She was bombarded with high-fives and hugs after she got the call — an invitation to meet Pope Francis during his Sept. 22-27 visit to the United States. But Sr. Norma Pimentel's biggest surprise came Monday, when the pope singled her out during a satellite video feed. Pimentel was present at a teleconference hosted at Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, Texas, where she coordinates ministries and services for immigrants. The pope's teleconference was recorded for ABC's "20/20" show, which airs Sept. 4. and includes participants in Los Angeles and Chicago.

This summer I was privileged to “take a long loving look” at authentic religious life and saw with new eyes what it means. It struck me so clearly that I felt it was worth sharing. The experience was a gathering of the Oblate Sisters of Providence and the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary from Monroe, Michigan; and Immaculata and Scranton, Pennsylvania.

See for Yourself - The many observances of World War II anniversaries this year are insightful reminders about the devastation from worldwide inhumanity. These reminders sent me reviewing a remarkable event in my own life that occurred in 1975 — 40 years ago. On a sunny and pleasant July 31, 1975, I spent a day with Anne Frank’s father, Otto Frank, in his home with second wife, Fritzi, in Basel, Switzerland.

July marked the third time the Oblate Sisters of Providence were included in the decennial meeting of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The three Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary congregations, in Scranton and Immaculata, Pennsylvania; and Monroe, Michigan — and the Oblates — share a biracial co-founder in Theresa Maxis Duchemin. The meeting is a time for the congregations to celebrate their shared history and to update each other on their lives and ministries. For more than 160 years, the congregations' common history had been kept closely under wraps by leadership in the Immaculate Heart of Mary communities who did not want to be associated with a black sister.

Every once in a while something really special comes across my inbox. Recently a friend who teaches theology, "Margie," sent me this story about her 5-year-old daughter Olive. For kindergarten homework, Olive was assigned to draw pictures of things that begin with the letter "G." When she came home she proudly displayed drawings of a ghost, a garage and her grandpa. But a fourth picture was not so easily identifiable, so my friend asked Olive what it was supposed to be.

"Do we ignore the commonplace plight of the homeless or sit pondering why and what to do?"

Three Stats and a Map - This morning, the Pew Research Center released a 140-page report on the beliefs and opinions of the United States’ Catholic adult population, an in-depth look at what they believe about family life and the church.

From A Nun's Life podcasts - Why would you want to give your entire day to God if it's been a really tough day?

GSR Today - Bomb blasts, shootings and suicide bombers are the every day stories we hear about Afghanistan, but in the midst of it all, brave women religious are undeterred. Three sisters serve the most underserved people of Kabul, creating alternative stories of hope.

Conversations with Sr. Camille - David Hammer, 56,is an inmate serving a life sentence without parole. He talks about his conversion to Catholicism, choices and giving back.