The U.S. bishops will consider endorsing the sainthood cause of Sr. Thea Bowman, the granddaughter of slaves and the only African-American member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, who transcended racism to leave a lasting mark on Catholic life in the United States in the late 20th century.

Sr. Mary McCabe is not one to say: "Been there, done that." The Sister of Notre Dame de Namur has spent most of the past 40 years helping women in rural farming communities in northern Brazil. And in the past year and a half since she has been back in the U.S., she has been teaching English classes in Baltimore.

According to an Oct. 11 report from the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, children suffered physical and sexual abuse at the hands of nuns, priests and staffers at orphanages run by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. The abuse took place over decades, resulting in frequent deaths.

Contemplate This - Even in the face of such an alarming forecast based on factual data, there are still people who do not accept the reality of climate change. We must acknowledge that we are in service to the future generations of all species and to the planet. These realizations do not come from data alone.

The Life - When we asked them whether sisters should be politically active, the panelists for October all answered with a resounding "yes." As one sister put it, "Attending to the vulnerable is the mission of religious life." And that is, at heart, politics.

Horizons - Solidarity isn't a gentle probing of the spirit or a sweet Christian suggestion when lives are on the line. It's an insistence to get to work. In fact, that's what some of my sisters have done.

Nuns on the Bus Blog - With a birthday celebration along the way, the bus carries messages for representatives to New Hartford and Kingston, New York, and then meets with refugees and their First Friends in Kearny, New Jersey.

The power of story and promise of hope permeated the Hilton Humanitarian Symposium and Prize ceremony Oct. 19. While no sisters appeared as speakers or panelists, the inspiring event highlighted heroes and solutions that are making a difference.

He wakes early and says what he says every day. Father, into your arms I commend my spirit. Not for a minute does the resurrected Christ stay put on the chapel wall.

Five Missionaries of Jesus nuns whose September protest led to the jailing of an Indian bishop accused of rape now say they fear for their lives after he was released on bail. Their fear intensified after a priest who testified against Bishop Franco Mulakkal died Oct. 22. "We do not know whether we will be on the face of the earth tomorrow," says Sister Anupama.