Global Sisters Report

Global Sisters Report

Gail DeGeorge is the editor of Global Sisters Report, an independent, non-profit source of news and information about Catholic sisters and the critical issues facing the people they serve. The Report’s network of journalists report about their lives and works, and sisters write commentary from their perspective.

Articles by Gail DeGeorge:

Learning from the sisters

Learning from the sisters

GSR Today – “Gail, you must learn so much from the sisters,” family and friends often say. Indeed I do — and never has that been made clearer than in the past few weeks.

Read more at the Global Sisters Report: globalsistersreport.org/blog/gsr-today/spirituality/learning-sisters-49066

Servite Sisters run thriving sustainable farm, girls’ shelter in jungles of Myanmar

Servite Sisters run thriving sustainable farm, girls’ shelter in jungles of Myanmar

The combined hard work of a beloved priest and the Servite Sisters in Kyauktan, Myanmar, keep operations running at St. Mary’s Home, a successful, multifaceted farm that also supports and shelters 120 girls. The Servite Sisters arrived in Myanmar from India in 1924 and established a community in Kyauktan, which like the rest of the country, was mostly Buddhist and Hindu with a small Catholic population.

Read more at the Global Sisters Report: globalsistersreport.org/news/ministry/servite-sisters-run-thriving-sustainable-farm-girls-shelter-jungles-myanmar-48921

‘Sisterhood’ features women religious in seven congregations around the world

‘Sisterhood’ features women religious in seven congregations around the world

A seven-part documentary series focuses on the mission and charisms of women religious from Vietnam, Tanzania, the United States and elsewhere. The videos include interviews with sisters and those they serve, and convey the sisters’ bonds and sense of community. The videos are available to view on Salt and Light TV’s website.

Read more at the Global Sisters Report: globalsistersreport.org/news/ministry/sisterhood-features-women-religious-seven-congregations-around-world-48141

An invitation to the Web of Life

An invitation to the Web of Life

GSR Today – Come along on a “virtual retreat” as Global Sisters Report offers a look into a 10-day eco-scientific-spiritual program led by Maryknoll sisters in the heart of Panama’s tropical forest.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/blog/gsr-today/environment/invitation-web-life-47401

Global Sisters Report recognized with awards of excellence

Global Sisters Report recognized with awards of excellence

GSR Today – We at Global Sisters Report know that the work of Catholic women religious makes a huge difference to millions of people around the world. So we are very pleased that GSR has won recognition from the Associated Church Press.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/blog/gsr-today/global-sisters-report-recognized-awards-excellence-46591

Talitha Kum Thailand educates teens on the threat of human trafficking

Talitha Kum Thailand educates teens on the threat of human trafficking

As part of a worldwide anti-trafficking effort, the Talitha Kum Thailand network holds educational sessions to raises awareness among students about the dangers of trafficking and the false promises used to lure victims in Thailand and other countries.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/news/talitha-kum-thailand-educates-teens-threat-human-trafficking-46236

Good Shepherd Sisters empower women to escape Thailand’s sex tourism trade

Good Shepherd Sisters empower women to escape Thailand’s sex tourism trade

Every day, 250 women come to the Fountain of Life Women’s Center, run by the Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd Sisters, to gain skills they hope will give them an alternative to earning money in prostitution.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/news/trafficking/good-shepherd-sisters-empower-women-escape-thailands-sex-tourism-trade-46206

I carried a cross in solidarity, sorrow and thankfulness

I carried a cross in solidarity, sorrow and thankfulness

GSR Today – As Global Sisters Report marks its third anniversary April 22, our coverage of Catholic sisters reflects their efforts to bring about the world we prayed for during the Economic and Ecological Way of the Cross.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/blog/gsr-today/ministry/i-carried-cross-solidarity-sorrow-and-thankfulness-46216

Q & A with Sr. Helen Graham, teaching theology to the next generation

Q & A with Sr. Helen Graham, teaching theology to the next generation

Maryknoll Sr. Helen Graham was raised in New York but has served in the Philippines for the past 49 years, primarily teaching theology, often to religious in formation. “Studying theology and Scripture gives you a stronger foundation for what you’re doing. You’re not just a nun with a habit on.”

Source: globalsistersreport.org/blog/q/equality/q-sr-helen-graham-teaching-theology-next-generation-45891

Washington hearing is activists’ last hope in battle over Panama dam

Washington hearing is activists’ last hope in battle over Panama dam

The Barro Blanco dam: Environmental defenders presented their case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in hopes it will put pressure on Panama’s government to rectify the situation and stop the repression of environmental activism.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/news/environment/washington-hearing-activists-last-hope-battle-over-panama-dam-45671

Irish sister in the Philippines is the latest activist to suffer

Irish sister in the Philippines is the latest activist to suffer

GSR Today – In a scenario that plays out across the globe, Sr. Kathleen Melia was attacked outside her convent — violence some suspect was related to Columban sister’s work with the Subaanen people in their battle against large-scale mining.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/blog/gsr-today/environment/irish-sister-philippines-latest-activist-suffer-45626

Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious inspires eco-citizens

Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious inspires eco-citizens

Participants at AMOR XVII in Yangon, Myanmar, said they would carry with them the message of ecological conversion and an affirmation of the meeting’s importance in strengthening the work of religious in the region.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/news/environment/asia-oceania-meeting-religious-inspires-eco-citizens-45421

Q & A with Srs. Mieko Shinjo and Masako Egawa, helping Fukushima recover from 2011’s triple disaster

