The annual celebration of Catholic Sisters Week is observed March 8–14 to honor the women who have taken religious vows, acknowledge their tireless work, and encourage more women to explore religious life.
“Fifty-two weeks a year women religious stand with the poor and immigrants, teach children, fight injustice, heal the sick, share spirituality, empower women, defend the planet, promote peace, create community, and offer hope, but for one week, we shine the spotlight on women religious,” the Catholic Sisters Week organization states on its website.
History of Catholic Sisters Week
The weeklong event was first observed in 2014 as a part of Women’s History Month at St. Catherine University in Minnesota. It was later made an official component of the month, according to the Catholic Sisters Week website.
The celebration was initially authorized by the co-founder of the National Women’s History Alliance, Molly Murphy MacGregor, who was educated and deeply influenced by Catholic sisters.
In 2019, the week fell under the direction of Communicators for Women Religious (CWR), an organization “advancing the mission of Catholic sisters” in more than 50 countries and territories.
CWR changed the name from National Catholic Sisters Week to Catholic Sisters Week, “signaling a desire to raise awareness of women religious not just in the United States but also internationally.”
Celebrating religious sisters
This year is starting off with a new initiative: the #LikeaCatholicSister campaign. The campaign “brings together congregations from across the country in a unified effort to challenge outdated stereotypes and shift perceptions of religious life by showcasing the diverse, dynamic, and impactful ways sisters serve today.”
The goal is to tell sisters’ stories through “social media engagement and historical connections,” to redefine what it means to live life like a sister. It also will call Catholics to “dedicate their lives to service, advocacy, and faith” in the ways sisters do daily.
CWR also encourages Catholics to take part by attending, or even hosting, online and in-person events that celebrate religious women and inform people of their efforts, which can be found on the Catholic Sisters Week website.
In previous years, these events have included sisters joining the public at Masses, holding Q-and-A sessions, hosting meals, and facilitating seminars at Catholic schools and ministries.
People who may not be able to attend or host gatherings can show their support by sending letters of thanks to Catholic sisters, donating to religious orders to help fund their endeavors, or sharing about the week and the women it honors on social media, church bulletins, or local press.
Source: Catholic News Agency
