When Pope Francis made a special appeal in early September on behalf of refugees from Syria and the Middle East, Catholic communities all over Europe mobilized to do more to help. While bishops urged a generous attitude and Catholic charities stepped up their aid efforts, the continent's women religious also responded with offers of shelter and support. "Each religious congregation has its own charism and tradition and has had to think how it can best help," said Sr. Martina Salmaier, of the Franciscan Sisters of Vierzehnheiligen, Germany.

See for Yourself - The word “sophos,” the root word of philosopher, means the bearer of wisdom in Greek. Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle come to mind along with Roman philosophers Cicero and Plutarch.

Contemplative Communities profile four - Srs. Emmanuela, Mary Grace and Mary Columba, longtime friends now in their 70s and 80s, decided to launch a new community in 2007. Though approved by church leaders, it was in some ways a step into unknown territory, attracting bewilderment from some and support from others. But for Dominicans, whether they be nuns, friars, brothers or sisters in active ministry, the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. The women draw deeply upon the traditional model of community and individual prayer, but their presence on a campus that also contains a parish church and a school inevitably gives them a more public presence than customary in many monasteries.

" . . . I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me."

Contemplative Communities profile three - When independent filmmaker and artist Abbie Reese inaugurated her collaboration with the Clare Colettine nuns at the Corpus Christi Monastery in Rockford, Illinois, she had a professional goal: nurturing a collaborative relationship that would serve as a backdrop to a young woman’s transition from secular life into an alternative community. Ten years down the road, Reese admits that the time she has spent with the nuns, who practice a form of strict enclosure relatively rare in contemporary culture, has had an effect on her that goes well beyond scholarly objectivity and curiosity.

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike."

Column - Although the Reformation in Norway was much more gradual and much less bloody than in England, the last Catholic archbishop, Olav Engelbrektsson, was forced into exile in 1537, and the country became Lutheran. Monks were not permitted to enter Norway until 1897, and Jesuits were not allowed into the country until 1956. It wasn’t until the 1990s that there was a “boom” of religious orders in Norway: Cistercians, Brigittines, Carmelites, Poor Clares, Missionary Servants of the Holy Trinity, Sisters of the Holy Cross, and Missionaries of Charity joined Dominicans, Augustinians, and Picpus Fathers who were already there.

Sr. Lucía Aurora Herrerías Guerra is president of Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity, a post-Vatican II congregation, and one of the organizers of the Third Encounter of New Forms of Consecrated Life in Rome earlier this year. A distinguishing characteristic of new forms of religious life like Verbum Dei is that they can include sisters, lay members (including married couples) and priests belonging to the same institute of consecrated life. Verbum Dei is one of six new communities recognized by the Vatican; many more are attempting to gain approval.