"Perhaps that is the greatest challenge: keeping hope alive in the small things so that no matter how daunting a moment seems, the darkness can never overtake the light."

Appreciation - A member of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary and founder of the Center for Media Literacy, Liz let us see the media world critically and creatively. The inspiration I drew from my providential encounters with her at meetings for Catholic communicators led to institutionalizing media literacy as one of the key works of the Daughters of St. Paul.

Sr. Rita Petruziello said she could feel the "contention and nastiness" in the air during the presidential election campaign of the last year. Instead of getting better as the process went along, it kept getting worse.

See for Yourself - "You found a comfortable spot." I look up, see a fellow in grease-covered T-shirt and jeans, and I say, "Indeed. I'll share this bench with you," as I slide over so he can share the seat.

As many organizations focus on empowering and educating girls, the Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi argue that boys are getting left behind. They're dedicating their center to rescuing boys from the streets. (This story includes a video.)

Celebrating the mystery of the Incarnation awakens in me profound hope. It recalls that Divine Presence is with us and in us. That our world is good and holy. It speaks to me that we have within us the capacity to open our arms wide to embrace our entire Earth community as our sisters and brothers and that we are all in this evolutionary journey together.

"We have the capacity for a new world and the capacity to destroy this world by failing in love. God will not clean up the mess we have created but we are being invited into a new future. It is time to let go of everything we are clinging to because whatever we possess divides us."

Notes from the Field - I concluded my mission as an English teacher in Dilla, Ethiopia. While it would have been nice to return for the fall semester, it was time for me to continue my year of volunteer service with the Salesians elsewhere, at their human rights office in Geneva, Switzerland.

In a federal courtroom, Sr. Janice Vanderneck squeezed her rosary beads, praying for a miracle: Martin Esquivel Hernandez's release from prison so he could be reunited with his wife and three young children. Esquivel has been charged with a felony for re-entering the United States from Mexico, which he and his family left to escape drug violence.

"We are called to walk the path of nonviolence in every sphere of our relationships. Like Jesus, we navigate relationships with each other, the state, society and economy each day. Each of these encounters offers us an opportunity to choose nonviolence grounded in unconditional love."