Sr. Ana María Palomino, of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Virgin Mary and St. Catherine of Siena, talks to a group of women in Huánuco, Perú March 20, 2026. Palomino, is the vice president of Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon, and participated in the gathering focused on Indigenous women leaders from the Amazon. (GSR photo/Rhina Guidos)
by Rhina Guidos
In Huánuco, Perú, Indigenous women leaders from various Amazonian communities gathered to say Indigenous territories must remain sacred places of life, culture, spirituality and encounter — not of illegal mining, indiscriminate logging and drug trafficking, affecting the health and lives of local communities.
More than two dozen women, including a missionary sister, took part in the Second Women's Congress of the Federation of Native Communities of Puerto Inca and Tributaries, March 30-31, 2026.
"This event marked a milestone in the coordination of women's leadership in the defense of territory, collective rights, and life in the Amazon," said the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon, known as CEAMA, in an April press release.
CEAMA's vice president Sr. Ana María Palomino, of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Virgin Mary and St. Catherine of Siena, was one of the participants.
The women highlighted the connection between environmental violence and violence against women, emphasizing that defending the territories where they live also means defending their bodies and dignity, the press release said. They talked about their roles in territorial surveillance, community organization and political advocacy, as well as strengthening their knowledge of collective rights, and tools for territorial defense and monitoring.
Members of the Confederation of Latin American and Caribbean Religious hold flags from various Latin American countries as they sing in a chapel during a board meeting March 21, 2026, in the Dominican Republic. CLAR affirmed its commitment to the process that Pope Francis called "walking together," or synodality. (GSR photo/Rhina Guidos)
Large group of religious from Latin America to attend LCWR assembly
At least 30 members of the Confederation of Latin American and Caribbean Religious, known as CLAR, may attend the August gathering of Leadership Conference of Women Religious in Florida.
Fr. José Luis Loyola, CLAR's president, made the announcement during the organization's board meeting in March in the Dominican Republic, urging religious conference presidents and secretaries from Latin America and the Caribbean to identify members who are bilingual and can attend.
CLAR members as well as LCWR members have attended one another's gatherings, but not in large numbers. In the last few years, St. Joseph Sr. Carol Zinn, LCWR's executive director, has hinted at "new beginnings" and a possible union of "consecrated religious of the Americas," which would include Canada. Unlike the U.S., CLAR's conferences include women and men religious.
When Global Sisters Report asked Sr. María Inés Castellaro, CLAR's general secretary, in March about the possible union, she said she wasn't privy to details. While there are advantages, such as sharing of resources, there is no timeline as to when such a process could take place, she said.
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Sisters continue to advocate in Washington for migrants, against the Iran war
Sisters from various congregations in the Washington, Maryland and Virginia area joined other Catholics who showed up outside the headquarters of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement April 23, the feast of St. George, a Roman soldier, for a monthly vigil focused on worries about the treatment of migrants and refugees, as well as about the ongoing U.S. war with Iran.
"On this feast day of St. George, we pray that members of the military and security services consider conscientious objection," said the organizers in an Instagram post. "We pray especially for an end to the unjust and illegal war against Iran."
The group has gathered since October outside the building to pray, sing and make their voices heard about what they say is inhumane treatment of migrants. It has included members of LCWR, Network (the Catholic lobby for social justice issues founded by sisters), Society of the Sacred Heart sisters, Franciscan Sisters, the Institute Justice Team for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Pax Christi USA, among others.
"We also pray ICE agents and other law enforcement agents and members of the military recognize their right to refuse to obey illegal orders," the group said.
