Gina Christian

Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. 

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Sr. Yeronima Rybakova, left, holds part of a Ukrainian flag next to Sr. Josifa Lesnichenko, who teaches English at the school that the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great operate in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, Sept. 3, 2022. (CNS/Rhina Guidos)

Basilian Sisters honored for bringing Christ to people suffering from war, poverty, addiction

On Feb. 22, the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great were formally presented with the 2023-24 Lumen Christi Award, the highest honor conferred by Catholic Extension.

Members of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, Tennessee, are pictured in a file photo preparing for Mass at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, where they made their final profession of religious vows. (OSV News/CNS file/Tennessee Register/Rick Musacchio)

Report: Vocations to religious life in US decline, but key factors can positively impact numbers

A new report shows a continued decrease in the number of permanent vocations to consecrated life in the U.S. — but key factors such as family life, devotional practices, Catholic education and personal encouragement can positively impact those numbers.

People are pictured in a file photo standing in front of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro as it is lit up in orange to commemorate the Day against Human Trafficking and Missing Persons observed by the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro. (OSV News/Reuters/Pilar Olivares)

Women religious gear up for battle against human trafficking with prayer, education

As the nation marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Day Jan. 11, women religious in the U.S. are combating modern slavery with prayer and education.

Sisters, Servants of Mary Immaculate of the Immaculate Conception Province in the U.S. are seen at a Nov. 24 Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia. Following the liturgy, Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia presented the 2023 Metropolitan Service Award to the sisters, and to the Jesus, Lover of Humanity Province of the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great and the Missionary Sisters of the

3 orders of women religious honored for long, loving ministry in U.S.

Three orders of women religious were honored for their long ministry of education, pastoral outreach and witness to the Gospel.

Basilian Sr. Lucia Murashko talks with volunteers Denys Kuprikov, left, and Ivan Smyglia, far right, in Zaporizhzhia in southeast Ukraine Feb. 7 about where they will distribute humanitarian aid along the front in Russia's war against Ukraine. (OSV News/CNEWA/Konstantin Chernichkin)

Basilian Sisters given Catholic Extension's top honor for 'powerful witness' amid peril in Ukraine

An order of women religious has been recognized for extraordinary efforts to bring Jesus Christ to those suffering the ravages of Russia's war in Ukraine.

A collage featuring the seven finalists who have been nominated for the 2023-2024 Lumen Christi Award. Clockwise from top are Maria-Cruz Gray, Father Olin Pierre-Louis, Brother Dale Mooney, Carmen Alicia Rodriguez Echevarria, the St. Maria Eufrasia Home, and Sister Catherine Nagl. The Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great are in the center. (OSV News/Courtesy of Catholic Extension)

Lumen Christi finalists 'give hope for the kingdom of the Lord'

Catholic Extension has announced seven finalists for its 2023-2024 Lumen Christi Award, and two of those named told OSV News they're both surprised and encouraged.

Sr. Teodora Kopyn

From Ukraine to Philadelphia, Basilian sister's 'restless love of the poor' drives her

A native of the ancient city of Mukachevo in western Ukraine's Zakarpattia region, Sr. Teodora Kopyn arrived in the United States in 2013 to join her fellow Basilians at their Jesus, Lover of Humanity Province in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

Sr. Mary Ann Baichan professes first vows

Holy Family sister: Silence, prayer and faith tradition nurture Black Catholic vocations

"I stand on the shoulders of giants. ... Vocations grow; they don't just happen," said Sr. Mary Francis Bard, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Family, in an April 23 reflection for the National Day of Prayer for Black Vocations.

Sr. Kateri Mitchell

Q & A with Sr. Kateri Mitchell on 'a new day' for Indigenous Catholics

"We've been on the journey of healing for so long, but now this healing is going to take a different dimension, which will be even richer. What many of our people have been longing for is for the universal Catholic Church to recognize the wrong that was done."

The helmets of the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are pictured outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona

St. Francis sisters are among the Eagles fans bringing faith to the field for the Super Bowl

Philadelphia Eagles fans are turning to prayer, preaching and the city's iconic soft pretzels to support their team in Super Bowl LVII.

The skyline of Phoenix, Arizona, framed between seguaro cacti

Ahead of the 57th Super Bowl, Catholics look to tackle human trafficking

Experts differ over the Super Bowl's impact on human trafficking, but overall data shows that the problem has risen sharply across the globe. 

Migrants from Central America sit at tables, eating

'Help us': Asylum-seekers cling to hope as Title 42 limbo continues

Just days before the policy was set to expire, the U.S. Supreme Court issued Dec. 27 a 5-4 ruling that Title 42 would remain in place while legal challenges to the policy play out.

Retired nuns make pilgrimage to share the journey with migrants, refugees