"Charism is simply the grace to live our mission well." Sr. Bette Moslander once wrote. Standing in front of a group of colleagues on a recent retreat for college faculty and staff, I read those words aloud from a slide, acutely aware that the presentation I was giving was one of the only things standing between them and a beautiful spring day.

"For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God."

Appreciation - Mary Sr. Margaret Brennan, theologian and educator, was an advocate for empowering women religious to own their own experiences of God and of life. She died April 28.

Simply Spirit - Gifted women are serving the church in diverse and ecclesial ministries, but their work often goes unseen by most Catholics. Opening the diaconate to women would change that.

"Work can’t be a mere cog in a mechanism that grinds resources to earn more and more profits while sacrificing values and principles."

The Deen Bandhu Samaj order is known for its courage under fire. It was founded in 1978 by Carmelite Bishop Paulinus Jeerakath of Jagdalpur, who drew together a dozen nuns from various congregations looking for a challenging mission. Today the congregation has 136 members and 19 candidates, all working in villages that lack basic amenities.

See for Yourself - There doesn't seem to be a use for copyediting in the mainstream media, especially in advertising. ColloquialEnglish rules the day.

"I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."

Notes from the Field - The word "trigger" is thrown around a lot at the juvenile justice residential facility where I work. A trigger is something that initiates or provokes a strong feeling in someone that can lead to outbursts of anger, sorrow, fear or other intense feelings, that can then lead to negative behaviors or responses.

"There is a reason why most motherhouse grounds had orchards — to make visible the growth in the Spirit in ourselves and in those to and with whom we minister."