We recently attended the Parliament of the World's Religions with more than 7,500 other delegates from 80 countries, representing approximately 200 indigenous, spiritual and religious traditions. One could feel the spiritual power and love vibrating as we greeted and talked to fellow participants. The theme of this Parliament was "Promise of inclusion — the power of love —pursuing global understanding, reconciliation and change."
by Elizabeth Eisenstadt Evans
Contributor
"She helped me discern what this call was all about. She's been there from the beginning." On the surface, these sisters' life stories seem radically different, but what they have in common was a connection with another woman, one that altered the trajectory of their lives — someone who sparked a desire for religious life they might not have known existed.
by Julianna Lewis
Notes from the Field: Living with the Salesian sisters at Casa Madre Mazzarello taught me the importance of "wasting" time in prayer, especially in the modern age. Being limited is a good thing.
by Judith Sutera
Contributor
Seventy monastic women gathered from 17 countries for a dialogue event between Buddhist and Christian nuns. Participants called the event "a landmark to foster mutual understanding and friendship."
by Madonna Virola
"The reason behind my painting is really my passion since childhood," says Sr. Venus Pegar, a Filipina sister of St. Francis of Xavier. Now, with permission from her mother superior, she paints regularly to raise funds for her order's ministries.
Sr. Judith Sutera is a member of the Benedictine monastery of Mount Saint Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas. Her academic background is in psychology, sociology, counseling and monastic theology. A director for lay oblates, she also teaches novitiate courses in monastic spirituality and works with the Sophia Retreat Center in Atchison. She is editor of Magistra and The American Monastic Newsletter; as the author of several spirituality books and articles, she has given numerous presentations, retreats and workshops for a variety of groups in the U.S. and elsewhere.
GSR Today - The holidays inspire memories of a family friend: the late Sr. Mary Lucy Downey, a hero to the cause of affordable housing in Denver, and the first sister I ever knew. Downey was a trailblazer whose legacy lives on in Colorado, Missouri and even the United Nations.
by John Gehring
The Daughter of Charity sister retires in June as head of Catholic Health Association — a tenure that saw her become the face of Catholic lobbying efforts to pass the Affordable Care Act. That often-bruising fight put to use her ability, in the words of a colleague, "to stay anchored to her principles grounded in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, while ably working for what's possible and workable."
by Karan Varker
Contributor
We live in an amazing cosmos with its countless numbers of galaxies, stars and planets. Try as we might, how could we ever understand why God would choose this place to become flesh and live among us?
by Brittany Wilmes
Engagement Editor
GSR Today - While we love reflecting back on a year of hard work and sharing our favorite stories, we also find it useful to turn to your example to see what stories resonated in 2018. (It's no surprise that coverage of the clergy sex abuse crisis dominates the list.)
