Martha A. Kirk

Martha Ann Kirk, a Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word, is a professor of religious studies at the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, and the author of Iraqi Women of Three Generations: Challenges, Education, and Hopes for Peace, based on her exhibit of photos and interviews. She has also written Women of Bible Lands: A Pilgrimage to Compassion and Wisdom (Liturgical Press), the first guidebook to associate stories about or by Jewish, Christian and Muslim women with more than 200 sites in the Middle East (Israel, Palestine, Sinai, Egypt, Tunisia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Greece and Turkey).

By this Author

Matachines dancers perform during the "Festival of Faiths" held Jan. 24 in San Antonio, Texas. (Courtesy of Martha A. Kirk)

Mar 13, 2024

In San Antonio we shared a feast and a festival

In San Antonio we held our city's first "Festival of Faiths." It was a time of hearing each other's stories, taking comfort in each other's music, and experiencing the joy of each other's dance. We learned and we laughed.

"The Water Calls, the River Crosses," danced by the Urban-15 group at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio for Global Water Dance Day, 2023 (Courtesy of Urban-15)

Aug 31, 2023

Dancing with Sister Water and all our sisters and brothers

Global Water Dance events are calling attention to the water issues that Pope Francis articulates in Laudato Si'. Will you join the dance? Will you passionately dance with brothers and sisters around the globe?

Sr. Martha Ann Kirk stands by “Mujerista #3" Mural No. 57, community art sponsored by the San Antonio Cultural Arts Center. The lead artists are Ana Hernandez and Rhys Munro. Kirk's name is painted on the right as a community member who encouraged this creation. (Courtesy of Martha Ann Kirk)

Jul 20, 2023

We can all build gardens together, but we don't yet recognize each other

Almost every day near our convent in San Antonio, I pass a memorial mural and see Claudia's resolute face. She stands as a witness that something is wrong in our human family, because we do not yet recognize each other.

Sep 02, 2021

Young women work together to present at UN forum

When we sisters started the Women's Global Connection ministry, we didn't know that the seeds would blossom with young people in conversations with participants all over the world. In 2021, young women worked together for successful presentations at the UN's NGO CSW Forum.

A student shares her ofrenda altar in memory of her grandmother during a Dia de los Muertos virtual gathering of the Incarnate Word family last fall. (Screenshot by Martha A. Kirk)

Feb 24, 2021

May the communion of saints bring us comfort!

The global pandemic is leading us into the communion of saints in ever deeper ways. In our ongoing grief, it has helped me to remember the special gathering the Incarnate Word family had last fall for Day of the Dead.

Jan 30, 2020

'Washerwomen God' invites us

Last spring, we took a solidarity and service trip to Peru to clean up trash and meet with women who are partnered with our Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio.