Nearly 30 years after he raped and murdered a nun, an Ohio man asked for forgiveness

Cleveland Ursuline Sr. Gretchen Rodenfels holds a portrait of Sr. Joanne Marie Mascha, who was raped and murdered in 1995. Rodenfels taught at the same school as Mascha, and later lived with her at the motherhouse. (GSR photo/Dan Stockman)

Spared the death penalty, the man who murdered an Ursuline sister 30 years ago writes to ask them for forgiveness. They give it, and transform their healing into activism.

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Latest Columns

A golden compass on a wooden table (Unsplash/Chris Lawton)

A gift of elder adulthood: An invitation to an inner journey

I believe that the inner journey, if faithfully followed, will bring us to the existential awareness that the self we have promoted and protected over the years is not our true identity.

"Women Outside the Church at Ruokolahti," an 1887 painting by Albert Edelfelt (Wikimedia Commons/kansallisgalleria.fi)

Are we stuck in a Catch-22 about ordained ministry for laywomen?

The wall at the U.S.-Mexico border is seen in the background as migrants from South and Central America look to surrender to immigration officials after crossing into the United States from Mexico in Ruby, Ariz., June 24, 2024. (OSV News photo/Adrees Latif, Reuters)
Horizons

Jubilee Year at the US-Mexico border: A grounded, tested hope

Editors' Choice

Focus

A woman runs to take cover from gunfire during clashes between police and gangs in the Delmas neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Dec. 2, 2024. (AP/Odelyn Joseph)

In Focus

'People can't live in Haiti safely': Sisters struggle to serve surrounded by gangs

Haiti's problems are seemingly almost never-ending. Advocates — like congregational representatives at the U.N. — say the beleaguered country needs more attention and more support from the global community.

News

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Young boys enjoy a game of soccer during their spare time at St. Lawrence Home of Hope in Lusaka, Zambia. (Derrick Silimina)

At St. Lawrence Home of Hope in Lusaka, boys from the street get a new start

With the help of Zambian sisters and the Missionaries of Africa, the residential home reintegrates street kids into their families, homes and society while helping them regain their childhood, confidence and dreams.

Congregation of the Mother of Carmel Sr. Noel Rose is pictured with a 12-member contingent of the National Service Scheme at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. (Courtesy of Sr. Noel Rose)

Q&A with Sr. Noel Rose, forming students into responsible citizens

Sr. Noel Rose is the first Catholic nun to attend India's Republic Day parade in New Delhi as an official. Rose led a contingent of the National Service Scheme from the Indian state of Kerala at the Jan. 26 celebrations.

Sr. Florence Muia, an Assumption Sister of Nairobi who established Upendo Village in Kenya, discussed the challenges and successes of working in HIV/AIDS care during the Feb. 11 "Raising Resources for Healing Ministries" webinar. (GSR screenshot)

African sisters partner with Global Sisters Report in a health care webinar

"Raising Resources for Healing Ministries" gathered religious sisters and a network of organizations and experts dedicated to supporting the work of religious sisters who are essential to health care in Africa.

Cleveland Ursuline Sr. Gretchen Rodenfels holds a portrait of Sr. Joanne Marie Mascha, who was raped and murdered in 1995. Rodenfels taught at the same school as Mascha, and later lived with her at the motherhouse. (GSR photo/Dan Stockman)

Nearly 30 years after he raped and murdered a nun, an Ohio man asked for forgiveness

Spared the death penalty, the man who murdered an Ursuline sister 30 years ago writes to ask them for forgiveness. They give it, and transform their healing into activism.

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Feature Series

Arlington Carmelites in controversy

Fort Worth bishop takes over a Carmelite monastery and accuses cloistered nun of adultery with a priest. Discalced Carmelite Nuns say the bishop does not have authority over them and call his actions a land grab.
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LCWR 2024

The 2024 general assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
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GSR at 10 Years

Our anniversary coverage includes updates on stories and columns originally published in 2014, plus specially commissioned columns. We'll also periodically list some of our most memorable stories and columns from over the past decade
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Religious Life

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"Women Outside the Church at Ruokolahti," an 1887 painting by Albert Edelfelt (Wikimedia Commons/kansallisgalleria.fi)
Columns

Are we stuck in a Catch-22 about ordained ministry for laywomen?

