Maria Cecilia Sierra Salcido is from Mexico and has been a member of the Comboni Missionary Sisters for 32 years. She has lived in the United States, Italy, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, and Guatemala. With a background in communications, theology, and nonprofit management, she has contributed to the establishment of sustainable organizations in communities affected by poverty, social conflict and cultural diversity. Presently, she works at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Richmond, Virginia, and in February 2023 hopes to continue missionary life in the eastern Arab world.
August 28, 2018
As the first CEO of SSM Health system, Sr. Mary Jean Ryan of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary left a lasting imprint over 25 years. Among the hallmarks of her work has been recognizing every employee's contributions, from surgeon to janitor.
by Lucía Aurora Herrerías Guerra
Contributor
August 28, 2018
The International Congress of Consecrated Life was a chance to listen to, share with and be enriched by people from many parts of the world belonging to all forms of consecrated life in the church today.
by Saji Thomas
Contributor
August 27, 2018
More than 6,700 Catholic nuns are among those helping over a million people taking shelter in relief camps after unprecedented floods ravaged Kerala, a southwestern Indian state. "This is the biggest rescue and relief operation the Catholic Church in Kerala has undertaken in its history," says Fr. George Vettikattil, who heads the church's relief operations in the state.
August 27, 2018
NCR Preview: A new program, Together: A Collaborative for Theological Education, Formation, and Community, will help Catholic sisters and brothers deepen their connections and support each other’s formation.
This story appears in the Crisis in the Church feature series. View the full series.
August 27, 2018
Contemplate This - Breathe in the pain. Breathe out the gifts. I brought this contemplative practice to my prayer for sexual abuse victims — and then for the male clerical hierarchy as well.
August 27, 2018
GSR Today: The Seeking Refuge series took me to Rome and Athens, to see how communities are responding to migration. I spoke to refugee families who taught me about resilience, hope and courage. Sisters and others in the humanitarian field gave me direction as I navigated a tricky and complex subject. These are the lessons I learned.
This story appears in the The Life feature series. View the full series.
by The Life Panelists
August 27, 2018
The Life - Anglicans, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Methodists, Muslims, Sufis, Quakers: The panelists for August responded on a very personal level, sharing their life experiences that led them into an appreciation of other religions and ecumenical experiences. The panel responded to the following question: There are many entryways to ecumenical experience. Describe the door that let you, personally, walk into a sacred experience with or in a different religion or denomination.
This story appears in the Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy feature series. View the full series.
August 24, 2018
Catholic groups voiced dismay and disagreement with a proposed rule from the Trump administration to weaken regulations on carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants that in the process could result in 1,400 more premature deaths annually.
This story appears in the See for Yourself feature series. View the full series.
by Nancy Linenkugel
Contributor
August 24, 2018
See for Yourself - It may sometimes impede understanding, but there's a certain charm to Chinglish, like this message on a sign in a park: "The grass smiles to you, please do not trample on it."