There are no bail bondsmen in St. Joseph County, Indiana; for the past 40 years, Holy Cross Sr. Sue Kintzele has been filling that gap, helping families meet the price of getting someone released from jail until the trial date, so he or she can go to work and take care of children. "A lot of times, I do it for the mothers and grandmothers – they’re the ones stuck taking care of everyone while the person’s in jail.”
The weekend of July 10-13 women gathered as Sisters of Earth to explore “The New Emerging Humanity: Healing the Wholeness” – or the re-invention of wings. Organizers of the weekend invite the questions: What is possible for us as an emergent species in an unfolding universe? What is our growing edge? What is trying to emerge? How can we evolve ourselves by coming together in new ways collectively?
GSR Today - The anguish over the horrific murders of three women religious in Africa this week reached all the way to Rome. But amid the heartbreak are heartwarming stories of sisters doing what they do – saving the world.
" . . . I have asked to be where no storms come, where the green swell is in the havens dumb, and out of the swing of the sea."
In November, Sr. Maureen Fiedler hand-delivered a letter to Pope Francis’ ambassador in Washington, D.C., urging the pontiff to renounce a 15th-century church document that justifies the colonization and oppression of indigenous peoples. She doesn’t know if the letter made it to the Vatican. But she’s hopeful a recent resolution by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious will spur the pope to repudiate the centuries-old concept known as the “Doctrine of Discovery.”
Renée K. Gadoua, a writer and editor based in Syracuse, New York, is a National Catholic Reporter copy editor. She has written for secular and Catholic outlets, including Religion News Service, the Syracuse Catholic Sun, U.S. Catholic and NCR.
Previously a religion reporter for The Post-Standard of Syracuse, she has won numerous writing awards for editorials, features and religion reporting from Religion News Association, Catholic Media Association and the New York State Associated Press Association.
See for Yourself - There was a time when we attended conferences with hundreds of participants, all seated in chairs-in-church-row fashion with everyone facing the podium. We all sat in a posture of apparent listening and paying attention. We’re still seated that way – but something has changed.
“But I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. . . ."
The 11 million Cubans resemble unshod Carmelites, separated from the world yet intensely aware of it. Contemplative sisters of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, which was founded in Spain, emulate the life of Saint Teresa de Jesús , also known as St. Teresa of Avila. A Cuban congregation was founded in 1702 and has been a contemplative house of prayer ever since.
Sr. Marie Claude Naddaf, provincial leader of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd for Lebanon and Syria, is still shaken by what she witnessed visiting Irbil, Iraq. Representing the Union of the Superior Generals of women religious in Lebanon, Naddaf accompanied Catholic Near East Welfare Association on its Sept. 2-5 mission.
See also: Sister to sister: Christians in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon by Clare Nolan