The Life – As this feature begins its third year, the panelists tell us how they were led by the Spirit to "the boondocks," behind the former Iron Curtain, on the back of Mother Eagle, and by the people to whom they ministered. In stories of radical openness and encountering Christ, they share what they have learned from ministry and life as a sister.

GSR Today - Welcome to the third year of our monthly series called The Life. Our 2019-20 panel of 20 sisters from around the world will share their reflections on the unique, challenging lives of Catholic women religious.

Horizons - Christian resistance follows in the footsteps of Jesus. As we say in my own community's Constitutions: "Christ is our peace, the source of our power. United with him we engage in the struggle against the reality of evil and continue the work of establishing God's reign of justice and peace." Sometimes this takes risk, such as taken by those Catholics who faced arrest to stand against injustice and to resist inhumane policies July 18 in Washington.

The joint conference of the national organizations for black Catholic clergy, women religious, seminarians and deacons finally made its first stop in Baltimore, a city noted for several firsts on the road to equality in the faith.

Last December, I wrote that my cellphone had gone silent. Well, it was not quiet for long! The Lord began to call very soon. Almost immediately, I would say! His many calls come from a diversity of people and places.

NCR preview: Pope Francis declared last month that Fr. Augustus Tolton lived a life of virtue; Tolton's cause has joined a number of U.S.-based causes — including that of Sr. Thea Bowman — that deal with racial issues in the country. Postulators see timely significance in the causes of these men and women.

When the world commemorates the United Nations' World Day against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, it will focus on crimes the global body says exploit "women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced labor and sex." 

A Cleveland foundation started by sisters says it's on to a new way to "disrupt the cycle of poverty" by funding leaders with big ideas that still need incubation. Innovation Mission is a pilot project of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, whose roots are in the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine. The 18-month-long effort, officially completed in June but with projects that are still emerging, gave $20,000 of seed funding, publicity, structure, creative-thinking workshops and coaching to five people with anti-poverty ideas touching on housing, education, jobs and other aspects.