Donor Spotlight: Molly and Joe Bodewes – Using Their Hands, Talents, and Resources for Global Good

When your names are literally Mary and Joseph, maybe it’s only fitting that your lives are marked by compassion, generosity, and service. For Molly (Mary) and Joe Bodewes, giving back isn’t just a value; it’s a calling. And in true Sisters Rising Worldwide spirit, they’re using their hands, talents, and resources to uplift others alongside Sisters around the globe.

Their journey with Sisters Rising Worldwide began through a remarkable web of connections. Joe’s sister Christine, a trailblazing attorney-turned-missionary, first met Sister Rosa Mystica Sambu while learning Swahili in Tanzania decades ago. Christine had also been a close friend of Molly’s for decades and was the one who introduced Molly to Joe. Fast forward to today, and Sister Rosa Mystica, a veterinarian, reached out to Christine seeking help to meet urgent needs in her community. Christine immediately thought of her brother Joe, a veterinarian himself, and his wife Molly, a physician’s assistant with a deep heart for service.

What started as a conversation turned into a powerful partnership.

Molly and Joe traveled to Tanzania to spend time with Sister Rosa Mystica and witness her work firsthand. “Everywhere she went, you could see her fingerprints helping people,” Molly said. “She had a million ideas, all amazing, but what she really needed was support and resources.” That’s when Molly and Joe knew Sisters Rising Worldwide and Sister Irene could be a huge help to Sister Rosa Mystica. Moved by her tireless commitment, Molly helped her get onboarded into the PeaceRoom and craft her project proposal to establish a training farm for vulnerable girls and women outside Mwanza.

That proposal is now fully funded, thanks to Molly and Joe’s generosity, along with the support of the Rockefeller Foundation and the Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters. The project teaches vocational and life skills to women and girls who have faced trauma, violence, or disability. The land is already cultivated with mango and cassava, with a well and irrigation system to be installed soon.

And this isn’t the end of the story. Molly and Joe are returning to Tanzania again this January to visit Sister Rosa Mystica and the program they helped launch, living proof that when donors and Sisters work hand in hand, transformation takes root.

“Sister Rosa Mystica met Molly and Joe at just the right time,” shared Sister Irene O’Neill, CSJ, EdD, CEO of Sisters Rising Worldwide. “Not only did they help Sister Rosa Mystica put her impactful project on the map and in the PeaceRoom for others to learn about, but they also showed up — literally. Their willingness to roll up their sleeves, go to Tanzania, and return again speaks volumes. Their involvement is meaningful and deeply personal, just like the Sisters themselves.”

Molly believes Sisters Rising Worldwide’s model is unmatched in its impact. “Without Sisters Rising Worldwide, donating internationally can feel like your money disappears into a black hole,” she said. “But when you give through Sisters Rising Worldwide, it directly supports religious women doing the work on the ground. The Sisters are part of the communities they’re lifting, not separate from them. They’ve already done all the vetting for you. You can trust it’s going to the right place and making the biggest difference.”

For Molly, being involved with Sisters Rising Worldwide has given her hope. “The Sisters don’t wring their hands, they use their hands. It’s all forward momentum.” That kind of hope, Molly says, is a different way of seeing the world, one rooted not in despair, but in possibility. “SRW is all about positive hope, faith, and the future. The Sisters aren’t lamenting that human trafficking exists; they’re addressing it, preventing it in the most meaningful ways. Instead of feeling immobilized by the world’s problems, the SRW community steps up and gets to work. The work needs to be done — and the Sisters are doing it.”

Outside of their careers and philanthropic endeavors, Molly and Joe love hiking, biking, canoeing, and spending time outdoors. They have raised five children who’ve carried forward their spirit of adventure and service, from record-setting hikes and bike rides to 72-day fundraising expeditions around Lake Superior. Now that they’re empty nesters, Molly and Joe are embracing more international travel, including a recent trek in Nepal. Molly is also retiring in October after 28 years as a physician’s assistant. 

To those considering getting involved with Sisters Rising Worldwide, her advice is simple: “Start small and see what happens. You don’t have to give a lot to get a lot. Just plant a seed, and you’ll be amazed at what grows.”

Like Molly and Joe, you can use your talents and heart to help Sisters change the world. Whether you volunteer, connect a Sister, or contribute financial resources, every act of support empowers Sisters to help those most in need. Join us here.