roles that education, lifestyle, community, and spiritual life play in brain health over time.

    This one-hour webinar will highlight several major dementia studies, with The Nun Study serving as a central example. Based on the lives of 393 School Sisters of Notre Dame, the study showed that people with similar levels of Alzheimer’s disease in their brains could function very differently depending on how they lived, leading to the idea of cognitive reserve. These findings, and the newer research built upon them, have important implications for religious communities, and this presentation will help participants understand how today’s science can be thoughtfully applied within their own communities.

    Presented by Alfred Norwood, MBA, BS

    *This webinar is cosponsored by NRRO and is free to all members of a Religious Congregation. Please see registration instructions for details.
    Alfred Norwood, MBA, BS

    Alfred Norwood, MBA, BS

    Faculty

    Avila Institute of Gerontology, Inc.

    Alfred is an expert in physiological psychology who has worked with the Avila Institute for the last 15 years, developing and presenting workshops and in-services on a number of topics associated with aging. He has years of experience working as a consultant for long-term care systems and facilities and trained staff in the use of non-pharmaceutical, individualized care plans for residents with moderate to severe dementia. 

    Please click the link below to view the webinar flyer and instructions for registration.