Julie A. Ferraro, a journalist for more than 30 years, is a Benedictine Oblate of the Monastery of the Ascension, Jerome, Idaho. She currently uses her communication and other skills in service to various organizations within the Benedictine family.
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Sisters' volunteer programs face changes: revising, pausing, even ending
As the number of available volunteer programs — including those sponsored by women's religious communities — decreases, Catholic Volunteer Network has seen the need to seek other viable models in a time of transition.
This unique art form may help open doors
It might not seem that tattoos are a subject connected with women religious, and 20 years ago I would have agreed. That was before I got my first tattoo, at age 42 — I now have 10 of them.
We can glide in the sky, but the wind will not blow indefinitely
As religious communities find many of their rooms unoccupied, they should open their doors to the people. After all, the crow soaring on the wind must land sometime, and work together with the other birds to survive.
Words are not enough to create gender equity in church
Women should refuse to do the lion's share of support work in the church while men accept the credit. Men in the church need to be forced to open their eyes, minds and hearts and acknowledge the equality of women on every level.