Mary Deborah Giles is a Sister of Notre Dame of the Toledo Province, who taught at both the elementary and secondary levels. Her graduate work included a degree in Christian spirituality with certification in retreat and spiritual direction, and a master's degree in Community Counseling. A mental health and addictions therapist licensed in the state of Ohio, she currently ministers at Desert House of Prayer in Tucson, Arizona as a spiritual director.
Horizons - The last two years, for all the turmoil they have contained, have been clarifying in many ways. While the election results have sure implications for the future, so do the lessons learned during this election season.
Benedictine sisters, discerning about their future, chose to build a monastery on the outskirts of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Today, the Sisters of Benet Hill Monastery combine monastic community with an active role in civic life. They advocate against human trafficking and promote education, planting Benedictine values in Colorado's second largest city.
Sometimes people ask me about the experience of serving as the vice postulator for the Cause for the Canonization of Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy. My response is that it is like standing in the path of a great wave of hope.
For the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, the canonization of their foundress, also known as Mother Mary Catherine Kasper, is a confirmation of what they knew and believed. Their gratitude stemmed from the universal church recognizing God's goodness as manifested in her and sharing Kasper with the world.
Notes from the Field - For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed volunteering. When I went to college at Tulane University, I did not waste any time and promptly became the service chair for my freshman residence hall. It was not until my sophomore year, however, that it dawned upon me to consider international service work.
Donna Gould is a Sister of the Blessed Sacrament from Los Angeles, California. She spent many years ministering in the Southwest among the Pueblo and Navajo peoples. Her doctoral studies are in American literature, folklore and cultural studies, and she is currently an associate professor of English at the Xavier University of Louisiana.
Sheila Carney is a member of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. With degrees in English and ministry, she served in education at the elementary, secondary, baccalaureate and seminary levels, and in elementary administration. Community service positions have included regional presidency, initial formation, retreat direction and membership on the Institute Leadership Team.
Sr. Marlene Weisenbeck, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, raises awareness about human trafficking through the Task Force to Eradicate Modern Slavery, working alongside other groups. "We all have to work together because the survivors come to us through various venues."
Religious life in the 21st century calls us to help our church listen to the voices of women and respect their full and equal participation in all aspects of ecclesial affairs, including governance.