"If I am indeed called upon to speak as a moral authority, I know that what I say will be rooted in the real lives of so many people I know and love. My life commitment binds me inextricably to all of humankind and the rest of Creation. What a humbling and demanding privilege."

While some consider life's work is finished by the biblical age of 70 or 80, the lives and ministries of many women religious suggest otherwise. Unlike most persons in ministry, sisters never truly retire from active apostolate. Their resilience calls to mind the biblical observation, "In old age they still produce fruits" because they are "planted in the house of the Lord" (Psalm 92:13-14).

These days, Sr. Adelia Contini sees more Mexicans fleeing north toward the U.S. than she does families from Honduras, El Salvador and other violence-plagued regions of Central America. "We're seeing a lot of people from Michoacan and Guerrero," said Contini, 70, director of Instituto Madre Assunta, a shelter for migrant women and children in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, operated by nuns with the order of Missionnaires de San Carlos Borromeo Scalabrinians.

GSR Today - I had the distinct pleasure of spending an evening with the Adrian Dominicans last week, and, as always happens when I spend time with Catholic sisters, I found myself feeling a bit jealous on the drive home.

A new social media campaign developed by Sisters United News is designed to help remind people of that fact. A group of 12 Midwest communities, known collectively as the Catholic Sisters of the Upper Mississippi River Valley, planned to use the campaign to celebrate National Catholic Sisters Week, observed March 8-14 this year.

"Hope is the current that flows through, carrying us toward the future; it will open us to the unfolding of our being."

"Good morning, Sister!" As I walked into the break room yesterday, a recently-hired administrative assistant turned from the sink and greeted me with those words. Since I met her last week, she has addressed me only as "Sister," even though I introduced myself as Tracy. I wondered if she, understandably, had forgotten my first name after meeting so many new people. Perhaps she was using the same trick that I shamelessly employ when I forget the first name of one of the many sisters in our congregational nursing facility.

Global Sisters Report held a video roundtable discussion March 4 with seven sisters who are leaders on immigration issues. This is the full transcript of the 50-minute conversation.

Having completed a summer of study and retreat, I had received my new assignment on St. Dominic's feast day, to teach in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. One of our council members interrupted me on my way to the bus waiting to transport a number of us to the train station. She gently informed me that I would not be taking the train to Kingfisher, but to Mobile, Alabama. I knew little or nothing about either place, and I willingly accepted this last-minute change of plans.

See for Yourself - My friend lives in a larger city plagued by its share of societal problems, so I wasn't surprised when our conversation drifted to the topic of personal safety. Her work world and social world are both impacted greatly so this matter is on her mind.