Elisabeth Auvillain

Eight Missionary Sisters of the Gospel, ages 79 to 98, live at Chêne de Mambré, a béguinage in Angers, France. Twenty-six residents ages 70 to 100, most of them laypeople, live there as well. 

Sr. Laure Blanchon of the Ursulines of the Roman Union met with GSR in Paris to discuss how the French Catholic church can reform and be faithful to its mission, in the wake of abuse revelations.

Some organizations that provide palliative care in Europe and the US began in the 19th century to serve people at the end of life.  

Women religious, who have played a key role in the development of palliative care in France, are concerned that a bill parliament is due to discuss later this year could legalize euthanasia. 

Under the care of the Daughters of Charity, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is a place where people come to worship every hour, every day, all year round, from everywhere on the planet.

"We had to rethink our presence here": As Lourdes slowly recovers from the pandemic and pilgrims come back to pray, the world-famous Marian sanctuary is taking away experiences in bringing Lourdes to the world.

"The risks are enormous in Ukraine because war situations make it easier for international and local gangs to find prey," says Loreto Sr. Imelda Poole, president of RENATE, which combats human trafficking in Europe.

The shocking revelations of the report on clergy sex abuse have tarnished the image of priests in France. This is one condition suggesting it may be the right time for Catholic sisters to take the lead in pressing for more gender equality in the church. 

Following a French report investigating sexual abuse of minors by clergy, the religious men and women's conference has established a new committee to hear testimonials of any potential victims of abuse by men and women religious.

Sr. Nathalie Becquart, a member of the Xavière Sisters in France, talks about preparing for the October 2022 Synod of Bishops, which will have the theme: "For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission."

Neumz, a website and an app, enables anyone to listen to hymns and chants sung by Benedictine nuns in France. The project involves recording the entire Gregorian chant repertory for all three years of the liturgical cycle.

With churches closed during the two strict COVID-19 lockdowns imposed in France, the Soeurs Auxiliatrices des Âmes du Purgatoire decided to be creative and organize their own celebrations of the Word.

Association Compassion Asian Youth helps underage inmates better themselves. Its Second Chance program depends on volunteers and alumni who help offenders recognize destructive patterns and opportunities to change.

Sr. Sophie de Jésus speaks with GSR about the challenges throughout the formation of Association Compassion Asian Youth, an organization she founded years ago in the Philippines to help teens and young adults better themselves.

Professor Matthieu Brejon de Lavergnée teaches at DePaul University in Chicago. He is the author of The Streets as a Cloister: History of the Daughters of Charity, which gives a lively account of the first two centuries of existence of this original community; a second volume covering the 19th and 20th centuries, is coming out in English in 2021 or 2022.

The spirituality of love unites Christians and Muslims working at and being served by Sister Marie Stella's association, which provides support to nearly 1,500 children, mostly orphans from AIDS, and to other people who are living with HIV.

"What support the church provides in normal times no longer exists, is no longer directly accessible," says Sr. Véronique Margron, as France lives under government restrictions to stem the spread of COVID-19.

The Hospitaller Sister of the Sacred Heart of Jesus recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the association she founded, Vivre dans l'Espérance, which cares for orphans and AIDS patients in Dapaong in northern Togo. The development of the association and the discovery of new treatments for HIV/AIDS has led her and her team to apply for nongovernmental organization status at the United Nations.