Benedictine Sr. Helga Leija and Ursuline Sr. Michele Morek (Courtesy photo)
by GSR Staff
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Benedictine Sr. Helga Leija and Ursuline Sr. Michele Morek (Courtesy photo)
Global Sisters Report is delighted to welcome its new column editor, Benedictine Sr. Helga Leija. Since July 2022, Sister Helga has been working primarily for GSR en Español as a professional translator and the editor of Spanish columns.
Sister Helga is a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas. She earned a bachelor's degree in translation studies from the University of Texas in Brownsville and a master's in religious studies from the University of the Incarnate Word.
In addition to her work at GSR, she volunteers for Translators without Borders. Sister Helga enjoys working with sisters from all over the world and finds special delight in the voice messages she wakes up to from sisters in different time zones.
Sister Helga will be taking over for Ursuline Sr. Michele Morek, whose retirement will become effective on June 30.
Sister Michele, an Ursuline Sister of Mount St. Joseph Kentucky, has been column editor, sister liaison and "nurturer" for six and a half years. Under the leadership of Sister Michele and Presentation Sr. Joyce Meyer, the number of writers has grown to more than 525 sisters and associates. Sister Michele was also responsible for the initiation and development of The Life, an annual international panel of sisters from around the globe.
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After announcing Sister Michele's retirement to the columnists, the GSR inbox received beautiful messages of gratitude from around the world:
Thank you, Michele for sharing your latest transition journey. May you never doubt the legacy you leave GSR and all women religious around the world. You will be missed.
Thank you, Sister Michele, may you continue to be a bright light for all those you meet.
Sister Michele will indeed be missed, not only by the large network of writers she helped nurture, but also by the GSR staff for her sense of humor, her insight and her loving and encouraging nature.
Sister Michele said she will be keeping an eye on Global Sisters Report by reading GSR every day and rejoicing at the success of its wonderful writers, many of whom have become personal long-distance friends and "pen pals."
We encourage sisters, associates, co-members, agrégées and oblates to keep writing for Global Sisters Report. You can send columns or questions to Sister Helga at hleija@ncronline.org.
