Community News

by Mary McCauley, BVM

Ah yes, I remember it well. The day was Monday, Aug. 18, 2008. The car was packed. I pulled out of the St. Patrick Parish driveway in Monona, Iowa, made a left turn onto Highway 18 and headed to Dubuque. After six grace-filled, challenging, rewarding, and transformative years of serving as the pastoral administrator of St. Mary in McGregor, St. Patrick in Monona, and St. Bridget in Postville, I was retiring. My mind and heart were filled with awesome memories, great gratitude, and sincere admiration, along with serious concern.

Students gain experience with new equipment, expanded internship opportunities.

Targeted programs provide opportunities for education and training.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (March 8, 2025) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8. The day honors the economic, political and social achievements of women while focusing the world’s attention on areas requiring further action.

Sub-Saharan Africa has highest rates of exclusion from education.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (March 3, 2025) Salesian missionaries in the Our Lady of Peace provincial community were able to provide 209 scholarships to youth who are disadvantaged thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The Antonio César scholarship program took place in Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea, Mali* and Senegal.

Youth voices promoted through participation, programming.

Join Gamaliel’s Nun Caucus and Ntosake, March 20 to empower women to bring life out of the chaos of our times. 
Last Month our Nun Caucus participants asked ourselves “What is ours to do, in times such as
these?” At the very least, we need to connect and build networks and relationships for all in the struggle for truth and dignity. We can no longer “go it alone.” 

Getting Older…Getting Better

With Donna Gunn, CSJ

at St. Teresa’s Academy

Are you at the time in life where you feel everything is wearing out, falling out or spreading out? Do you find yourself looking in the mirror and saying, “Good god, where did you come from?”  It’s so easy to talk about aging but not always easy to do well.  What makes the difference?  Come and explore ways to age with wisdom, grace and the meaning of it all.

$20 per person. RSVP at www.csjsl.org by April 7, 2025

As the climate crisis continues to impact communities worldwide, many people struggle with eco-grief—the deep emotional and spiritual distress caused by environmental destruction. To address this growing concern, a coalition of faith-based organizations is hosting a virtual event, “Eco-grief: Finding Hope Across Generations,” from 6:30-8 p.m. CST Thursday, March 27.

Do you want to add some unique beauty to your home? Get your name into 12 monthly Quilt Club drawings offered by the Ursuline Sisters Mount Saint Joseph! Sales of Quilt Club tickets for 2025-26 are going strong. For just one $25 ticket, you get 12 chances to win a new handmade quilt! A lucky winner’s name is drawn on the first Friday of each month beginning April 4, 2025, through March 6, 2026. Watch the drawings live on the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph Facebook page at noon Central Time: www.facebook.com/ursulinesmsj.

Dining to Donate with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

at Jaspers Restaurant

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Jasper’s will once again, donate twenty percent of all lunch & dinner sales to benefit the good works of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Enjoy a delicious meal at Jasper’s with your friends and family, and help the sisters at the same time.

Reservations encouraged. Contact Jasper’s at (816) 941-6600, or jasperskc.com.

Grazie! Together…we are more.

Nine presentations from subject-matter experts. Sponsored by SLIconnect & Religious Formation Conference. Available live with presenter interaction and as on-demand presentation recordings afterwards.

Registration through March 1: $180 | Registration after March 1: $250
Fee covers live and on-demand access for all presentations. Register now

As Atchison Benedictine sisters, we endorse the following Conference of Benedictine Prioresses' Statement Regarding Immigration:

St. John Bosco community is 1 of 15 Salesian communities in Rundu.

Salesians work with former child soldiers to overcome trauma, reintegrate into society.

Salesian missionaries offer more than 150 medical clinics and hospitals in mostly rural areas. 

February 10, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – The General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, on behalf of the Sisters and Associates, issued the following statement, decrying the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the negative implications this action could have on the lives of vulnerable people throughout the world.

Salesian schools range from primary to vocational, professional.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (Jan. 24, 2025) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in honoring International Day of Education on Jan. 24, recognized since 2018. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed International Day of Education as a celebration of the role of education for peace and development.

January 24, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – The General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, on behalf of the Congregation’s Sisters and Associates, issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s pardon of individuals who were convicted for their roles in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.

President Trump’s pardon of 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol is unprincipled and dangerous.

Franciscan Federation invites all to unique retreat experience honoring 800 years since St. Francis composed the Canticle of Creatures 

All are welcome to a celebration of the Canticle in 2025, during the Franciscan Federation’s virtual retreat, Singing a New Canticle: 1225 – 2025, designed to inspire and connect. The event is Sunday, Feb. 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. EST (via Zoom). Registration is required. 

School Sisters of Notre Dame invite young adults to monthly online evening prayer

ForMission 2.0 is a two-day virtual workshop, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central. The target audience for this virtual workshop is those who have completed Orientation to Formation and/or ForMission. Elected leaders are also welcome to register. Presenter: Gerard J. McGlone, SJ, PhD.

Job market training improves socio-economic situation for youth, young adults.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (Jan. 6, 2025) Salesian missionaries have improved the socio-economic living conditions of youth and young adults through job market training in Kankan and Siguiri, Guinea. The funding for the project came from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

Reliable transportation needed to access 10 outstations.

Volunteers provide positive role models at camp.

Salesians also develop programs to give youth opportunities in home countries.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (Dec. 18, 2024) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and the international community in honoring International Migrants Day. The day is held each year on Dec. 18 to recognize the efforts, contributions and rights of migrants worldwide.