"One at a time the crystals form and the collective beauty fills our windows. How can anyone say one person doesn't make a difference in the collective atmosphere of being we call Earth?"

GSR Today - With all the major, horrific crises around the world, it's easy to forget that some places have been living in crisis for decades, but there are indications that sometimes, people do cross boundaries of faith and make it back.

Sponsored by four U.S. communities of women religious, the Transitions ministry based in Spokane, Washington, provides medium-term housing, job training through a lively cafe and bakery, as well as support and counseling to up to 40 women each year who are learning to turn over a new leaf and become independent.

"Share what you have instead of sharing only if you have extra to give away."

From A Nun's Life podcasts - What things can I do to make Advent a really meaningful season for me? Find inspiration from some key figures of Advent in this clip from Sr. Candyce Rekart's webinar "Engaging Advent."

As we enter deeper into Advent, the sense of anticipation builds as we await Emmanuel, God-with-us. All around us are signs that the time is drawing near. Each day brings a flood of new things online — tweets from the Advent readings, YouTube videos for DIY nativity sets, Pinterest recipes for Advent cookies, Instagram Star-in-the-East images, Snaps from school Christmas musicals, and more.

A former Salvadoran Defense Minister linked to the 1980 slayings of Archbishop Oscar Romero and four U.S. churchwomen has lost a years-long battle to remain in the United States, sources connected to the case told NCR.

"The beginning of the world is not the work of chaos that owes its origin to another, but derives directly from a supreme Origin that creates out of love."