As of now, I think any decision the Catholic Church might take regarding the sacrament of holy orders for laywomen would put it in a Catch-22 situation.

Pope Francis kisses a gift presented to him by Sr. Jane Wakahiu during an audience with the board of directors of the Conrad Hilton Foundation at the Vatican on Jan. 22, 2025. Standing to the right is Sr. Joyce Meyer.

Understanding who the church is in a five-day Vatican pilgrimage

Sr. Joyce Meyer spent a week visiting the Union of International Superiors General in Rome and a number of Vatican departments as a board member of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Statue of St. Scholastica
Columns

The feminine is front and center on St. Scholastica's feast day

This is a day when female voices aren’t just present but prominent. As befits this day, the feminine is front and center, with a clarity and volume that I really can’t remember on any other feast or Sunday.

The residents of Upendo Village in northwest Kenya are actively working to educate their community on effective strategies to prevent HIV/AIDS. By raising awareness of the disease and its impact, they empower individuals to take charge of their health and well-being. (Courtesy of Upendo Village)

Monday Starter: Global Sisters Report to cohost webinar on health care resources

Also, CLINIC condemns termination of temporary protected status for Venezuelans, and Mercy Sisters voice support for the Episcopalian bishop who pleaded with President Donald Trump to "have mercy."

Community News

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NT’L DAY AGAINST THE USE OF CHILD SOLDIERS: Salesian Missions highlights support for former child soldiers

Feb. 12, 2025
Salesians work with former child soldiers to overcome trauma, reintegrate into society.<

CATHOLIC WORLD DAY OF THE SICK: Salesian Missions highlights medical programs for people in need around the globe

Feb. 11, 2025
Salesian missionaries offer more than 150 medical clinics and hospitals in mostly rural areas

Statement of Adrian Dominican Sisters Decrying Dismantling of USAID

February 10, 2025
February 10, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – The General Council of the Adrian
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Ministry

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Young boys enjoy a game of soccer during their spare time at St. Lawrence Home of Hope in Lusaka, Zambia. (Derrick Silimina)

At St. Lawrence Home of Hope in Lusaka, boys from the street get a new start

With the help of Zambian sisters and the Missionaries of Africa, the residential home reintegrates street kids into their families, homes and society while helping them regain their childhood, confidence and dreams.

Sr. Florence Muia, an Assumption Sister of Nairobi who established Upendo Village in Kenya, discussed the challenges and successes of working in HIV/AIDS care during the Feb. 11 "Raising Resources for Healing Ministries" webinar. (GSR screenshot)

African sisters partner with Global Sisters Report in a health care webinar

"Raising Resources for Healing Ministries" gathered religious sisters and a network of organizations and experts dedicated to supporting the work of religious sisters who are essential to health care in Africa.

Sr. Mareena Mathew, a Franciscan Clarist nun, is pictured with a therapist and Keerthi Ramakrishnan, discussing physiotherapy at Navajeevana Endosulfan Special School, Bedrampalla, Kasaragod District, Kerala, southwestern India. Ramakrishnan's son attends the school. (George Kommattam)
Faith

Sisters bring support to children with disabilities attributed to endosulfan

"My life was shattered when I came to know my son Kashi was unable to walk or talk. Now, I have hope because of Sister Mareena [Mathew]," Keerthi Ramakrishnan said. Mathew's congregation manages a school for children with disabilities in Kerala, India.

A photo illustration shows rows of seats in an auditorium or a lecture hall setting. (Unsplash/Nathan Dumlao)
Guest Voices

From Catholic to catholicity: Higher education in an age of emergence

Does the Catholic college or university have anything distinctive to offer to today's world? Only if it maintains dynamic engagement with an evolving world, says Ilia Delio.

GSR in the Classroom

Youth in a classroom raising their hands to answer questions

The project shines light on the mission and ministry of Catholic women religious around the world.

Each lesson connects articles about sisters or columns written by sisters to the good news found in scripture and church teaching. Action ideas and compelling prayer bring new learning alive. Teacher guides provide vital context and engaging activities to launch group discussions.