The Catholic sisters’ vibrant sisterhood – made up of over 700,000 women – brings dignity and hope to children, youth and families around the world, particularly those in marginalized communities suffering from injustice, conflict and disadvantage. Since our founding in 1944, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has supported Catholic sisters at home and abroad. Today, we continue to invest in networks of sisters that work together to alleviate suffering, so that the underserved can thrive and achieve self-sufficiency. We invite you to get to know a few of the Catholic sisters we have supported in their work fostering hope and human dignity while promoting peace, equity, and justice.
Sister Abby Avelino: Leading Anti-Trafficking Efforts
Sister Abby Avelino, Congregation of Maryknoll Sisters
Sr. Abby Avelino is the international coordinator of Talitha Kum, a global network of Catholic sisters that targets human trafficking. Sr. Abby started her mission in Japan when she accompanied migrant women from the Philippines, where she too had emigrated from to the U.S. Through her work, she became aware of a hidden issue within migrant communities: human trafficking. Today, Sr. Abby works in Rome to strengthen global networks of Catholic sisters to better tackle human trafficking through Talitha Kum’s strategic framework, including:
“As a pastoral minister here in Japan, particularly with women who are victims of domestic violence, abuse and human trafficking. I hear their stories, their journey, their struggles in a foreign land. Their stories are sacred.”
Sister Alessandra Smerilli: Promoting Integral Human Development
Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
Sr. Alessandra Smerilli is the first woman to lead one of the Vatican’s largest departments, serving as Secretary for the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. With a PhD in Political Economy and Economics, Sr. Alessandra oversees work to serve local churches by helping remove obstacles to human development in areas like the economy, ecology, health, drug abuse, security, food security, peace, disarmament, conflicts and migration.
Sr. Alessandra promotes listening above all else and explains that her department’s duty is to hear about the challenges local ministries are facing around the world. They work to provide personalized responses, help churches showcase their efforts, and inform others of the best practices.
“We see every day that the challenges, the sorrows around the world are so many. We try to make sure there is someone listening so that people don’t feel they are forgotten.”
Sister Francisca Ngozi Uti: A Champion for Human Rights
Sister Francisca Ngozi Uti, Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus
Sr. Francisca Ngozi Uti founded the Centre for Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI) in 1999 to research, advocate for solutions, and alleviate issues like marginalization, oppression and violence against women and girls. The Centre supports vulnerable people to become politically aware, socially responsible and economically independent. Sr. Ngozi was recently honored with the prestigious Opus Prize for trailblazing opportunities for women, girls, and vulnerable populations in Nigeria. She aims to expand CWSI’s reach to act as a resource and research center for anyone in need.
“We try to advocate through intergenerational dialogue with the community to eliminate any practice that we find relegates women and girls to the background. What we want is to look at the rights of the woman, how we can empower her and how [others] can help us in achieving this.”
Sister Magda Silva Renteria: Beacon of Hope for Migrants
Sister Magda Silva Renteria, Congregation of Josefinas Sisters
Sr. Magda Silva Renteria is the director of CAFEMIN Mexico City Shelter, a respite center for women and families, and the largest shelter in Mexico City. She is a leader among migrant human rights defender in Mexico. With a record number of migrants from South America seeking refuge, respite centers like CAFEMIN are one of the few places where migrants are welcomed. Sr. Magda helps strengthen the shelter network throughout the city. CAFEMIN protects and promotes the human rights of people experiencing forced migration through a medium- and long-term shelter that provides:
“I walk along the path of abused and mistreated women. The work we do with them is to help them to know that they are worth it just for being themselves.”
Sister Mary Sean Hodges: Opening Doors for Those Who Were Incarcerated
Sister Mary Sean Hodges, Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose
Sr. Mary Sean Hodges’ prison ministry in Southern California helps inmates reflect on their crimes and express personal change. She founded the Partnership for Re-Entry Program (PREP) in 2002 to help the formerly incarcerated find housing, employment and other resources once granted parole. Sr. Mary Sean opened her first home for the formerly incarcerated in 2008, the first-of-its-kind in California. PREP offers courses for parole seekers, addressing childhood and family issues, anger management, domestic violence, criminal thinking and victim awareness. Developed with input from former and current inmates, these courses are informed by lived experience.
“Everyone has a dignity within them. Everyone can choose to do better, to be better—even if they’re on death row. I was convinced if they were given a chance, they wouldn’t return to crime. I wanted to provide an environment that supported and nurtured that kind of change.”
Sister Nirmala Nazareth: Strengthening Religious Communities
Sister Nirmala Nazareth, Apostolic Carmel Congregation
Sister Nirmala Nazareth is the President of the Conference of Religious Women in India, representing over 130,000 Catholic sisters. In her leadership role, she brings congregations together to promote youth development, anti-trafficking efforts, and equitable healthcare in rural communities.
Sr. Nirmala initiated leadership training for Catholic sisters in India. Their training, based on “self-help and mutual help,” focuses on safety, security, mental health and religious identity. She advocates for a formation system that fosters strategic thinking, dignity, and leadership among sisters.
“We [the sisters] are a large force in the world, but we are also a sleeping giant and it is time that we wake up.”
Sister Patricia Murray: Advancing a Vision of Global Unity
Sister Patricia Murray, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sr. Pat Murray is the Executive Secretary of the International Union Superiors General (UISG), where she fosters unity among sisters and religious women around the world.
She advocates on a global scale for sisters as leaders in communities, “in calling both ourselves and others to live in a more simple and grounded and respectful way, respectful of people and respectful of the planet, and finding new ways of tackling war and hatred and violence and destruction and oppression.”
In her nine years at UISG, Sr. Pat Murray has:
Sister Simona Brambilla: A Leader Making History
Sister Simona Brambilla, Consolata Missionaries
In a historic move, Pope Francis recently named Sister Simona Brambilla to become prefect of the department responsible for all the Catholic Church’s religious orders — including 700,000 Catholic sisters and 129,000 Catholic priests throughout the world. She is the first woman to lead a dicastery or congregation of the Holy See, the central governing body of the Catholic Church.
The Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is considered one of the most important in the Vatican and is responsible for every religious order, including well-known orders like Jesuits and Franciscans.
The Hilton Foundation is currently funding a project at the dicastery that includes support for 100 Catholic sisters to participate in a graduate program in theology and law of consecrated life, as well as the creation of a digital platform to facilitate distance learning for more sisters.
“The experience of fruitful contact with different realities, peoples, cultures, particular Churches, forms of Consecrated Life in Africa, America, Asia, and Europe has transformed me and strengthened in me the awareness that the encounter with others is a source of growth, of exchange of gifts, of grace.”