"We don't call the shots; we receive the grace of divine love that empowers us to do new things, to give birth to new life. It takes a wide inner space of poverty and dispossessiveness for the seeds of new life to be planted."

Christmastime on the planet of the rich is a world of consumption. In fact, what we realize around this time of the year is that we have a lot of stuff — so much stuff that many people donate to charity (as tax write-offs) or simply opt out of giving gifts.

While in Hiroshima a few months ago, I interviewed five Catholic sisters: three who witnessed the United States' dropping the atomic bomb; one who arrived in the devastated city two days later; and one who came to Hiroshima as a small child six months after the attack. They shared their memories of that day and how it shaped their lives and vocation.

GSR Today - In observance of the World Day of Peace January 1, we at Global Sisters Report join in prayer for peace in all regions, for all victims of war and for women religious around the world who dedicate their lives to helping them and to build peace.

Sr. Elizabeth Thoman, a member of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary and a longtime media literacy leader, died December 22 at Bishop Drumm Retirement Center in Johnston. She was 73. A funeral Mass was celebrated December 28 at the retirement center's Our Lady of Peace Chapel followed by burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Dubuque.

"If power is shared equally, then there is no room for control."

Before the School Sisters of St. Francis welcomed her, order after order had rejected Sandra Smithson because of the color of her skin. Her father had told her that following her vocation would not be easy. "But don't think that means you don't belong," he said. "Jesus Christ came unto his own, and even his own did not receive him. So don't expect people who think you don't belong to embrace you with open arms."

Notes from the Field - Now that my year of service is over and I'm home with my family for Christmas, I've had a lot of time to think about my time as the staff writer for Franciscan Mission Service.

In late September, I joined 48 other women and men from across India who had gathered together for a consultation on the impact of religion and culture, namely the impact of religion and culture on the empowerment of women.

"Into this darkness, the Light shines. In a brokenness where anything and everything that defines us seems now to divide us — be it race or creed, sexual orientation or immigration status, political party or socio-economic standing — God steps in."