Notes from the Field - T'is the season to be jolly! And indeed I am jolly, as Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. I love the music, decorations, the spirit of giving, Jesus' birthday, lights, and parties. The most noticeable one of them all in Immokalee is without a doubt the spirit of giving. I attended two events in the past two weeks that give true meaning to this spirit of giving during the holiday season.

GSR Today - As Christmas approaches, a look back at what I’ve learned from the sisters I interviewed in 2015: In order to do difficult work, they must find balance within themselves. When I think about what I have learned from the sisters over the course of 2015, there is one word that jumps to mind: deliberate.

Franciscan Sr. Alicia Torres was one of four contestants on the latest round of "Chopped," a chefs' competition on the Food Network. Torres turned out to be the winner, revealed Nov. 9, of the Thanksgiving meal challenge, garnering $10,000 for the ministry of Chicago's Mission of Our Lady of the Angels soup kitchen. Global Sisters Report reached out to her to find out if she had a favorite recipe to share.

In 1983, after overcoming her own struggles with alcohol, Immaculate Heart of Mary Sr. Mary Ellen Merrick became an addiction counselor. Today, she is the executive director of women's services at Guest House, a residential addiction treatment facility in Lake Orion, Michigan, for priests and religious. Earlier this fall, Merrick talked to Global Sisters Report about her personal story and why it's important for women religious to be educated about addiction in all its forms.

"One at a time the crystals form and the collective beauty fills our windows. How can anyone say one person doesn't make a difference in the collective atmosphere of being we call Earth?"

GSR Today - With all the major, horrific crises around the world, it's easy to forget that some places have been living in crisis for decades, but there are indications that sometimes, people do cross boundaries of faith and make it back.

Sponsored by four U.S. communities of women religious, the Transitions ministry based in Spokane, Washington, provides medium-term housing, job training through a lively cafe and bakery, as well as support and counseling to up to 40 women each year who are learning to turn over a new leaf and become independent.

"Share what you have instead of sharing only if you have extra to give away."

From A Nun's Life podcasts - What things can I do to make Advent a really meaningful season for me? Find inspiration from some key figures of Advent in this clip from Sr. Candyce Rekart's webinar "Engaging Advent."