Michelle Lesher, SSJ is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia currently serving in vocation and formation ministry. Formerly, she was a college campus minister and a high school theology teacher. She is passionate about young adult faith formation.

This story appears in the UISG Plenary feature series. View the full series.

by Joshua J. McElwee

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jmcelwee@ncronline.org

The global umbrella group for the leaders of the world's Catholic women religious has created a new advisory council of five female canon lawyers to offer expertise on church law to sisters' communities worldwide.

This story appears in the UISG Plenary feature series. View the full series.

by Joshua J. McElwee

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jmcelwee@ncronline.org

The leaders of the world's communities of Catholic women religious were warned against accepting an "entitlement creep" that numbs them from confronting poverty and environmental destruction, at the opening session of a triennial gathering here. 

This story appears in the Mining feature series. View the full series.

In one recent example of the NGO Mining Working Group's work, the body focused on Canada, whose human rights record was up for review in 2015 by the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Committee. The NGO Mining Working Group's main focus was on Canada's responsibility for abuses related to Canadian mining industry operations outside of Canada and the rights of indigenous people within the country, said Sr. Áine O'Connor, who coordinates the U.N. work of the Sisters of Mercy and the Mercy International Association.

This story appears in the Mining feature series. View the full series.

Sustainable development goals are critical in a world of dwindling resources, where large-scale industrial mining, the extraction of minerals, metals and fuels, has deep and lasting — and often negative — effects on the communities where they operate. Catholic sisters advocate for sustainability, both on the local level and at the United Nations.