Carleen Reck, a School Sister of Notre Dame, has been an educator most of her life — teacher, administrator, superintendent and a director of the National Catholic Educational Association — and has served in her community’s leadership. From 1999 to 2016, she directed the Criminal Justice Ministry, formerly a program of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul in St. Louis, which, in 2013, she helped become a separate nonprofit agency, affiliated with the St. Louis Archdiocese.
This story appears in the Notes from the Field feature series. View the full series.
by Katie Delaney
May 3, 2017
Notes from the Field: Through a chance encounter, a series of unfortunate events, language barriers and a network of connections, a Catholic church helped connect the author to her new home and culture.
by GSR Staff
May 3, 2017
"The attitudes of openness, keeping boundaries and being hospitable can be cultivated and they too will change us."
by Patricia Lefevere
May 2, 2017
Charity Sr. Margaret Beaudette created the bronze relief unveiled during Eastertide at the Church of the Ascension in New York, where hundreds of parishioners from the parish's diverse congregation turned out for a festive liturgy, blessing and dedication.
by Saji Thomas
Contributor
May 2, 2017
Sr. Ranjana Jose supported tribal women in India, guiding them to organize, stand up against exploitation by local moneylenders, and overcome poverty and superstition in their villages.
by Justine Gitanjali Senapati
Contributor
May 2, 2017
I joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Annecy, whose charism — "Loving God and neighbor without distinction" — attracted me. My understanding of "neighbor" grew deeper working with the poor, the Dalits, and other marginalized people during my initial period of religious life and ministry. I found Jesus in them through ministries in education and religious formation.
by GSR Staff
May 2, 2017
"With the pope we have, I've learned that the Holy Spirit is an example of how we can work together, leaving the walls of our institutions and live out our religious life creatively, and I think it's an example of hope. Many sects of religious life dream about doing different things together, not alone. And I think the Spirit is what inspires that path and unity."
by GSR Staff
May 1, 2017
GSR Today - We're launching a new feature to share more voices from sisters around the world, and here's how you can help. We hope you will want to be involved in "The Life."
by Ruth Gehres
Contributor
May 1, 2017
Holding No. 28, my place in line at the pharmacy, I felt my stress level rising. Then the young woman with the smile was telling me that she wanted me to take her one-digit number in exchange for mine. "Really?" I asked. "En serio?"
This story appears in the Rwanda feature series. View the full series.
May 1, 2017
In the 23 years since the genocide, Rwanda has developed at a faster pace than surrounding countries. In the last decade, a government-mandated monthly day of community service, called Umuganda, has saved the country the equivalent of US$128.5 million, and the service day not only helps repair and clean every community, it provides a way for people to get to know their neighbors.