Chris Herlinger

United Nations leaders, humanitarian experts and sister advocates at the U.N. are alarmed by the pandemic's potential for a global humanitarian crisis in regions already facing conflict and economic hardship.

Sr. Elisabetta Flick, an Italian sister of the Religiosa delle Ausiliatrici del Purgatorio (Helpers of the Holy Souls) and a key figure in ministry to assist migrants in Italy, died April 2, 2020.

In the midst of a crisis, do not forget or neglect "the least of these" in the immediate community or in the larger world. That is the common refrain sisters told Global Sisters Report when asked about their reaction to the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic.

Sr. Helen Amos has put the well-being of the community at the heart of her ministry. She has been a teacher, health care administrator, community leader and advocate for those experiencing homelessness.

GSR Today - In my four-plus years covering the work of Catholic sisters at the United Nations, I have been impressed with the notable purpose and passion the Irish sisters bring to their advocacy work.

The film is structured around Alwan telling the story of a young Syrian refugee named Shaima, whose life takes a tragic turn when she accepts an offer of marriage to a man in Turkey who turns out to be an imposter and involved in a human trafficking network.

Catholic sisters who represent their congregations at the U.N. say the cancellation of the bulk of the Commission on the Status of Women gathering is understandable but still a setback for women's rights.

The Commission for Social Development's 10 days of meetings resulted in a document that sisters at the U.N. say affirmed many of their concerns about the global problem of homelessness and affordable housing.

GSR Today - Sr. Marvie Misolas, who represents the Maryknoll Sisters at the United Nations, says social justice "is the antithesis of power."

A Place to Call Home - "Homelessness in all its forms, including family homelessness, has been left behind in the global debate," Daughter of Wisdom Sr. Jean Quinn told the opening session at the U.N. this week.

More than 1.6 billion people worldwide live in substandard housing. Of those, at least 150 million have no home at all. In this special series, A Place to Call Home, Global Sisters Report is focusing on women religious helping people who are homeless or lack adequate shelter. This is the first part, an overview of the issue.

Sr. Joan Mumaw, president of Friends in Solidarity, the U.S. partner to Solidarity with South Sudan, recently visited the organization's ministries in South Sudan at a challenging time for the country.

Sunday, Jan. 12, marks the 10th anniversary of the 2010 earthquake that devastated large parts of Haiti, and GSR asked sisters who have worked there to reflect on the anniversary and the earthquake's legacy. 

In such an environment as the colonia of Apopa where gang activity is strong, finding and affirming common humanity is not easy. Joy can seem rare, out of reach. But it is not impossible, thanks to a coalition of sisters and partners trying to bring hope through hard work, a stubborn belief in goodness, and a sense that El Salvador's future holds promise.

More than 40 people have been killed and dozens injured in the wake of street protests in Port-au-Prince and other major cities since September, making the humanitarian situation in Haiti, dire even in normal times, critically worse.

In communities like La Chacra on the outskirts of San Salvador, gang violence is a daily threat. Sisters are conducting ministries that heal the wounds of violence and offer support for communities affected by gang activity.

GSR Today - Last week, I was fortunate to attend an all-day event that affirmed the sense of dignity for those on the margins, affirmation that comes easily to sisters — and, were it more common, would make the world a much better place.

Healing takes time, "as does the journey of justice." Once a symbol of Central America's wars in the 1980s, El Salvador is now a symbol for other challenges: gangs, immigration and a stalled economy.

Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, a member of the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu in northern Uganda, is the executive director of the African Sisters Education Collaborative, or ASEC. A cornerstone of ASEC's work is delivering "educational programs that strengthen the capacity of women religious in Africa" and enable them to better minister to those they serve.

 In a world caught up in the noise of other issues, and with the U.N. itself conceding that its members are frustrated by the slow pace of nuclear disarmament, does the issue of nuclear disbarment have any traction?