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Joanna Kozakiewicz

Joanna Kozakiewicz is a Catholic freelance writer and journalist for Global Sisters Report. She has a bachelor of arts degree from McGill University, a communications diploma and a design certificate.

She specializes in Catholic communications for nonprofit organizations. Her articles have been published in Our Sunday Visitor (Radiant) and The Catholic Register. Before joining GSR, she worked as a writer and photographer for a nonprofit organization in Canada.

By this Author

Sr. Monique Bourget holds healthy twins that she accompanied throughout pregnancy and delivery at a gathering of families in Benin. In Benin, she helps coordinate medical missions from Brazil, Canada and Italy. (Courtesy of Sr. Monique Bourget)

Q&A with Sr. Monique Bourget, who uses medical knowledge to transform primary care

Sr. Monique Bourget, a member of the Sisters of St. Marcelina, has used her master's in epidemiology and doctorate in public health to transform primary care in São Paulo, Brazil.

Sr. María Ángel Díaz Ledesma in the hallway of Casa Santa Brigida in Havana. Behind her is a portrait of the founder of the Order of the Most Holy Savior of St. Bridget, St. Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad. (Joanna Kozakiewicz)

Q&A with Sr. María Ángel Díaz Ledesma, supporting Cubans in times of shortage

In Old Havana, the Brigidine sisters run a hostel for tourists called Casa Santa Brigida. That income funds their apostolate of caring for the poor and sick, hit hard by food and medication shortages in Cuba.

Sr. Monica Ichife stands in front of the community garden in Konzalendo, Malawi, on Sept. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Monica Ichife)

Q&A with Sr. Monica Ichife on providing access to clean water in Malawi

For the last three years, Religious Sisters of Charity have been involved in ensuring people have access to clean drinking water in rural Malawi with water pumps, as well as initiating irrigation farming.

Srs. Monique Bonnefoy, left, and Rita Toutant of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa stand near a sign that reads "25 years at the heart of Montreal's diversity" at Centre Afrika. The two ministered many years in Africa and now minister at the intercultural center in Montreal. (GSR photo/Joanna Kozakiewicz)

Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa continue ministry at Montreal intercultural center

After many years on the African continent, two Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa live with the White Fathers in Montreal, where they continue to serve Africans and other immigrants who visit Centre Afrika. 

Salesian Sr. Ailyn Cayanan facilitates an agro-ecosystem analysis, part of a research-based study on the quality of inbred rice, seed certification and mechanization. (Courtesy of Ailyn Cayanan)

Q&A with Sr. Ailyn Cayanan, honored for entrepreneurial agriculture education

Salesian Sr. Ailyn Cayanan received a BELLA 2024 Award for Asia as an entrepreneur in the field of agricultural education for her work as technical directress at Mary Help of Christians School in the Philippines.

Recluse Sr. Ginette Généreux speaks during the filming of the documentary series "The Hidden Good in the City" ("Le Bien Caché dans la Cité") by the youth of Mission Jeunesse in the Montreal Archdiocese. (Courtesy of Mission Jeunesse)

Q&A with Sr. Ginette Généreux, featured in 'Hidden Good in the City' series

Recluse Sr. Ginette Généreux tells GSR about her part in the Montreal Archdiocese's "The Hidden Good in the City" ("Le Bien Caché dans la Cité") documentary series, and her experience with the youth behind the camera. 

The Benedictine sisters of the Abbey of Sainte-Marie des Deux-Montagnes in Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Quebec pose for a photo gathered around a harp in their community. (Courtesy of Serge Therrien)

Documentary captures life behind a grille for Quebec Benedictine nuns

For nearly two years, the Benedictine Abbey of Sainte-Marie des Deux-Montagnes in Canada opened its doors to filmmaker Lessandro Sócrates, resulting in the documentary "De l'autre côté" ("On the Other Side").

Franciscan Oblates of St.-Joseph Srs. Gabrielle Servant and Pierette Bertrand visit a Syrian family and their newborn in 2017. They started working with refugees in 2012 when Syrian refugees came to Canada after the war in Syria.

Sisters sponsor refugees in multicultural town outside Montreal

 In Bordeaux-Cartierville, the first stop for many immigrants and refugees after they arrive at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, two sisters welcome, install, and help integrate new arrivals. 

Sr. Joséphine Kimbolo distributes these colorful promotion cards to people she meets.

Q&A with Sr. Joséphine Kimbolo, discovering 'the colors of the soul'

For over 20 years, Sr. Joséphine Kimbolo's ministry has been to help people discover "all the colors of their soul" and find where God is calling them. Her approach has a “particular color,” as she says. 

Mater Dei Sr. Natalia Vazquez visits Fr. Gérald Quintal at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal in November 2023. (Courtesy of Natalia Vazquez)

Mater Dei sister serves out charism to support elderly priests in Montreal

The goal of Mater Dei Sr. Natalia Vazquez's ministry is to accompany retired, ill and senior priests so that they can live their vocation fully and flourish in the service of Christ and the church.

Sisters of Ste. Famille Bordeaux participating in a 10-day program on interculturality pose in Rome in November.

Q&A with Sr. Maria Rogalska, establishing link between synodality and interculturality

Sr. Maria Rogalska, a Polish nun with the Ste. Famille Bordeaux community in Canada,  attended a 10-day session on interculturality and received a blessing from Pope Francis.