As one of the seven sisters who took part in the Synod of Bishops on young people, I invite to you to read the wonderful letter Pope Francis has written to you. With his post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Francis offers all God's people on the move, especially young people, a precious compass for the road.
A Good Death, Part 1 - When it comes to death and dying, sisters bring eternal hope, humor and a well-organized file folder ... just in case. Interviews with sisters in a variety of communities suggest that many bring a bracingly practical, even matter-of-fact approach to preparing for the inevitable.
Nathalie Becquart is a member of the Xavière Sisters, Missionaries of Jesus Christ in France. Before becoming a sister, she worked as a consultant in marketing and advertising. After entering, she did marketing for Paulist Press, was the national coordinator for a scouting program for poor urban youth, director of a university chaplaincy program, and a member of the bishop’s council of the Diocese of Nanterre, France.
Horizons - Since I was young, I've been a person who asks questions like it's my job. My parents still lament that I would debate with them about curfews and chores, that I always wanted to know why they made the rules they did and always had good follow-up questions and rebuttals.
A new book published by CARA looks at the experiences of women religious who come to the United States to work. The book included results from a survey of nearly 1,000 immigrant sisters.
Contemplate This - Seeing climate change as an existential crisis is worth pondering and bringing to contemplation. Climate change seen in this way brings us face to face with the core questions of every human person. Who are we? Why are we here? What do we care about? Faith and religion have tried to address such questions and offer ways of responding.
Focus on Human Trafficking - Sisters from the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and other sisters from different congregations in Nigeria are fighting human trafficking through advocacy and creating awareness to dissuade young girls and women from taking a dangerous route across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, where they can be trafficked into prostitution or slavery.
Notes from the Field - In the face of various forms of loss this volunteer year, I often feel more like I am living in the absence of others than I am present to my own life.
"Oh my God, my heart is too small to love you. So I will make you loved by so many other hearts that their love will make up for the littleness of mine." So prayed our foundress, Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon, beatified last year.
In address to Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University graduates, CEO of Catholic Health Association faults imperialism rather than clericalism in church abuse and cover-up crisis. Daughter of Charity Sr. Carol Keean said, "The incredible message of God's love for each of us, the wonders of his plan for each of us individually and as a people risks being completely drowned out. "