India's disabled, abandoned women find hope among these Eastern Catholic nuns

Bethany Sr. Bhagya Thalichirayil interacts with "Didi" (red), a senior resident, and Sujatha (left), the youngest resident of Asha Bhavan, a home for disabled and abandoned women at Ichilampady, a village in Karnataka state, southwestern India. (Thomas Scaria)

The Bethany sisters run 29 centers for disabled and abandoned women across India. At Asha Bhavan, the sisters give these women the care, community and dignity they need.

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Religious sisters at the Youth2000 Summer Festival, held Aug. 7-10, 2025, in Kilmore, Ireland. (Courtesy of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore)

In this Irish diocese, I see religious life alive and flourishing

Horizons

As Pope Francis told us: Look to the past with gratitude, live the present with passion, and embrace the future with hope. This threefold approach to reflecting on religious life has become a kind of examen.

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Participants take part in a program training activity on teamwork during the Professional Development for Congregational Leaders program. Designed by African leaders for African leaders, the program recognizes the realities of religious leadership in Africa and offers women religious the skills to lead with faith, resilience and collaboration. (Courtesy of Catherine Cingii)

Growing the leader within: A journey of faith, courage and collaboration

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Sr. Maritze Torres explains the "triptica," a mural taking viewers through Trujillo's bloody past (on the right), to its present marked with struggles for justice (center), to its hopeful future, filled with abundance, education, good health and good fortune. (Tracy L. Barnett)

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Bethany Sr. Bhagya Thalichirayil interacts with "Didi" (red), a senior resident, and Sujatha (left), the youngest resident of Asha Bhavan, a home for disabled and abandoned women at Ichilampady, a village in Karnataka state, southwestern India. (Thomas Scaria)

India's disabled, abandoned women find hope among these Eastern Catholic nuns

The Bethany sisters run 29 centers for disabled and abandoned women across India. At Asha Bhavan, the sisters give these women the care, community and dignity they need.

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Beatification cause for Minnesota Benedictine sister opens

Religious sisters at the Youth2000 Summer Festival, held Aug. 7-10, 2025, in Kilmore, Ireland. (Courtesy of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore)
Columns

In this Irish diocese, I see religious life alive and flourishing

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Participants take part in a program training activity on teamwork during the Professional Development for Congregational Leaders program. Designed by African leaders for African leaders, the program recognizes the realities of religious leadership in Africa and offers women religious the skills to lead with faith, resilience and collaboration. (Courtesy of Catherine Cingii)
Columns

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Elias Tembo and his mother, Catherine Mwale are pictured with Sr. Christabel Kazembe. Tembo and Mwale are beneficiaries of the Strengthening the Capacity of Religious Women in Early Childhood Development. The project trains mothers on early childhood nutrition, including the importance of locally sourced foods and complementary feeding practices. (Derrick Silimina)

Zambian sisters provide mothers with education on early childhood development

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Benedictine Srs. Lynn McKenzie, left, and Esther Fangman right, during McKenzie’s last visit to Fangman’s monastery in Atchison, Kansas, in her official role as president of the Congregation of St. Scholastica, in 2025. Fangman died Aug. 11. (Courtesy of Lynn McKenzie)
Columns

Remembering Sr. Esther Fangman, early advocate for victims of sex abuse in the church

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GSR in the Classroom

Youth in a classroom raising their hands to answer questions

The project shines light on the mission and ministry of Catholic women religious around the world.

Each lesson connects articles about sisters or columns written by sisters to the good news found in scripture and church teaching. Action ideas and compelling prayer bring new learning alive. Teacher guides provide vital context and engaging activities to launch group discussions.