Three stats and a map - Almost two weeks ago, 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., after being stopped for jaywalking. In a very complext situation, there is evidence that race determines how and what Americans think about Brown’s killing. Last week, the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press surveyed 1,000 adults about the death and subsequent protests and police action.

GSR Today - The Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) launched a new website August 19 to be one of the integral channels for sisters in the nine member African countries to communicate to the outside world.

GSR Today - A religious canonist has called upon leaders of over 100 congregations gathered at the 16th ACWECA General Assembly to celebrate the gift of their members who are committed to the religious life. Speaking when she gave a presentation on canon law at Andrew’s Motel in Lusaka August 20, Sr. Rosemary Smith asked the superiors to be grateful for the people who are generous to the sisters.

GSR Today - Religious women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) have been challenged to put God first in their plans. Speaking when he celebrated Mass at the 16th ACWECA General Assembly, Fr. Charles Chilinda urged the sisters to carry out Christ’s mission in society today.

GSR Today - Catholic Relief Services country representative for Zambia Dane Fredenburg has called upon the religious women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) to celebrate their heroic works in the region. Fredenburg spoke August 20 at Andrew’s Motel during a presentation on transparency, leadership, accountability, financial management and budgeting.

GSR Today - If you’re a fan of Catholic sisters, you’ve probably heard already about Nicholas Kristof’s column in The New York Times over the weekend. Now I’m certainly a fan. But I didn’t see the Kristof piece until now, catching up with the news from Lusaka, Zambia, where I’m attending a gathering of women religious leaders from nine African countries.

"God never made an ugly landscape. All that the sun shines on is beautiful, so long as it is wild."

Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu told Catholic nuns from eastern and central Africa they deserve a commendation for doing a difficult and challenging job for the marginalized.

Sr. Josephine Huynh Thi Ly, a member of Da Nang Province of Saint Paul de Chartres, is one of the first Catholic nuns invited to give medical treatment to people with HIV/AIDS at the Central Hospital run by the government in Hue City, central Vietnam.