GSR Today - The four days the Leadership Conference of Women Religious spent in St. Louis included a discussion of how to abolish the death penalty, reflections on diversity and asking hard questions about racist pasts, and a fidget spinner. Here are some more snippets we couldn't include in our full coverage of the assembly.

"La vida religiosa no tiene fronteras — religious life has no borders."

Grace on the Margins - The young women and children who suffered at Ireland's Catholic institutions also deserve an act of contrition by the pope, hierarchy, clergy and women religious.

While the form it takes is different for each of us, our shared call to discipleship means that whether we like it or not, each of us is a living sign pointing to the reign of God.

See for Yourself - Our China time was replete with things to see in several cities, but we still had time for a quick visit to souvenir shops.

"Science has discovered some of the secrets of nature, but we do not yet know the secret of our own lives. We have mapped the genome and measured the planets, but we are ignorant about our own interior universe."

Women religious exist to seek justice as the light of Christ in a world of darkness, Sr. Anita Baird told those gathered for the Leadership Conference of Women Religious' annual assembly Aug. 10 as she received their 2018 Outstanding Leadership Award. "As the first African-American to receive this leadership award, you honor not only me, but every African-American woman religious as you bear witness to the fact that black religious life matters," she said. "It took until 1979 until the bishops finally acknowledged racism as a sin," Baird told GSR. "You've got to address systems and processes and policies." 

GSR Today - The Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded in between periods of war in Sudan. The diocesan congregation ministers to those in need through communities in Uganda and South Sudan. The threat of danger is a constant, but so is the sisters' faith in God.

As I celebrate my 60th year as a sister, I watch what seems a breaking of what was: convent living, common habit, rote prayers at fixed times, predictable ministry as nurse or teacher, and a sheltered, comfortable future.