GSR Today - Last Thursday I returned to San Rafael, spending time with the Lourdes community, older sisters who spend most of their time on the Dominican sisters’ grounds. I also spoke before the community and a gathering of some of their friends, offering an assessment of religious life today.
Linda Buck is a Sister of St. Joseph of Orange and, as a psychotherapist and spiritual director, her ministry focuses on the integration of psychology and spirituality, providing services, consultation and training in both of these areas. She is passionate about issues surrounding systemic injustice as well as mental health advocacy.
by Colleen Gibson
Columnist
The first call came after five days. Pope Francis called the newsstand where he would buy his daily paper in Buenos Aires to cancel his subscription. It seemed he was going to be away longer than expected. I remember reading that first news report in March 2013; it was almost as surreal as the turn of events that had taken place over the preceding weeks. For the first time in 600 years, a pope resigned and for the first time ever, a Jesuit was elected to the papacy. Now it is history, tempered by time, but still no less remarkable.
by Bridgid O'Brien
Contributor
Notes from the Field - I often have to remind myself what a privileged position I am in to have been able to volunteer for the past two years. While getting a steady paying, career-building job would have been the conventional thing to do after graduation, it was not an absolute necessity.
On June 17, a man entered the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and joined a Bible study for about an hour before he began firing a handgun, killing nine people and wounding another. Sr. Roberta Fulton, who was at the joint meeting July 27 to 29 of the National Black Sisters' Conference, the National Association of Black Catholic Deacons, the National Black Catholic Seminarians Association and the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, said one reason the shootings resonated so deeply for blacks is the importance of the church in everyday life. "In the African-American community, the church is the place we go for just about everything we need," said Fulton, a Sister of St. Mary of Namur.
by Christine Schenk
Last Saturday I returned from visiting friends in Philadelphia where city officials just announced massive new security measures for Pope Francis' late September visit. A new fence is being constructed that will surround large swaths of central city venues where the Pope will appear. No automobiles are permitted, causing major inconvenience to residents and restaurant workers alike. Public transit tickets are only available by lottery and attendees are being warned to expect long walks and electronic screenings. All city schools and government offices will be closed.
by GSR Staff
"The power of true dialog is its potential for transforming each of the partners as they come to deeper and deeper understandings of the other."
by GSR Staff
"It is like putting a light in a dark place."
by Joan Brown
As I watered the beans and pick squash, tomatoes and basil, I thought, “I really would just like to be in the quiet of this summer garden and not go to Washington, DC in the morning.” But, the next day while the Big Dipper is still visible in the sky, I awoke to catch a very early morning flight out of Albuquerque for our nation’s capital. I was one of 12 faith leaders traveling to the White House to receive a Champion of Change award for work on climate change on July 20.
by Nancy Linenkugel
Contributor
See for Yourself - Among those who perished as a result of World War II, two in particular who died very young stand as brilliant examples of the human spirit.
