A new Catholic elementary school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore will honor Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, who founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first religious community of women of African descent, and opened the first Catholic school in the United States for black children.

Forming a community of women from different backgrounds and uniting them in prayer, in care for the earth and in hospitality to others is a powerful witness of Gospel values, Pope Francis told a group of Benedictine sisters.

Several communities of sisters joined the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in issuing statements in response to the clergy sex abuse crisis.

Revelations of clergy sex abuse, cover-up and infighting among church leadership continue to shake the Catholic world. Sisters spoke to GSR about the crisis. They advocate giving women religious and the laity authority in abuse cases; putting women religious in positions of authority within the church to thwart clericalism; and including more women religious in the vocation process for priests.

See for Yourself - "Yes, I still use a wristwatch and, in fact, I wouldn't be without it. How else would you tell the time?"

Right here and right now, the broken heart of Christ is evident in the wounded members of his body, most especially the victims of sexual abuse and the victims of abuse of ecclesial power.

When a beloved Guaraní woman from a town near our mission home in Timboy, Bolivia, became gravely ill, we accompanied her family through their agonizing worries and unceasing prayers for healing.

NCR Preview: "The Nun" is a scare-fest with a very thin plot, one-dimensional characters, and a premise that shows little familiarity with actual Catholicism. In fact, I was more bothered by this than the sight of possessed nuns with gory faces infesting the night with fright.

From A Nun's Life podcasts - In this Random Nun Clip, St. Joseph Sr. Elizabeth Johnson talks about the "communion of saints" and the "cloud of witnesses."

Supporting themselves through impact investing, sisters use funds to promote social changes like reducing reliance on fossil fuels, creating opportunities for employment training,  and bringing fresh groceries to former "food deserts." Putting money directly into startup companies or organizations that create a positive social or environmental impact along with financial returns as they grow is a newer way that more Canadian religious communities have found to help people while generating operating and retirement income. "We don't just do this because it's a good thing to do," Ursuline Sr. Theresa Mahoney said. "It is that, but it's also good for us. It brings us financing we need, and it gives us joy."