GSR Today - Nearly half of the United States is made up of dioceses that are classified as mission territory, or "home missions," meaning they "lack the resources to provide basic pastoral ministry to their populations."

For years, I've taken something on for Lent — a work of mercy, a good deed, a practice or a devotion. This year, I did something I haven't done in a very long time: I gave something up.

From A Nun's Life podcasts - In this Random Nun Clip, we talk with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration about 130-plus years of perpetual adoration! 

"We need to respect and care for a person even though we disagree with their ideas, so when we're working on forgiveness work, we make a careful distinction between what a person does that is harmful and the dignity of the person herself."

"They can call it whatever they want, but it's a jail. There's no reason to be locked up. What bothers me most is that this is being done under the private prisons, so they are making money on the backs of these poor moms and kids, which is just wrong."

- Related: Read our roundtable discussion with sisters working in immigration ministry

See for Yourself - The seasonal change from winter into spring is bringing along many welcomed aspects, from warmer temperatures to foliage on trees to lovely flowers. The image of new life abounds and treats our senses everywhere we look. 

"The political arena today is a tragic and unfortunate demonstration of the culture of violence and domination that we are so hard-working to overcome, so we have plenty of fodder for why we need to promote this alternative and become better at it ourselves."

"Empowered women participate, they influence, they bring about change, not only in themselves but in society as a whole."

Notes from the Field - The school-to-prison pipeline has become a hot-button issue in recent years and has attracted a lot of attention, specifically on boys in the U.S. But recently, I've learned of a similar, less-known juvenile justice structure that has been failing our girls.

"The river is the source of our water, food, medicine and spirituality. The river calls us."