by Adele McKiernan
Notes from the Field - I'd been concerned I was fated to repeat last year's trauma, but Robert Frost's poem and the deacon's interpretation reminded me that though the darkness of winter happens annually, so does the brightness of spring.
Cecilia A. Ranger is a Sister of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. With a lifelong commitment to education, philosophy, theology and spiritual direction, she taught and did spiritual direction at several colleges, universities and seminaries, and served in university administration and on boards. Other ministries included pastoral ministry, facilitation, and consultancies for leadership groups; she also served as president of the Oregon Sisters of the Holy Names.
At the International Union of Superiors General's 2016 assembly, Pope Francis first announced a commission to study women and the diaconate. After three years in which UISG leaders successfully urged the Vatican to increase women's voices at synods, they are set to meet again in Rome May 6-10.
by Peter Tran
Speaking with GSR at the motherhouse of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Los Angeles, Sr. Grace Duc Le says the congregation will mark its milestone with the intent to "renew, adapt and joyfully live out our spirituality and charism," which focuses on serving women and children.
by Mary Ellen Brody
Contributor
Visiting three small communities with 30 to 40 families in each group, we heard from the people how they had been displaced and were currently under threat of yet another displacement. All were poor working families paying rent but facing the possibility of losing their modest shelters: although one community had land gifted by its owner, they had no documents to prove that gift.
Contemplate This - The cathedrals represented the space where God became present — mediated by the clergy through the sacraments. The clergy were the teachers of the faith, using stained glass windows and other iconography to tell salvation history. The architecture made order and geometric design a priority as well as conveying a sense of stability and permanence.
by The Life Panelists
The panelists shared a variety of approaches that help bring them into union with God: eucharistic adoration, poetry, Scripture, yoga, dancing, drawing, and centering prayer. But all approaches ultimately involve a personal encounter of love, a contemplative experience with the Divine. They described unique individual encounters with God as they responded to this question: "What is your favorite type of prayer? Why?"
Mary Ellen Brody is a member of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas living in Dallas, Pennsylvania. In addition to formal studies, her learning has come through involvement with vulnerable populations: abused and neglected children, homeless men, women and children, immigrants, and people in physical, emotional, mental or spiritual pain. Her extensive ministry opportunities have been in Pennsylvania, San Francisco, St. Louis, McAllen and Laredo, Texas, and Guyana and Honduras.
by Maxine Kollasch
Contributor
From A Nun's Life podcasts - In this Random Nun Clip, Sister Maxine and her guests talk about how faith helps us in the ups and downs of life.
by Susan Rose Francois
NCR Contributor
Horizons - I always love the Scripture readings during the first week of Easter, when the church prays with the appearance stories of the resurrected Jesus. What I especially appreciate is the human reality.
