Julie A. Ferraro

Some might view my simplistic concept as naive or outright ridiculous, but it is a feasible starting point to deal with prejudice in general and, more specifically, systemic racism.

"Surprisingly, a number of the women [in the Bible] have very important roles, even though they may not speak directly. I wanted to get into how they felt."

Mercy Sr. Donna Marie Paolini opened the Center of Solitude in 1992. She spoke to GSR about the importance of solitude on the spiritual journey, and shared the surreal origin of the center's location.

At San Diego's Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 14 miles from the border, Mercy Sr. Mary Waskowiak and retired businesswoman Adela Garcia have launched the Community Resource Center to assist immigrants.

The merger of five Franciscan communities into the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities in the mid-2000s brought her to New York state as the religious moved to their new regions. She currently serves as coordinator of deaf ministry for the Buffalo Diocese.

What do vocation directors do? How has the ministry of accompanying people as they discern religious life changed since the pandemic? GSR talked to six women religious who have some answers.

In 2006, inspired by the needs of immigrants, Sr. Suzanne Susany — then in her 60s — enrolled in law school to become an immigration attorney. She spoke to GSR about her path and current work.

Intentional communities have cropped up over the last decade to connect sisters with those who are seeking spiritual growth and discernment, even if they don't plan to enter religious life.

In more recent decades, Lent's focus has shifted from giving up bad habits to doing good works, stepping outside one's comfort zone to do good deeds, or praying more. Still, the chocolate hangs over my head.

As the face of religious life continues to change, and with an awareness that lay people are seeking intentional community, the Benedictine Sisters of the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Idaho have started the Benedictine Cohousing Companions.

GSR Today - The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities sponsor a house of discernment in Pittsburgh where I have just started the journey toward building an intentional community and our respective future with Sister Caryn and two others.

GSR Today - The best way I found to become acquainted with sisters is by recording their personal oral histories, which I, as an "inadvertent archivist," got to do with the Sisters of St. Francis of Clinton, Iowa.

GSR Today - Oldenburg Franciscan Sr. Patricia Bietsch served the Navajo for years through several ministries, all of which expressed her respect for their traditions and her concern for their needs.

"We wanted a prayer book that would reflect who we are." Some congregations of women religious in the U.S. have their own versions of the Liturgy of the Hours — the daily prayer of the church.

Since the onset of the pandemic, altering their full-time volunteer programs has been a major adjustment for many women's religious communities. GSR takes a look at three major groups to see how they are doing.

GSR Today - Currently, I am in formation to be an oblate with the Benedictine Sisters at St. Placid Priory, established in Lacey, Washington, near Olympia, in 1952.