GSR Today - Oh sure, the mainstream media covered the obvious stories of 2014 concerning women religious – the Nuns on the Bus tour, the Vatican’s report on the apostolic visitation, that reality TV show called “The Sisterhood.” But those aren’t the stories that will stay with me as we turn the corner to 2015. Here are 10 women, or groups of women, who inspire New Year’s resolutions for all of us.

The English Tutoring Project, an initiative of the St. Louis Area Women Religious Collaborative Ministries, helps immigrant and refugee students in Catholic schools acquire English-language skills, in a suburb north of St. Louis, Missouri. Sr. Joyce Schramm, a Sister of Most Precious Blood of O'Fallon, tutors 18 students at Holy Trinity in kindergarten, first and third grades. In all, 106 students are served, representing 11 countries of origin.

Sr. Carol Breslin is a Medical Missionary of Mary, whose members pioneered medical services to girls and women affected by fistula. For many years, working with a number of partners, MMMs have brought relief to thousands of women affected by fistulae in East and West Africa. Members of the order work in 14 countries worldwide and have U.S. houses in Boston, New York and Chicago.

"When you leave your own home and you go someplace else and walk in someone else’s shoes, that helps you have a greater view of life and makes you stretch as a person."

GSR Today - The media are busy summarizing the year: world events, best movies, best books, celebrity lives, who has died. Markers of time. Every year’s ending affords an opportunity for a life review, a gratitude review. Where has life taken us? What have been the blessings of the year?

We are coming to the end of the year when holiday celebrations overshadow the ongoing realities of war, poverty and violence. As we look toward a New Year, I would like to declare 2015 the Year of Love. I do not mean love as sentiment or emotion but love as the highest good, the deep relationality of being itself.

“These are our sisters in whom we are well-pleased. May their efforts raise us all up to serve a new world with new and holy hearts.”