Catholic sisters do amazing work ministering to those on the margins of society.
That’s one of the key messages in an initiative to raise awareness of Catholic sisters’ lives, ministeries and the role they have in the world. The Sister to All campaign is being operated on social media until Sept. 17. The #SistertoAll hashtag identifies campaign posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The initiative website can be found at sistertoall.org.
Precious Blood Sister Joanne Belloli is one of six sisters from across the United States being featured in the project for her work as a substance abuse/mental illness counselor at Livingston Catholic Charities in Howell, Mich. Photos of Sister Joanne and an article about her ministry appear prominently in campaign posts and news stories.
In addition to raising awareness of Catholic sisters, the campaign highlights key findings of a 2015 research study of Americans’ perception of Catholic sisters. The research showed:
- Twenty-five percent of Catholic women have considered becoming a sister;
- Forty-two percent of Americans believe most sisters wear habits;
- Twenty-one percent of Americans think sisters live in seclusion;
- More than a third of Americans want to learn more about Catholic sisters;
- That sisters are highly respected, but remain a mystery to most Americans.
Global Sisters Report, America magazine and Aleteia.org have carried articles about Sister to All.
The research study and the Sister to All campaign were funded by the Conrad Hilton Foundation.
Story by Dave Eck
Sister Joanne Belolli working with a client at Livingston County Catholic Charities in Howell, Mich. Photo courtesy of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation