Four Daughters of St. Anne sisters — including the provincial superior — were killed in a crash about 80 miles south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Catholic Near East Welfare Association reported.

Four other sisters were traveling in the van when it was hit by a truck en route to Hawassa March 7; one remained in critical condition, CNEWA reported March 8.

Msgr. John Kozar, president of CNEWA, had visited the sisters in April 2016.

Notes from the Field - Feeling uprooted by uncertainty, I discerned a new step. I knew that I felt called to a few things: I wanted to learn Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country. I wanted to return to living in an intentional community. And I wanted to explore a new type of social justice work. I hoped to learn more about my life's purpose while still positively contributing to others and the world.

As some of you might know, we are a small community of four Poor Clare sisters. This past year two of our sisters, Bernie and Laurene, had to move to an assisted living facility because their physical needs were more than we could provide.

"Because, you know, I believe we are stronger together and we will go forward together. And you should never, ever regret fighting for that. You know, scripture tells us, let us not grow weary of doing good, for in good season we shall reap. My friends, let us have faith in each other, let us not grow weary and lose heart, for there are more seasons to come and there is more work to do."

It happens over and over: Young women who have never spent time with a woman religious meet a sister and almost instantly find a strong, almost inexplicable connection, despite her initial thoughts that they would have nothing in common.

Sr. Yexci Moreno reflects on her journey as a sister as well as her worries for the community and "my kids" as Venezuela weathers a crisis that has led to shortages of basic foods and medicines.

I was privileged to join a 10-day "root causes pilgrimage" to Honduras last December with a group from California, the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. The purpose of the pilgrimage was to identify the real reasons why so many from the "Northern Triangle" — Guatemala, El Salvador, and particularly Honduras — continue to migrate north despite the many obstacles they face. Delegations like this from the United States provide a witness to the poverty, the political system, and other issues which the people face.

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

As I walk the woods and enjoy the autumn beauty of the elm and maple trees, I especially admire the sturdy evergreen cedars, the "pioneer trees" that begin growing first. Here at Cedars of Peace, they simply stand, their green boughs a contrast to the other trees of the forest.