Stephan Uttom Rozario

From strengthening diplomatic ties with the Vietnamese government to championing the poor, the environment and marginalized communities, the pope's influence deeply resonates with religious women across the country. The appointment of sisters in positions in the Vatican by Pope Francis and empowering sisters in the local church have also given Bangladeshi sisters hope.

"I can easily say my life now has the main priority of staying with the youth, helping them grow and learn in the modern world, maintain their Christian life choices and style, and be witnesses of the love of God," Radini said.

"I believe teaching sewing is also God's work, as I am doing it for the poor": Chisim spoke with Global Sisters Report about her vocation to become a sister from a poor family and work in Bangladesh.

 Shanti Rani Sisters in Bangladesh are providing space for primary and higher education girls in 17 hostels, offering educational opportunities as well as cultural and religious education.

The nuns and youth are trained to combat human trafficking, child marriage, and forced marriage.

Swiss Sr. Lorena Jenal, attacked and threatened for her decades-long defense of victims of "sorcery accusation related violence," received a lifetime achievement award from Missio Aachen in Cologne, Germany.

In 2022, Visitation Sisters of Don Bosco came from India to northeast Bangladesh to work with the Khasi Indigenous people. Today they teach youth, help with primary education, lead prayers and work with children.

In 1989, the Holy Cross Sisters started the Holy Cross Health Education Center in the northeastern part of Bangladesh, where currently about 550 patients receive treatment and consultation every month.

In the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, several congregations have served amid ongoing violence. The congregations run educational institutes, girls hostels and health centers, and do pastoral works.

Sr. Teagon Andre Maria had already earned a nursing degree before she finally answered the call to religious life, joining the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and taking first vows in June. 

Sr. Leah Drong, a member of the Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, built Salesian Sisters' Nursing College in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, where poor students are studying. 
 

Holy Cross Sr. Monju Maria Corraya works with street children addicted to drugs in Dhaka, Bangladesh. "I think society and family are responsible for those children," she said. 

Biharis, the majority of which are Urdu-speaking Muslims, have challenges when it comes to education and understanding the Bengali language. Highly educated Biharis make up less than 2% of the refugee camp population in Dhaka. 

Sr. Champa Adline Rozario said that "to work with youth, you have to think like them and understand them. Accept their weaknesses and strengths and work with them." 

The schools and work of Our Lady of the Missions sisters have educated many members of the Khasi ethnic group in Bangladesh. Several are now established in society and work to protect the land rights of their community.

Dr. Sr. Lipy Gloria Rozario, a sister of the Our Lady of Sorrows, is a counseling psychologist, founder and director of the Healing Heart Counseling Unit, providing services since 2010 in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. 

Sr. Shibly Carmel Purification, who has been writing poems and articles since school, reflects on her spiritual life through poetry alongside her work as a Sister of Our Lady of Sorrows in Bangladesh.

The Contemplative Missionary Movement of Charles De Foucauld, known as "Blue Sisters," started a school in 1983 to serve nursery-aged children in the slums of Bangladesh's Rupsha area. Their work has made a difference.

Sr. Virginia Asha Gomes, 76, has run the S.F.X. Greenherald International School in Dhaka, Bangladesh, since 2005.

After earning her medical degree, Italian Sr. Roberta Pignone joined the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate. For about 12 years, Pignone has been working for the recovery of patients as the director of Damien Hospital.