USC Dornsife College Of Letters Arts and Sciences

University of Southern California

Catholic sisters are both the center and the cutting edge of the church. Both in the United States and worldwide, women religious outnumber priests and brothers, yet they have experienced growth and decline in dramatic ways. Their ministries, particularly in education and health care, often make sisters pillars of their communities. They also work on the margins of society, putting them on the forefront of issues such as climate change and sex trafficking.

CRCC strives to understand change among sisters in local and global contexts. Doing so allows us to explore how religion is shaped by its context more broadly. In this space, we will highlight pockets of innovation and surprising stories of women religious adapting their internal structures and the work they do in the world to ensure the enduring legacy of Catholic sisters.

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With a little creativity, Catholic sisters’ spirit can live on in a very concrete way.

—Megan Sweas
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