"Evolutionary thinking is actually contemplative thinking, because it leaves the full field of the future in God's hands and agrees to humbly hold the present."

Three panelists at the University of San Francisco's Prophetic Leadership: Women Shaping the Catholic Social Tradition discussed treatment of immigrants in the United States and how it compares to the era when four churchwomen were killed in El Salvador. 

When Benedictine Sr. Kathleen Cogan began writing short stories about growing up on her family's Colorado ranch, she just wanted to give herself something to do while she recovered from a 2014 stroke. Her new hobby culminated in a time capsule for her family that became a published book.

Officials at San Domenico School in San Anselmo, California, founded in 1850 by the Dominican Sisters, announced Nov. 13 that the school will no longer be Catholic and will drop official ties to the San Francisco Archdiocese and the Western Catholic Educational Association.

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious called the withdrawal a "misguided decision" that is " yet another example of the president's attempts to wall off this nation and subvert its values."

Mohican, a rare red timber wolf, pawed the ground and panted with what appeared to be a smile, sizing up the group as he walked around us. I thought of St. Joseph Sr. Elizabeth Johnson's book Ask the Beasts as Mohican rested among new friends.

"The sky has been the limit as far as what I've learned working with women who are homeless. And I've learned that from them. They're beautiful."

Many of the liturgical readings for Advent are taken from the book of Isaiah. The poet within the book offers us a vision of leadership that is timeless, transformative and prophetic.

"I watched the dramatic events of the past week with surprise and with appreciation for the spirit of peace and calm that prevailed."