The railroad runs more than 550 miles through 27 communities in the Brazilian Amazon. It runs so close to people's homes that the houses have cracked, and some people have hearing loss.

The trains carry minerals out of the rainforest to the coast. But the tracks separate families from their schools, health centers and fields and, sometimes, the trains stop on the tracks.

See for Yourself - "Please look at the computer screen in front of you. The green boxes are available seats, so go ahead and select where you'd like to sit," the movie ticket receptionist explained. "Select a seat?" I said in horror.

Sr. Catherine Hughes, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur for 69 years and a former superior general for her congregation, died March 22 in Liverpool, England, after a brief illness. She was 94.

One cold day in January, I woke up and realized I was in a new relationship. As it happens, so are you. No matter who we voted for in the November presidential election or what our personal opinions are about the health and integrity of our electoral process, we have a new man in our lives: Donald J. Trump, the person sworn in as president of these United States on Jan. 20, 2017. 

"Vatican II was a tremendous blessing. We were freed from the legislation of centuries, that a sister, no matter how old she was, was still treated as a little girl. The priests almost patted us on the head. Vatican II brought out the fact that we are adults and able to think on our own and act on our own."

Benedictine Sr. Vivian Ivantic turns 104 in August. Speaking with Global Sisters Report, Sister Vivian reflected on the blessings women religious experienced from Vatican II, her time as a teacher, and her thoughts on women priests.

The Barro Blanco dam: Environmental defenders presented their case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in hopes it will put pressure on Panama's government to rectify the situation and stop the repression of environmental activism.

The Barro Blanco dam: Despite years of fierce resistance, the dam on the Tabasará River has submerged indigenous homes, farms and sacred sites. To local communities and environmentalists, the hydroelectric project has become a symbol of everything wrong with Panama's model of development.
Related - Washington hearing is activists' last hope in battle over Panama dam

"If people have to give up meat on Fridays in Lent, do vegetarians have to give up veggies?" "Do I have to give up things for Lent that I really love, like funny cat videos on YouTube?" We receive many questions like these at A Nun's Life Ministry as Lent approaches. People are eager to learn new ways to deepen their spirituality through the age-old practices of fasting as well as prayer and almsgiving, the three pillars of Lent.

GSR Today - Although I began my journalism career some 20 years ago, my toughest assignments came in the past year while covering the activities of some Catholic religious women for Global Sisters Report.