A New Zealand-based theologian and academic says the vow of obedience religious people make needs redefining. Dr Rocio Figueroa made the comment after Pope Francis urged religious and consecrated women “to fight when, in some cases, they are treated unfairly, even within the church; when they serve so much that they are reduced to servitude, Read more
Over the past six years, the profile of women at Vatican events, especially women religious, has risen sharply. Since Pope Francis’s election, more women have been taking centre stage with the “parrhesia” or boldness he encourages. Today Members of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) – who lead about 450,000 women religious around the Read more
A #Nunstoo movement has gained momentum since Pope Francis last week admitted Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse of nuns. “There are some priests and also bishops who have done it,” the pontiff said last week in response to a journalist’s question during his return flight from the United Arab Emirates. Francis’s admission followed an outcry last Read more
The superiors general of 34 female orders want more influence in the Church. As part of an international umbrella organization, the International Union of Superiors General, the superiors from orders in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg want women to be admitted to all offices in the Church, including ordained offices. The German-speaking superiors general, who Read more
Women’s votes at synods of bishops should be sought and they should have a larger role, say two Rome-based umbrella groups representing about a million Catholic religious from around the world. The Union of Superiors General for priests and brothers and the International Union of Superiors General for sisters and nuns are working on a Read more
Sister Mary Pellegrino, outgoing president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, says rather than focusing on dwindling numbers, women religious should focus on the communion they have with each other. She says just concentrating on dwindling numbers diminishes every vocation, the church and even God. The smaller numbers also “reflects our fears and our Read more
Ecospirituality was the focus of The Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious XVII which concluded March 3 in Yangon, Myanmar. There were 132 participants from 21 countries attending the meeting. The conference’s theme was”A Call for Global Ecological Conversion.” Participants explored the meaning of ecospirituality and the inherent Asian spirituality that celebrates ; “Contemplative consciousness” and “ecological Read more
Catholic women religious leaders have been warned against an “entitlement creep” that numbs them from confronting poverty and environmental destruction. St Joseph Sister, Sr Carol Zinn, issued the warning at the triennial assembly of the International Union of Superiors General in Rome The US sister said religious life has widely been a “first-world lifestyle” marked Read more
Young men and women in New Zealand are devoting their lives to the Church. We hear from some of them about their path ahead. Jane Maisey spent her twenties exploring, both physically and spiritually, looking at different religions and ways of being. But it wasn’t until the Christchurch earthquakes that she came back to the Read more
On a recent visit to India a few close friends sat around reminiscing about our college days; invariably the conversation moved to Sister Lucy, the unforgettable Principal of Loreto College. Sister Lucy epitomised everything brilliant about parochial education. She was incredibly strict but also unbelievably smart, witty, kind and a beautiful person who strove to Read more