Q & A with Srs. Mieko Shinjo and Masako Egawa, helping Fukushima recover from 2011’s triple disaster

Six years after a major earthquake and tsunami triggered a meltdown at nuclear reactors in Fukushima, Japan, Catholic women religious are still working with the thousands of people the triple disasters affected.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/blog/q/ministry/q-srs-mieko-shinjo-and-masako-egawa-helping-fukushima-recover-2011s-triple-disaster

Capitalizing on Women’s Marches: ‘We need to organize, not agonize’

Capitalizing on Women’s Marches: ‘We need to organize, not agonize’

Catholic sisters who joined some 3 million people in Women’s Marches Jan. 21 are heartened by the turnout, the international scope of the demonstrations, their peaceful nature, and the energy they engendered. But the question of “What’s next?” is a serious one.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/news/equality/capitalizing-womens-marches-we-need-organize-not-agonize-44651

On World Day of Peace, stories of sisters who survived Hiroshima bombing

On World Day of Peace, stories of sisters who survived Hiroshima bombing

While in Hiroshima a few months ago, I interviewed five Catholic sisters: three who witnessed the United States’ dropping the atomic bomb; one who arrived in the devastated city two days later; and one who came to Hiroshima as a small child six months after the attack. They shared their memories of that day and how it shaped their lives and vocation.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/news/spirituality/world-day-peace-stories-sisters-who-survived-hiroshima-bombing-44111

On World Day of Peace, recognizing those who work for nuclear disarmament

On World Day of Peace, recognizing those who work for nuclear disarmament

GSR Today – In observance of the World Day of Peace January 1, we at Global Sisters Report join in prayer for peace in all regions, for all victims of war and for women religious around the world who dedicate their lives to helping them and to build peace.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/blog/gsr-today/world-day-peace-recognizing-those-who-work-nuclear-disarmament-44096

After Typhoon Haiyan, Mercy Sisters in Philippines rebuild school, hospital

After Typhoon Haiyan, Mercy Sisters in Philippines rebuild school, hospital

Sr. Mary Carmela N. Cabactulan stepped outside the Sisters of Mercy convent in Tacloban November 8, 2013, to face the biggest crisis in her more than 40 years as a member and now leader of her community. The raging winds of Typhoon Haiyan had ripped off roofs, shattered walls and left the buildings of the school that had served 1,500 students in shambles under a thicket of fallen trees and debris. Damaged, too, was the adjacent 50-bed hospital the sisters ran.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/news/ministry/after-typhoon-haiyan-mercy-sisters-philippines-rebuild-school-hospital-43151

Sisters of Africa gather with spiritual hearts to focus on UN development goals

Sisters of Africa gather with spiritual hearts to focus on UN development goals

GSR Today – Voices lifted in song as more than 135 sisters from 123 congregations across Africa carried lit candles from meeting rooms where Mass had been celebrated down the hotel’s sweeping staircase and into the warm Nairobi night.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/blog/gsr-today/trends/east-africa-sisters-gather-spiritual-hearts-focus-un-development-goals-42861

Peace march, Mass mark drug war problem in Philippines

Peace march, Mass mark drug war problem in Philippines

Thousands marched on the International Day of Peace Sept. 21 to protest the extrajudicial killings under President Duterte and the 1972 establishment of martial law under the Marcos regime.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/news/equality/peace-march-mass-mark-drug-war-problem-philippines-42356

Q & A with Srs. Michaela Gotangco and Crescencia Lucero, fighting for justice in the Philippines

Q & A with Srs. Michaela Gotangco and Crescencia Lucero, fighting for justice in the Philippines

Since Rodrigo Duterte was inaugurated as president of the Philippines on June 30 and declared a war on drugs, more than 3,100 people have been killed either by police or vigilante groups.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/blog/q/q-srs-michaela-gotangco-and-crescencia-lucero-fighting-justice-philippines-42331

LCWR 2016: For this newbie, a mixture of emotions

LCWR 2016: For this newbie, a mixture of emotions

GSR Today – Thank you, sisters. My first Leadership Conference of Women Religious assembly was awesome. Inspiring. Humbling. Gratifying. Inspiring. Heart-enriching. Heart-expanding. Joyful. Painful. Peaceful. Mindful. Spirit-filled. Delightful. Amazing.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/blog/gsr-today/lcwr-2016-newbie-mixture-emotions-41796

Recycling center in Brooklyn creates community while serving those in need

Recycling center in Brooklyn creates community while serving those in need

The only nonprofit redemption center in New York City, Sure We Can, is an economic lifeline for more than 400 canners. They can cash in what they’ve gathered — in small amounts or bulk — for the state-mandated 5 cents per piece, or they can earn a bit more by counting and sorting. The organization, co-founded in 2007 by Sr. Martinez de Luco and Eugene Gadsden, has become a community and has plans to acquire its own property and become economically sustainable.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/news/environment/recycling-center-brooklyn-creates-community-while-serving-those-need-41096

Global Sisters Report website celebrates two-year anniversary

Global Sisters Report website celebrates two-year anniversary

GSR Today – Readers like you help Global Sisters Report achieve its mission: to serve as a forum that focuses on the social justice mission of Catholic women religious and explores theology, spirituality, identity, community and other aspects of consecrated life.

Source: globalsistersreport.org/blog/gsr-today/global-sisters-report-website-celebrates-two-year-anniversary-39371