Traditionally the third week of January (January 18-25) is devoted to prayers for Christian unity. For over 100 years the World Prayer for Christian Unity has invited Christian denominations of every stripe to pray for closer union. Not long ago, I found myself longing for the day when our prayers will finally lead to Eucharistic table sharing. Here's the story.

Augustinian Sr. Julia Thundathil bemoans that Indian society still cannot accept leprosy patients or their children, "despite the fact that it is a curable disease," she says. "People still look at them with contempt. It should change." For more than two decades, she has seen to the needs of 258 lepers from 85 families who live in an enclave she helps manage called Harsha Nagar in a village in central India.

"We do not remember to stay in the past. Rather, we remember for the present and — for the future."

Sr. Imelda Gaurwa was the first Tanzanian sister to join the international order of the Grail Sisters. She was the country superior for many years but has now retired in Moshi, Tanzania, where the Grail Sisters run a nursery school and a vocational school. Gaurwa talked with GSR about the importance of empowering women and how that message has adapted to new realities in Tanzania, where there are 80 Grail Sisters across the country.

Modernity continues to produce phenomena that were never before seen in many parts of the African continent. One is the emergence of street children. The ever-increasing number of them in cities across Nigeria strains the African adage, "It takes a village to raise a child," as well as invites a critical reflection on the proverb in the light of present reality.

"The real question is not why the suffering, but where is God in the suffering. A loving God does not, could not, desire our suffering. Rather, God is not remote from us, especially in our pain: God suffers with us."

Linda Roby, a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is director of the deaf ministry for the archdiocese of Portland, Oregon since 1992 after holding the same position from 1978 to 1982. In the 10-year interim, she lived in Iowa, teaching in a Catholic school and later working in her community's initial formation program. "One of my greatest joys is seeing the increase in Deaf involvement and leadership in Catholic Deaf ministry," she said.

Notes from the Field - Packing all of your belongings and moving 1,320 miles to another state sounds daunting, challenging and, at the same time, exciting. These were the feelings I had as I was packing my things, ready to make my move Sept. 10 to the great Sunshine State from Chicago.

GSR Today - The old convent of the Sisters of St. Martha in St. Andrews, Nova Scotia, had been on the market for a year after the sisters decided it was too large for them. Then Pope Francis urged parishes to take in Syrian refugees.

"I leave you color as winter’s chill surrounds. I leave you hope in glory yet to be revealed. Warm yourself in the true colors of loving."