Notre Dame Mission Volunteers-AmeriCorps is a partnership between Notre Dame Mission Volunteers, a program of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and AmeriCorps, a network of U.S. service programs. Its members serve in teaching, tutoring and other programs. They gain new skills and, often, a lifetime appreciation for service.

The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration's call to address the political and humanitarian crisis in Cameroon drew about 100 people to a town hall meeting and more than 1,000 viewers online.

When I was 6 months old, I cried for the moon. My mother could not convince me that the moon was not an accessible "ball to play with," as I insisted. Since then, I have realized that many religious seem to have some voice inside that nudges them to "cry for the moon." We're idealists. We want to re-create a better world in which to play.

Notes from the Field - I'd been concerned I was fated to repeat last year's trauma, but Robert Frost's poem and the deacon's interpretation reminded me that though the darkness of winter happens annually, so does the brightness of spring.

At the International Union of Superiors General's 2016 assembly, Pope Francis first announced a commission to study women and the diaconate. After three years in which UISG leaders successfully urged the Vatican to increase women's voices at synods, they are set to meet again in Rome May 6-10.

Speaking with GSR at the motherhouse of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Los Angeles, Sr. Grace Duc Le says the congregation will mark its milestone with the intent to "renew, adapt and joyfully live out our spirituality and charism," which focuses on serving women and children.

Visiting three small communities with 30 to 40 families in each group, we heard from the people how they had been displaced and were currently under threat of yet another displacement. All were poor working families paying rent but facing the possibility of losing their modest shelters: although one community had land gifted by its owner, they had no documents to prove that gift.

Contemplate This - The cathedrals represented the space where God became present — mediated by the clergy through the sacraments. The clergy were the teachers of the faith, using stained glass windows and other iconography to tell salvation history. The architecture made order and geometric design a priority as well as conveying a sense of stability and permanence.

The panelists shared a variety of approaches that help bring them into union with God: eucharistic adoration, poetry, Scripture, yoga, dancing, drawing, and centering prayer. But all approaches ultimately involve a personal encounter of love, a contemplative experience with the Divine. They described unique individual encounters with God as they responded to this question: "What is your favorite type of prayer? Why?"