Loreto Sr. Patricia Murray, executive secretary of the International Union of Superiors General, speaks May 6, 2019, at the UISG plenary assembly in Rome. (Courtesy of UISG)
Editor's note: Global Sisters Report's Monday Starter is a weekly feature from GSR staff writers that rounds up news from or about women religious that you may otherwise have missed.
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious will honor Sr. Pat Murray with the 2022 Outstanding Leadership Award at this year's general assembly.
Murray, a member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is executive secretary of the International Union of Superiors General and was previously the founding executive director of Solidarity with South Sudan.
Joining Murray in receiving the award will be Notre Dame de Namur Sr. Patricia Chappell, the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Leadership Award who has been unable to be recognized in person because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2022 general assembly will be Aug. 9-12 in St. Louis.
Sisters among Builders of Africa's Future awardees
The African Diaspora Network has announced the 2022 cohort of the Builders of Africa's Future Awards, which is dedicated to supporting grassroots, African-led organizations and entrepreneurs. The list includes 11 African startups, including the ministries of three Catholic sisters:
- Sr. Jane Frances Kabagaaju of the Daughters of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, in-charge clinical officer of the Nkuruba Health Centre in Uganda;
- Sr. Juunza Christabel Mwangani of the Religious Sisters of the Holy Spirit, who is part of the Emerging Farmers Initiative in Zambia;
- Sr. Rose Thumitho of the Little Sisters of St. Francis, Kenya, co-founder of Mother Kevin Providence Social Enterprise in Uganda.
Sr. Rose Thumitho of the Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi tends to chickens on their farm on Feb. 23, 2021, in Jinja, Uganda. (Doreen Ajiambo)
First given in 2018, the award is made in partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the U.S. African Development Foundation, and the African Management Institute of Kenya.
"We are proud to support the African Diaspora Network, offering a robust network and platform to help Catholic sisters in Africa transform their programs into social enterprises and raise the visibility of innovative solutions," said Sr. Jane Wakahiu, the associate vice president of program operations and head of the Catholic Sisters Initiative at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which is a major funder of Global Sisters Report. Wakahiu is a member of the Little Sisters of St. Francis, Kenya.
The 2022 Builders of Africa's Future awardees will receive access to two mentors each, enterprise training from the African Management Institute, and an opportunity to pitch to potential investors during the June 23 African Diaspora Investment Symposium, as well as an opportunity to receive up to $25,000 upon completion of the program if entrepreneurs meet the funding criteria.
"The African diaspora plays an important role in the economic development of the continent by promoting trade and foreign direct investment, creating businesses, spurring entrepreneurship, and transferring new knowledge and skills," Travis Adkins, CEO and president of U.S. African Development Foundation said in a press release.
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Discerning Deacons to host national synod consultations
An invitation to join the synod process, Discerning Deacons is holding virtual national consultations that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will incorporate into "Region XVI," the designation for the participation of national Catholic organizations.
All are welcome to join by registering for either the May 11 event, which will run from noon to 2 p.m. Eastern time, or the May 15 event, which will run from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.
Discerning Deacons is a project with a mission to engage Catholics in active discernment regarding women and the diaconate. Its team of listeners and facilitators will synthesize themes and insights expressed in these consultations to be shared both publicly and with the U.S. Catholic bishops.
"We want to take time together to share our stories ... stories of joy, of pain. To share our hopes and our dreams of what might be," the press release said.
"And to start to flex an often forgotten muscle: communal discernment where together we learn to listen to how the Holy Spirit is alive, present in us, moving in us and speaking in and through our encounters."
Solidarity with South Sudan to offer trauma-awareness workshops
Constance Langoya, a trauma healer, helps Joyce Charles during a trauma-healing workshop at the Rejaf School for the Blind in Juba, South Sudan. (Courtesy of Solidarity with South Sudan/Paul Jeffrey)
The pastoral team members of Friends in Solidarity, the U.S. partner to Solidarity with South Sudan, will offer trauma-awareness and healing workshops May 19.
Mercy Sr. Scholasticah Nganda, Sr. Gabrielle Farrell of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, and Constance Langoya from the Good Shepherd Peace Center will talk about their experiences, while Immaculate Heart of Mary Sr. Annette St. Amour will offer an introduction and background on the program. Participants will also be able to ask questions.
To register, click here.
