Immersed in the Stories of Sisters

Since coming to Kansas City in August to live and discern with the Sisters of Charity, my life has been immersed in learning about the stories of sisters. As a new member to the community I have heard stories from members of the Leavenworth, Kansas based community and have been writing stories about women religious for the National Catholic Reporter.

In mid-April NCR will launch a new initiative, called Global Sisters Report, which is a news website dedicated solely to commentary and reporting about women religious around the world. One slogan printed on a promotional card for the project says, "Global Sisters Report chronicles changing religious life as it changes the world." The publisher and editors at NCR believe there are many untold stories about women religious and their work in the church and in the world. As the website takes shape sisters are being contacted to be columnists in areas of theology, formation, spirituality and environment. Freelance reporters have also been writing stories of sisters working on important issues such as human trafficking, poverty and immigration. As the project begins these stories are mainly centered in the United States, Africa, Vietnam and the Philippines, but as time goes on the geographical territory and range of issues and topics will continue to grow.

Being a part of this project has helped me also to see the vast ways in which women work for justice, teach faith, and take risks world-wide. Both at home and at work I am continually inspired by the stories of sisters who often face adversity but are strong and courageous women of faith dedicated to making a difference for others and hoping for more than the status-quo in the world we live in.

[Colleen Dunne is a candidate with the Sisters of Charity in Leavenworth, Kansas. Originally from western Montana she moved to Kansas City in August of 2013.]