Rachel Stella is a freelance journalist based in Joliet, Illinois, focusing on Christianity and local news from the greater Chicago area. She was assistant/web editor for Mennonite World Review for three years. She has a bachelor's degree in mass communication/journalism from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. Follow her on Twitter @rachelcstella.
Nuns on the Bus Blog - Sisters report from their visit to the office of Rep. Mimi Walters and rally in Irvine, California, and their roundtable with Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and town hall in Las Vegas.
From A Nun's Life podcasts - In this Random Nun Clip, Holy Family of Nazareth Sr. Angela Szczawinska talks about God surprising her with a call to vocation.
Language is powerful in its ability to shape our perspective. How we name our reality can, to some extent, lead us to very different conclusions.
Blessed Catherine Kasper, founder of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, will be canonized Oct. 14. GSR spoke with the congregation's leaders about Kasper's life, legacy and upcoming sainthood. "One of the first gifts of the canonization is that she's now a gift to the church," Sr. Judith Diltz says. "She doesn't just belong to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ."
• Listen to an NCR podcast: Canonizing Oscar Romero, Pope Paul VI and Catherine Kasper
Catholics who work on the climate change issue say the world has "a moral and ethical imperative to act," following the release of a major report that foresees a global climate crisis.
The initiative, which includes housing for refugee women and children, is the result of cooperation between Cabrini sisters, Scalabrini sisters, various Vatican offices, the International Union of Superiors General, and the Italian bishops' conference.
Sarabella Muise grew up in Northern California and finished her undergraduate degree at Santa Clara University, studying psychology and studio art. Upon graduation, she chose to complete a year of service with Good Shepherd Volunteers, where she is currently serving at a therapeutic residence for adolescent girls in New York City. Aside from using her creativity, she enjoys watching "Parks and Recreation," being outside and eating ice cream.
I had the great privilege of knowing soon-to-be-canonized Archbishop Óscar Romero, working with him in my pastoral ministry — even lunching with him at a fiesta — and learning some powerful lessons.