Cyndi Nienhaus belongs to the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes in Wisconsin. She taught and served as youth minister from early childhood classes to university levels before moving to pastoral studies and religious education at the graduate level. Currently, she is an associate professor of religious education, a prolific writer and lecturer. She is also a general councilor on the leadership team of her congregation.

by Jose Kavi

Contributing editor

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Sr. Joeyanna D'Souza is the first woman elected to leadership of Signis India, the Indian chapter of the World Catholic Association for Communication. D'Souza told GSR that her calling is to use new media for the Gospel. With years of such experience, she spoke to GSR about dealing with internet trolling and fake news.

The remains of St. Katharine Drexel, founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, will be transferred from the crypt under the chapel of St. Elizabeth Convent, the congregation's Bensalem motherhouse, in the coming weeks to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.

July 30 is the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, and sisters are working as ever to eradicate forced labor and sex, which victimizes 21 million people globally. They also are working to change perceptions about human trafficking, calling it part of larger human rights violations, not a "single isolated event." 

This story appears in the The Life feature series. View the full series.

The Life - This month, the panelists shared some of their congregational ministries with women, describing how they meet the special needs of this vulnerable half of humanity in various places around the world, especially those experiencing war and violence. Two things they agreed on: Education is a powerful shield against poverty, and peace is a key ingredient to a prosperous and happy life. The panel responded to the following question: Women seem to always get the worst of the world's crises. How does your congregation help women deal with the effects of poverty, war, terrorism or violence?