media development library

"This book is a collection of articles from different parts of the world that tell stories of God’s mighty deeds, carried out with and through Catholic Sisters. Mostly written by Sisters themselves, the articles were published by Vatican Media as part of the Pentecost Project, through which storie ... s about women religious are shared in ten languages, each week. They are stories of an untold present that turn our perspective on reality upside down. And on religious women as well. There are many more stories like the over 200 stories that have been shared thus far. Each of them is invaluable and all carry the faces and voices of unique people with great hearts, profound faith and impressive life paths. The stories are from places that are often underreported and are told from very unusual perspectives that challenge assumptions and have the power to transform hearts. You may wonder why Catholic Sisters should write stories and why we should read them. Well, the answer is that — you will discover this by reading this book - Sisters represent one of the greatest untapped communication resources in the Church. They are of all ages and are present throughout the world. They know the Church profoundly - every corner of it. They are in homes and shelters, on the streets and at borders, in hospitals, universities, schools and prisons. In a variety of professions and relationships, they accompany young people and families, the worried and the suffering, the doubtful and the dying, those searching for meaning, those who have found it, and those who have taken wrong paths, the guilty, those beginning again, the forgotten and the ordinary — all of us. Sisters live among the people, in the heart of the Church, with and within the Body of Christ. Why does this reveal such a powerful communication potential? It is not just because they see and hear the most hidden and unrepresented parts of our humanity and society, but also because Sisters see the world differently. They see beyond the narrow narratives that dominate mainstream media. They do not view people through the categories we so easily impose. For them, there is no “alcoholic”, “prisoner”, “accused”, “sick”, “poor”, “rich” or “successful” person. Instead, they see the face of God in each person, recognizing the inherent and inviolable dignity of every human being, and serving every life they encounter with love. They can see beyond, and through their experience, they can teach us how to do it. For Catholic Sisters, the margins are not peripheral but central. Through their voices, those who have been confined to the edges can be restored to the fullness of their dignity and reintegrated into the center of our common humanity. This is why it is so important that Sisters are given the possibility to tell what they see. Narratives shaped by a relationship with God are the only alternative capable of challenging the often-toxic communication culture of today’s media environment. Catholic Sisters are pillars of social, cultural and spiritual transformation. They are pillars of the Church and, contrary to the many trends of division, they are a force that can help unite us in what binds us together. They can do this precisely because of their ability to see more and beyond. Their strength also lies in the fact that they form one of the most powerful networks in the world: united by a common mission, rooted in the same Gospel and driven by the same love for Christ. It is our hope that this book will serve as an encouragement for the Sisters to continue to speak and to write, and for all of us, to learn through them how to see the world as it truly is: wonderful in its divine humanity." (Introduction, pages 7-9) more

"[...] es un libro colectivo que reúne nueve capítulos agrupados en cuatro partes que analizan las distintas facetas de la Iglesia y su obra eb Bolivia. Acompañan a esos artículos de fondo testimonios más breves, que ilustran alguna experiencia en concreto relacionada con el tema." (Tapa poster ... more

"Presentamos a ustedes esta versión popular que integra el documento final del Sínodo para la Amazonía (DF) y la exhortación apostólica del Papa Francisco “Querida Amazonía” (QA), como un solo llamado integral. Uno sin el otro no está completo, por ello deben ser trabajados siempre de man ... more

Telling the Mighty Works of God: A Selection of Sisters' Stories in Vatican Media

La Iglesia en Bolivia: Doscientos Años de Historia

Los desafíos pastorales de la Asamblea Eclesial de América Latina y El Caribe

Querida Amazonía: Versión popular de la Exhortación Apostólica con las propuestas del documento final del Sínodo para la Amazonía

A la conquista de la comunión: Aportes de la Iglesia Católica en Colombia para la construcción de la reconciliación y la paz