by Brittany Wilmes
Engagement Editor
Another way we like to look at the past year's coverage is to turn to the data and see where our readers spent the most time. Here are our top stories of 2020 by amount of time read.
1: 'What did you learn from the coronavirus pandemic?'
Sr. Nancy Sylvester's column, written at the beginning of our communal pandemic experience, is by far our top-read story on the site since we launched in 2014. Readers spent the equivalent of nine months' time reading this piece — about as long as we've all been in lockdown.
2: Our most tragic time': Felician Sisters bear loss of 13 sisters to COVID-19
This July story from Dan Stockman saw coverage in several national and local news outlets. When COVID-19 struck the Felician Sisters' convent in Livonia, Michigan, 13 members died. In many ways, because of restrictions to prevent the virus' return, the surviving sisters' grieving has yet to begin.
3: Migrant workers flood Goa beaches for jobs; sisters help them fit in
In our A Place to Call Home series, Sr. Lissy Maruthanakuzhy reported from India in July, where three Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary work with about 1,600 migrants, mostly tribal women of various religions, in the state of Goa, India's tourism hub.
4: The modern vision of Pope Francis in a medieval church
Sr. Ilia Delio's second column on Fratelli Tutti looks at Pope Francis' influences: "It seems the pope wants to take the church to a new place in the world, not as an authoritarian leader, but as an animator of the spirit. However, he has ignored the novel theology ushered in by the early Franciscan theologians."
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5: Updated: Congregational leaders criticize Cardinal Dolan's remarks on Trump
In May, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan heard from some U.S. sisters in congregational leadership, who worried that his open admiration of President Donald Trump communicated wider approval on behalf of the Catholic Church.
6: Sr. Elise García is a bridge for sisters, younger and older, as she assumes LCWR presidency
Soli Salgado wrote this profile of Sr. Elise García as she became the president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Before she became an Adrian Dominican sister at age 50, García already lived a life engaged in social justice issues, advocacy and nonprofits.
7: 'Fratelli Tutti': Papal dreams or Vatican diversion?
In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis makes a plea for human solidarity and fraternity, Delio writes in this October column. "But how does he tell the world what it needs to do when he spearheads an institution grounded in patriarchy, hierarchy and ontological differences?"
8: Congregations find their own voices with Liturgy of the Hours revisions
"We wanted a prayer book that would reflect who we are." Some congregations of women religious in the United States have their own versions of the Liturgy of the Hours — the daily prayer of the church, as Julie A. Ferraro reports.
9: Truth and transgender lives
In her third column for GSR on her ministry to transgender people, Sr. Luisa Derouen writes: "Transgender people are who they say they are. I have witnessed their incredible courage and faith in the pursuit of living an authentic life. It is what we call transformation in God, conversion of life."
10: COVID-19: Time to strengthen faith in God
Sr. Jennibeth Sabay writes from the Philippines about her experience living in lockdown in this column: "I fight loneliness by doing things that I like to do — playing the guitar and singing the songs close to my heart."
