Appreciation - Margaret Brennan's life meant much to many. What she did moved mountains few actually realized at the moment of their turning but which, before the process was over, we all felt.

Sr. Meena Barwa has forgiven the men who attacked her nearly eight years ago. The gang rape was a horrifying experience, but the aftermath was more painful, she says. Barwa, 34, is a member of the Handmaids of Mary, an indigenous congregation of Odisha, an eastern Indian state. She was among the victims of the worst anti-Christian violence in India's modern history, which began Aug. 24, 2008.

Sr. Annie Credidio has transformed a neglected state-run hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador, into a model of care, love and dignity for patients with Hansen's disease (also called leprosy). Now known as Damien House (Fundación Padre Damian), this sanctuary symbolizes hope for the people with Hansen's disease and is celebrating close to 30 years of transforming the lives of its patients.

Communities — even contemplative and cloistered communities — are increasingly taking to social media as a form of outreach, helping them reach hundreds or even thousands of people they otherwise would never come in contact with.

"Decrees of church and society seem to say the right things, but a connection to the reality of people is too often lost."

From A Nun's Life podcasts - Susan Sink wrote three volumes of lectio divina meditations on the illuminated St. John's Bible.

"Charism is simply the grace to live our mission well." Sr. Bette Moslander once wrote. Standing in front of a group of colleagues on a recent retreat for college faculty and staff, I read those words aloud from a slide, acutely aware that the presentation I was giving was one of the only things standing between them and a beautiful spring day.

"For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God."

Appreciation - Mary Sr. Margaret Brennan, theologian and educator, was an advocate for empowering women religious to own their own experiences of God and of life. She died April 28.

Simply Spirit - Gifted women are serving the church in diverse and ecclesial ministries, but their work often goes unseen by most Catholics. Opening the diaconate to women would change that.