News and Stories

This fall marks the return of Help Sisters Run the World, our third annual virtual event where together we’ll log miles to reach 24,901—the distance around the globe.

Monica Murphy has long admired the quiet power of Catholic Sisters and how they move through the world with grace, integrity, and impact. “From grade school to college, the Sisters were always there,” Monica reflects. “They were smart, dedicated women who were making the world better—quietly, but powerfully. I didn’t realize at the time how much they influenced me. But they did.”

Sr. Christine Unveils her School’s First Computer Lab in Zambia

In a quiet classroom, a woman in a simple habit teaches young children how to read, opening a door to a life of possibility. In a humble clinic, another sister calmly tends to patients who would otherwise go without care. In a small community centre, a sister gathers women to teach them skills that build independence and dignity. These scenes may feel ordinary—but they hold the power to change the world.

When Anna Ellis first heard about Sisters Rising Worldwide, it was through a spark – two, actually. Her neighbor at the time, Kelly Mallon Young, and Sister Irene O’Neill had recently connected and were energized about an idea that was just beginning to take shape. “They’re both spark plugs,” Anna said. “You just know if the two of them are involved, something incredible is going to happen.”

When Sr. Christine Mubanga first arrived at Kalubula Primary School in rural Zambia, she was greeted not by a school building—but by a grass-thatched shelter and just twenty students, none of whom could afford basic supplies. Her mission was daunting: grow the school and uplift education in the surrounding villages. But in a region neglected by the government, where families barely survived through subsistence farming, the challenge stretched far beyond just a lack of classrooms and supplies.

When Ward Brehm first heard about Sisters Rising Worldwide, it came through a curious invitation from a friend of SRW, Ed Flaherty. Ed said, “I want you to have breakfast with me and three nuns.” Ward waited for the punchline, but the meeting turned out to be no joke. Sitting across the table from Sister Irene O’Neill and two Sisters from Africa, he heard about a bold vision: to connect over 650,000 Sisters around the globe, amplifying their efforts to dismantle poverty, oppression, and injustice.

Sr. Swapna Devasia discovered an unexpected avenue for empowerment by combining her passion for baking with the needs of marginalized girls and women in her community. Read her story.

Sisters in Nigeria Empower Youth with Soap-Making Skills