Catholic sisters’ work with vulnerable people is inspired by their faith, and it also aligns with international community’s approach to development. This video illustrates the unique role sisters play in promoting sustainable and holistic development, with a focus on women religious in Africa.
Both women religious (known as sisters or nuns) and the international community approach development from a holistic perspective. Women religious are animated by Catholic social teaching and their congregation’s charism (spiritual gift) to care for an individual’s mind, body and spirit, as well as the community around those individuals. Catholic social teaching rests in the idea that everyone is made in the image of God and therefore has inherent dignity. Development, therefore, must promote the dignity of the person. The Catholic Church speaks of “integral human development,” which promotes the interconnectedness of economic, cultural, ecological and spiritual health of people and communities.
The United Nations set 17 Sustainable Development Goals in order to “end poverty, fight inequity and protect the environment” by 2030. The SDGs, which include goals as diverse as gender inequality, climate action, economic growth and strong institutions, are “integrated and indivisible, global in nature and universally applicable.”
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This video was made possible by a grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
