Notes from the Field - St. John Bosco began a tradition more than 100 years ago that still is celebrated in Salesian communities around the world to this day: the Fiesta of Gratitude. It can be held at any time, and this year, I had three Thanksgivings.

Nuns and members of religious groups and government agencies who serve people with HIV/AIDS gathered at a recent symposium focused on how to end the disease, share best practices and experiences caring for patients and explore how to work together better.

Conflicts over proposed funds for controversial measures such as a border wall threaten a possible government shutdown. Network, the Catholic social justice lobbying organization, is pushing for legislation with the lowest funding for border fencing.

Mary Killeen, a Sister of Mercy from Ireland, didn't choose to come to Kenya. She was in her late 20s, happily teaching in Ireland, when another sister got sick in Nairobi, and Killeen was asked to fill in. That was 42 years ago, and Killeen has been in Kenya ever since.

For 13 years, the Australian Catholic Religious Against the Trafficking of Humans group has been going to the national Parliament to advocate for policies and laws to address modern-day slavery practices in supply chains and labor markets. It is hardly likely in Australia that anyone would not accept that we do not want human trafficking or slavery, but the readiness to open their eyes and realize that it does happen here is very welcome. We hope that the Modern Slavery Bill will be effective and given the resources it needs.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles said it will not pursue charges against two religious sisters who were found to have "misappropriated" a "substantial amount" of money from one of its Catholic schools.

GSR Today - This is the second set of compiled reports from sisters working at or near the border who have written of the need caused by a recent influx of migrants unrelated to the caravan, and the plight of those seeking asylum.

Collaboration and communion are part of the vision of the Eastern Catholic Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great, and we lived that vision during our latest Basilian Volunteers mission trip to Ukraine.

Sr. Agatha Chikelue started thinking about how to build bridges between Christians and Muslims in 2008, as northern Nigeria disintegrated into violence. Nigeria's population is evenly divided with 48 percent Muslims and 49 percent Christians, who commonly avoid direct contact with each other. Since starting in 2011, the Women of Faith Peacebuilding Network's activities have reached more than 10,000 Muslim and Christian women across the country through seminars, meditations, presentations by religious leaders, and dialogue.

Celebration's Scripture for Life column - During the Advent and Christmas season, Global Sisters Report is sharing Celebration's weekly "Scripture for Life" columns, commentary on the Sunday readings by sisters and others.