"Prayer gives courage," she says. "Courage is infectious. Seeing others act bravely inspires you to do the same. We never sought unnecessary danger, but when needed, faith sustains action."
St. Paul de Chartres Sr. Marie-Agnes Suwanna Buasap founded Talitha Kum Kids in Thailand, training teachers and youth to raise awareness of human trafficking and ways to prevent it.
Sciano had not planned to enter religious life. She wanted to be a lawyer, specifically one who works with needy families. And then there was the matter of a boy she met at the retreat.
"Health care in this country is fractured, insurance is impossible for many low-income people, and now we have an administration who is trying to destroy it from within. God help us!" she says.
Sr. Justicia Nekesa said girls' education is not a priority for most parents, and young brides are weighed down by poverty as they solely depend on their polygamous husbands for support.
A retired pastoral associate and master catechist, Pruitt honors her ancestors by using her sewing and design skills to craft custom Afrocentric vestments for priests, deacons and even one lucky bishop.
"I learned that you can inspire people in a shelter to do what they did not even think they could do, like painting. And when they find out they can paint, they appreciate what they are doing," said Sr. Pegar.
In the second of a two-part interview, two veteran congregational representatives further reflect on their long ministries at the U.N., and call for needed structural reforms to address pressing global needs.
