Beyond originally requesting the creation of the women deacons commission, the International Union of Superiors General has pressed for greater involvement of women religious in synods of bishops and in the workings of the Vatican office that oversees the world's religious orders. Claretian Missionary Sr. Jolanda Kafka, UISG's new president, said she believed that such advocacy for women's leadership had now become obligatory for her organization, which represents some 450,000 sisters and nuns worldwide.

I recently did a two-week rotation at the San Diego Rapid Response Network shelter, working with refugees and migrants. There, I found Catholic social teaching embedded in my experiences.

The "seasoned mapmakers" that make up the 14 congregations of the Sisters of Charity Federation came together for its first assembly ever held. The energy was palpable at the event, as attendees from 29 countries celebrated a unity of purpose.

From Where I Stand: Once, I thought that this step of humility was so obvious it was embarrassing. Then I listened to modern political speech, and realized that this step may well be the most fundamental spiritual lesson of them all.

The June 12-16 forum by the Given Institute brought together diverse people with the common goal of empowering young women to invest their talents in leading initiatives in the Catholic Church. The participants, ranging from ages 21 to 30, developed individual mission plans as they worked together with a group of 25 laywomen mentors and 50 religious sisters.

Carolina offered to teach English free for the children in kindergarten. The sisters welcomed her happily, so that the children of poverty would have a chance to study a foreign language — and, hopefully, a chance for a better future.

Sr. Hellen Lamunu is the project coordinator of Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate Centre for Disadvantaged Children in Gulu, Uganda, which provides shelter, schooling and vocational training for vulnerable children and young people in an area of northern Uganda.Many of those the center assists are former child soldiers, and Lamunu is an advocate for assisting them and trying to reintegrate them into society. 

Our recent jubilee celebration happened in three acts with cheering, weeping and trembling, chord after emotional chord. In word, song, feasting and after-partying, we touched eternity and were "doing holy."

Public decrees denying Communion to politicians — such as a recent one by an Illinois bishop — do not change politicians' minds on issues and instead drive people away from the church, Social Service Sr. Simone Campbell said during a public interview with NCR at the June 9-12 Summer Spirituality Seminar at St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana.