Following decades of repression, the Catholic Church in Cuba has been slowly rebuilding in the last 20 years. Through work by the sisters and other programs, the church extends its reach beyond parishes and strengthens ties with donors, often Cuban exiles in the U.S. and elsewhere. Care is taken to not draw too much attention from government officials lest there be repercussions from a government that discourages publicity on how the church or organizations step in where the state falls short.

"We have to welcome the stranger, we have to welcome the migrants and welcome the refugees who are fleeing from such harrowing conditions in their own lands and also to care for our victims of domestic violence and the modern-day slavery of human trafficking."

As religious, some of us have huge institutions, plenty of houses, and any number of rules and regulations. But do we enjoy the spirit of true sharing in community?

At a recent dinner for persons of color, we shared the experience of overcoming racial dynamics that exist within predominantly white religious institutions. All of us had experienced times when white people would rather see our faces than hear our voices.

When my piano teacher became pregnant, I had to switch teachers and locations. I traded an open, bright music house to the dark, dusty basement of a music store.

"Being a nun is not just about prayer, it is about action."

Immigration officers arrested Sr. Patricia Fox, Philippine superior of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, at her convent in Quezon City April 16. The prosecutor in charge "found no probable cause" for her arrest and ordered the nun's "release for further investigation."

A trip to the Big Apple and stops at some of the city's most significant historical sites, such as the Statue of Liberty, helped a group of missionary sisters currently serving immigrants in the United States gain a deeper appreciation of the struggles of the nation and its people.

On April 5, on what would have been Sr. Anne E. Patrick's 77th birthday, a group of friends and fellow scholars gathered to honor the distinguished feminist scholar and Sister of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary who had died July 21, 2016.