Ministry

After an open letter to the president, Sr. Norma Pimentel was invited to a roundtable on immigration issues, but not allowed to speak. Behind her witness for more humanitarian treatment of asylum-seekers is a host of women religious who have traveled to volunteer at the border in recent months.

The Daughter of Charity sister retires in June as head of Catholic Health Association — a tenure that saw her become the face of Catholic lobbying efforts to pass the Affordable Care Act. That often-bruising fight put to use her ability, in the words of a colleague, "to stay anchored to her principles grounded in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, while ably working for what's possible and workable."

The Missionary Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church believe events in a small Ugandan village show it is truly being overtaken by social evils. They decided to challenge that with a monthly prayer procession around the town. When the decision was made, they informed the village authorities and embarked on the prayer.

The Life - Sister panelists talk about how they and their communities are responding to Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate. In the document, they recognize a call to personal holiness, finding God in practical ways in everyday life, and its emphasis on the Beatitudes as an "identity card" for Christians.