Surely, the convent must be a safe haven from the ills of the world, a place one can enter to escape, an escape from hard life decisions and transitions – that’s what my reporter friend seemed to be saying. In reality, though, religious life and the formation of young women religious is a mirror of our times. 

Sr. Tesa Fitzgerald has garnered lots of praise for her work helping mothers with reentry after prision. Now, her organization, Hour Children, has been honored with a grant from the Opus Prize Foundation. 

As fall approaches, I have been reflecting on my experience this summer at the Sisters of Earth 20th anniversary gathering held at the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas. There is a deepening awareness that the violence causing the profound ecological devastation and increased human suffering is rooted in a spiritual crisis as well as economic choices. 

Women theologians in Asia have been sustaining the process of reflection and dialogue on feminist issues and concerns through conferences, symposia, artistic exhibits and publications. Out of this movement came an association of theologians called Ecclesia of Women in Asia (EWA) that formed 12 years ago. Theologian Agnes Brazal, director of the Office for Research and Publications and coordinator of the graduate program at St. Vincent School of Theology in Quezon City was one of its founders and has served as joint treasurer since 2005.

See for Yourself - One of the daily privileges in my current role at Xavier University as chair of the Department of Health Services Administration is to work one-on-one with students in their quest for an administrative residency.

Three Stats and a Map - Women in rural communities are arguably the most vulnerable adults on the planet. According to the United Nations, rural women fare worse in every single Millennium Development Goal indicator than rural men and urban-dwellers of either sex.

GSR Today - When they first told me I’d need to write an occasional blog item for GSR, I was fine with it. However, about sharing my insights, I feel like I don't have any.

Anyone who works for social change can tell you, it’s not an easy road. Like all grand-scale, emotionally and morally charged issues, environmental activism can be frustrating. Playing the blame game has been a primary tactic for many, including myself, in the environmental movement.

Mercy Housing closes affordability gap in 21 states for families and seniors - One of the nation’s largest non-profit affordable housing developers, founded out of the Catholic duty to help the poor, today remains under the sponsorship of eight communities of Catholic sisters. Currently Mercy Housing operates in 21 states and serves more than 152,600 people on any given day. In addition, it has helped develop more than $2.8 billion in affordable real estate across the nation.

"Collectively, rural women are a force that can drive global progress."