Sr. Dorothy Fernandes laments conditions in India. "Thank God, there are many awakened individuals in this great country who have taken it upon themselves to organize and spread the truth," she writes.
At the Annunciation, Mary felt afraid but ready at the same time, unsure of how all this would unfold but sure that God would be with her every step along the way. Her life had prepared her for this moment.
We are, it seems, not asking the right questions, argues Sr. Joan Chittister. Which means that we will therefore be without the answers we need to save the entire country.
The daily routine of my life at the Salvatorian Sisters' School in Nazareth, Israel, used to be lively, with kids arriving at school with broad smiles. But the horrifying war now casts shadows of fear and insecurity.
At their hospital in a remote rural area of Chibombo district, the Daughters of the Redeemer began noticing increased cholera cases when people returned from trips to Lusaka, the epicenter of the disease in Zambia.
Trusting the energy of the adventure, I encountered the Holy Spirit "renewing the face of the Earth," teaching us how to live sustainably with the billions of years of development found in soil, sea and stars.
Scripture for Life: The liturgy for the Vigil of Pentecost invites us into hope. Unlike the miracle of the tongues we will hear the next day, this is an invitation to dream.
I have recently been questioning God deeply about things that seem beyond what I can understand or even control. I, too, have felt like I am capable of torching everything I touch. What do I do when I know I'm fire?
The call of the Gospel invites us all. We are called to share the good news. How does that look for each of us? Will we stop in our tracks when given the opportunity to share? Will we say yes to the invitation?
"There are angels in our backyard," writes Sr. Joan Sauro. "They hover in the silence of the large maple tree, with now and then, a slight stir, just to say, we're here. Angels in our backyard tree."
At the first Pentecost, the desire of God "that all may be one" came about through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us ponder another area in which this prophecy could be and should be fulfilled: the Catholic Church.
Through her encounters with migrants fleeing violence and extortion, and crossing the border between the U.S. and Mexico, Sr. Clara Malo Castrillón found parallels with the Book of Tobit, written 2,000 years ago.
"We may have an inspiration or insight during prayer or in the course of the day," writes Sr. Lissy Maruthanakuzhy. "Let us not dismiss it … Stop and try to act on it. It might be the Holy Spirit leading us."
"The future of religious life is not confined to the walls of individual congregations," writes Sr. Monique Tarabeh. "It extends to a realm where collaboration becomes the driving force for the mission."
The COVID-19 pandemic limited traveling. But through online sessions, many more sisters can now benefit from educational programs than the few who were chosen to travel in the past.
Catholic sisters from different congregations — along with lay people, interreligious and community leaders, priests and bishops — participated in a march in El Paso, Texas, supporting the dignity of immigrants.
As I reflected on Easter, I realized that the death of Christ would be in vain if we did not practice what he taught us by his exemplary living. His actions during Holy Week demonstrate how we should live with each other.
"Sometimes I wish for a more obvious God, who brings only good things into my life and saves me from pain and trial and erases my wounds," writes Sr. Stephanie Peirolo. "I know it is more complex than that."
Scripture for Life: We've heard the call to love one another, perhaps too frequently. But Christ's love is what the readings of the Sixth Sunday of Easter call forth from us and this call is likely to make us uncomfortable.