Social Aid Campaign in La Florida Settlement in Piura, Peru
The Integral Ecology Initiative and San Vicente Pastoral Center’s human rights advocacy office in Peru introduce a new social aid campaign.
When Creativity Blooms: Two Sisters’ Artistic Journeys
May 30 is National Creativity Day, a celebration of artistic expression. Two Sisters of Charity took remarkably different paths to creative fulfillment.
Green Saints for a Green Generation: Sister Paula Gonzalez, SC
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis established caring for creation as a cornerstone of Catholic Social Teaching.
Sister Therese Bangert Speaks on Behalf of Immigrants at Kansas Legislature
Sister Therese Bangert, SCL, stood alone before the Kansas House Federal and State Affairs Committee in February 2025,
From Empty Lots To Homes Filled With Hope
This will be a big year for Depaul USA and Leavenworth Attainable Housing.
University of Saint Mary Easter Liturgy Celebrates New Members of the Faith
Exemplifying the University of Saint Mary’s ongoing commitment to fostering spiritual growth and religious education among its student body as part of its Catholic educational mission, the school community gathered today for an Easter Liturgy that marked a significant milestone in the faith journey of several students. The celebration was highlighted by the baptism of three students who took their first steps into the Catholic faith. Cooper Contrucci, Jackson Contrucci, and Carina Cox received the Sacrament of Baptism during the liturgy. Following their baptism, the three newly baptized, along with fellow student Robert Rosado, received the Sacrament of Confirmation. The liturgy continued with all four students receiving their First Eucharist, completing the sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church. Throughout the ceremony, the university choir led the music, creating a reverent atmosphere for this sacred celebration. The Easter season provided a fitting backdrop for these students’ entrance into the Catholic community. Faculty, staff, fellow students, and family members filled the chapel to support the candidates and share in their spiritual journey.
Butte Watchdog: Social and Environmental Justice Commitment
Although Sister Mary Jo McDonald, SCL, has moved back to Leavenworth, Kansas, she is still working on behalf of the people of Butte.
Three lives intersect at the junction of affordable housing
Article by Therese Horvat at The Leaven A Sister of Charity of Leavenworth, a veteran who has experienced homelessness and addiction and a single mother of three share ties across the common bond of affordable, attainable and sustainable housing. Their backgrounds and lifestyles are different. Yet, their goals overlap. And, their stories are interwoven through the mission and efforts of Depaul USA-Leavenworth Attainable Housing (LAH), a program dedicated to helping individuals with housing insecurities become and remain successfully housed.
Honoring the ‘Green Saints’: Sister Rejane Cytacki Profiles the Legacy of Sister Paula Gonzalez
Sister Rejane Cytacki, one of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth’s advocates for environmental stewardship, has contributed a chapter to the new book “Green Saints for a Green Generation,” published by Orbis Books. The book presents profiles of saints, Canonical and everyday people, who have been examples of leaders and thinkers on the spiritual call to care for the planet. In her chapter, Sister Rejane profiles the late Sister Paula Gonzalez, a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati. Sister Rejane first learned about Sister Paula while teaching a fifth-grade class about Catholic Social Justice Teaching. A sidebar in the textbook described how Sister Paula turned a chicken barn into a well-insulated, passive solar home for her and another Sister to live in. Sister Rejane said, “Wow! Anyone who can do that…I want to meet her!” Fast-forward a few years, and the two met while Sister Rejane was on a retreat at the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. Sister Rejane toured “Casa del Sol,” the chicken barn turned house, during their meeting. She also toured EarthConnection, a solar and geothermal-powered education center Sister Paula had created from a former four-car garage. “Sister Paula was all about creating well-insulated buildings,” Sister Rejane said of the two buildings. Sister Paula spent a lot of time educating people about how to effectively preserve energy through the insulating qualities of one’s home. “She was spunky and encouraging,” Sister Rejane continued, “When I told her I was working on my earth-literacy thesis with gardens for schools, she was so supportive.” Sister Rejane credits Sister Paula Gonzalez as one of the major teachers of ecology for women religious in the 1980s and 1990s. “I’ve talked to so many Sisters who know of Sister Paula because she came to their mother houses and taught us about ecology,” including the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Sister Rejane said. The book, “Green Saints for a Green Generation,” is the brainchild of Sister Libby Osgood, CND, who recruited Sister Rejane because of her work for the Dominican Sisters of Racine’s Eco-justice Center. The book will be discussed at a virtual book salon on Zoom will be on December 12 at 6 p.m. Central Time. People may register for the event at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4ElO17hYRmuEQ99VvLSB5A
SCLs travel to Topeka to deliver Medicaid expansion letter
On Ash Wednesday, 12 Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth traveled to Topeka to join two other sister communities to deliver a letter supporting the expansion of Medicaid in Kansas to their legislators. The trip was organized by Catholic Sisters of Kansas, which is comprised of six women religious communities in the state. Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, and Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia were represented in Topeka. Sister Amy Willcott, SCL, addressed the group, “We are here to make our voices heard. Since 1841, almost 20 years before Kansas became a state, Catholic sisters have been serving the needs of our brothers and sisters, advocating for those who don’t have a voice and who are overlooked.” John Shively, Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Lead Coordinator for the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, added, “We also know this is probably just the beginning. Some legislative leaders…would prefer we stop talking about Medicaid expansion entirely, and so it’s our responsibility as people of faith to keep this issue present, to keep our voices public, and to raise this issue on behalf of the poor and marginalized.” The visit to the capitol began with a prayer service under the rotunda. About 25 sisters and laypeople were part of the letter delivery campaign that included a visit with Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, who thanked the sisters for caring so much about Medicaid expansion. The letter was signed by 212 sisters and lay associates from across Kansas, representing the 1500 sisters and associates in the state.