At least three dozen women will be voting members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October, Pope Francis has decided.
Women Religious
Religious Order Leads Affordable Housing Project on Closed Catholic Campus
In a project led by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, regular working folks will have dwellings they can afford in one of Oregon’s highest rent districts by fall 2023.
Fight When Treated Unfairly, Pope Francis Tells Religious, Consecrated Women
Pope Francis encouraged religious sisters and consecrated women to continue to show courage amid difficulties, even if it means pushing back against the church they serve faithfully.
Women Religious Have Key Role in Synod Process, Pope Francis Says
Women religious have an essential role in the process of creating a more synodal church and in preparations for the Synod of Bishops, not just through their prayers and participation, but also by listening to people not usually part of such church activities, Pope Francis said.
Star Nuns: Four Sisters’ Big Role in Vatican Celestial Mapping Project
Of the many momentous or menial tasks women religious perform, one of the better-kept secrets has been the role of four Sisters of the Holy Child Mary who were part of a global effort to make a complete map and catalog of the starry skies.
Woman Religious Honored as One of International Women of Courage
Comboni Sister Alicia Vacas Moro, a Spanish missionary sister and registered nurse, was one of 14 women to receive this year’s International Women of Courage Award, an annual honor from the U.S. Department of State for women who have demonstrated leadership in their human rights work.
Naming Undersecretaries for Synod, Pope Francis Gives a Woman a Vote
Xaviere Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart will not be the first woman undersecretary of a major Vatican office, but she will be the first woman with a right to vote at a meeting of the Synod of Bishops.
Day of Prayer With and For Contemplative and Cloistered Religious
Pope John Paul II established Pro Orantibus Day (“For Those Who Pray”) in 1997 as a way to provide spiritual and material support to “the church’s vanguard,” whose silent, separated life serves as “a leaven of renewal and of presence of the spirit of Christ in the world.
Cardinal Says Synod Seeks to Give Women Greater Role in Church Governance
Catholic bishops are not fully utilizing Church law to maximize the role of women in decision making capacities, Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai said on Oct. 23.
Amazon Prelate Floats Alternative to Married Clergy: Send Some Roman Priests Home
One Venezuelan prelate taking part in the current Synod of Bishops on the Amazon says people back home have a creative alternative for coping with chronic priest shortages, beyond the much-discussed idea of married clergy to serve isolated rural communities.