Nuri Vallbona

En los barrios pobres de Monterrey, México, un grupo de religiosas de la Compañía María de Nazaret, junto con misioneros laicos, desafían la violencia, el abandono y la influencia de los cárteles de la droga para llevar un mensaje de esperanza a los "chavos banda", pertenecientes a pandillas juveniles que buscan refugio en estas agrupaciones. Encabezadas por la Hna. Sandra López García, estas mujeres evangelizan a través del acompañamiento espiritual a chicos atrapados en un ciclo de pobreza, violencia y abusos. Conoce en este reportaje de GSR cómo la misión de las hermanas católicas transforma vidas y se convierte en un testimonio de esperanza, en donde la luz de la compasión brilla intensamente para vencer a la oscuridad.

En los centros de rehabilitación de drogas de Monterrey, México, la hermana Sandra López García junto a misioneros laicos visita semanalmente a jóvenes pandilleros atrapados en adicciones, muchos olvidados por sus familias. Con dinámicas, fábulas y momento de reflexión, busca que los "chavos banda" reconozcan su valor y encuentren motivación para recuperarse. “Solo ellos conocen su historia, de la que se refugian en las drogas”, expresa. 

On the streets of Mexico, Catholic sisters and lay missionaries pay weekly visits to "chavos banda," youth gangs who are not affiliated with drug cartels. They offer direction and companionship to the young gang members.

Sr. Sandra López García and her team minister to youth gang members unaffiliated with cartels. As part of their ministry, they regularly visit some of the gang members in six drug rehab centers across Monterrey, Mexico.

Sr. Mary Lou Aldape spoke with GSR about working with survivors of the May 2022 Robb Elementary School mass shooting. She is part of a team at Sacred Heart School in Uvalde trying to help those students heal emotionally.

Sr. Dolores Aviles organized Camp I-CAN for students who experienced the mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. The goal was to give them a sense of normalcy, help them heal and, above all, let them have fun.

As the number of Haitian arrivals seeking a better life in the U.S. swelled, Catholic sisters, religious organizations, nonprofits and churches pursued a common goal: provide basic services and restore human dignity.

As COVID-19 raged around the globe, Sr. Mercedes Castillo left the safety of her Baltimore community of Comboni Missionaries and relocated to Texas, where she serves immigrants stuck at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Sisters on the border hear the tragic stories that forced people to seek asylum in the U.S. only to be deported. Immigration proceedings are on a loop of delays or cancellations — made more dangerous by COVID-19.