Ghanaian nun's association supports widows who face dehumanizing traditional rites

Inset: Sr. Gabriel Nonaah, the founder of the St. Monica Widows Association, teaches a group of widows how to brew pito, a local Ghanaian drink. (GSR graphic/Olivia Bardo; photo of women courtesy of St. Monica Widows Association)

Moved by the cruel treatment faced by many widows in Ghana, Mary Immaculate Sr. Gabriel Nonaah started St. Monica Widows Association to provide these vulnerable women with empowerment, education and self-reliance.

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People are pictured who reside at the Kaya Godoma Rescue Centre in Kilifi, a coastal town in Kenya. Some elderly individuals at Kaya Godoma have been accused of witchcraft by members of their community and even their relatives. This has led to them being violently driven from their homes. (GSR photo/Doreen Ajiambo)

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Inset: Sr. Gabriel Nonaah, the founder of the St. Monica Widows Association, teaches a group of widows how to brew pito, a local Ghanaian drink. (GSR graphic/Olivia Bardo; photo of women courtesy of St. Monica Widows Association)

Ghanaian nun's association supports widows who face dehumanizing traditional rites

Moved by the cruel treatment faced by many widows in Ghana, Mary Immaculate Sr. Gabriel Nonaah started St. Monica Widows Association to provide these vulnerable women with empowerment, education and self-reliance.

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Inset: Sr. Gabriel Nonaah, the founder of the St. Monica Widows Association, teaches a group of widows how to brew pito, a local Ghanaian drink. (GSR graphic/Olivia Bardo; photo of women courtesy of St. Monica Widows Association)

Ghanaian nun's association supports widows who face dehumanizing traditional rites

Moved by the cruel treatment faced by many widows in Ghana, Mary Immaculate Sr. Gabriel Nonaah started St. Monica Widows Association to provide these vulnerable women with empowerment, education and self-reliance.

Sculpture of a person crouched, with knees up, arms and head down
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America's pandemic of grief

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A group of children pray together with the sisters in the Holy Trinity Home for Children, an orphanage dedicated to caring for sexually abused and impoverished children. (Courtesy of Trinitarian Handmaids of the Divine Word)

Sisters help children in Philippines rebuild their lives after sexual abuse

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At Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City, Mo., girls ages 6-8 spend time in a room devoted to encouraging stem education after school hours. Activities range from legos to cooking to teach math and science skills. (GSR photo/Soli Salgado)

Sisters began a day care for Kansas City's working poor. Now, it's a huge operation.

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GSR in the Classroom

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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.