"All my life I was taught to hate people like you. But after tonight, I see nothing to hate."

The classroom study and interfaith experiences helped students participate in the grace-filled, mysterious and transformative work that happens when people break through their own prejudices and stereotypes to relate to one another and find common ground.

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.

"And are we, as individuals, responsible for showing up, speaking up, and being the church we want to see? Yes. We all participate in creating, living, and being church."

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.

Religious sisters won a battle with publicly traded gun manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Co. They used a shareholder resolution to force the company to start reporting on its gun safety measures. Shareholder resolutions are just one way sisters have been holding corporations to take social responsibility.

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." 

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?

"Yes, adults can also experience the enrichment of praying outdoors. Yes, God is active in the adventure of abandoning ourselves to the possibilities of carrying only what we need. Yes, conversion closer to Christ comes with traveling over unknown trails with a praying community and letting our devotion to persistent questions show us The Way."