- Adrian Dominican Sisters, Philippines: Sister Maria May Cano, OP shares how she could be a blessing alongside of other sisters in their ministry on the Philippines.
- Carmelite Sisters of Charity-Vedruna (UNANIMA International): Maureen Foltz, CCV, shares in trust and faith as COVID-19 closes in on the very poorest populations.
- Claretian Missionaries in Quezon City, Philippines: Rev. Fr. Educ Apungan opens the door of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish to temporarily house health workers from nearby hospitals as part of the parish’s COVID-19 pandemic response.
- CONFEREH: shares in its August bulletin the activities and ministry it has been organizing during the pandemic
- Congregation of St. Joseph: “With a whiteboard and the help of Zoom and Skype, associate Teresa Blundell has transformed a bedroom into an adapted classroom to teach “English as a Second Language” classes.”
- Congregation of St. Joseph in Cleveland: Sister Paula Terese Pilon has found ways to stay connected to her in-home hospice patients and their families despite the quarantine restrictions.
- Congregation of St. Joseph in Illinois, USA: Sister Kathy Brazda, Associate Megan Mio, and Sister Mary Jo Curtsinger, who are housemates, showed their support for local first responders by baking and delivering cookies to their local firehouse.
- Congregation of St. Joseph in La Grange Park, Illinois, USA: Sisters are finding ways to stay healthy, while staying at a safe distance from one another. In these photos, they’re taking part in chair yoga!
- Congregation of St. Joseph in the USA: To practice social distancing, the Congregation has closed all its centers in the USA to visitors but has created an online portal to allow friends of the Congregation to send messages of support to their residents.
- Congregation of St. Joseph in Wichita, Kansas, USA: Sisters are engaged in a new ministry of mask making.
- Daughters of Charity in Central America: are “responding to hunger in time of the pandemic in Central America”
- Daughters of Charity in Ethiopia: dealing with and preventing hunger among single mothers and the homeless population remains the top priority and a big blessing during this pandemic.
- Daughters of Charity in Thigio, Kenya: The Sisters help in their community by bringing food to children, the elderly, disabled persons, and HIV-positive clients.
- Dominican Family for Justice and Peace, Philippines: alongside with the University of Saint Thomas (UST) Research Center for Social Sciences and Education, distributed vegetable packs to the UST Security Guards, Janitors and to the Nurses of UST Hospital.
- Dominican Family Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation, Asia Pacific: in order to approach the COVID-19 pandemic efficiently, the Dominicans have created a project map for their COVID-19 Response Project
- Dominican Province of the Philippines: An online fundraising event/concert of music and prayer of the Dominican Family COVID-19 Response Project for the benefit of the medical frontliners and those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Dominican Sisters of Peace in Michigan, USA: The Sisters donate 60 beds to a Michigan overflow facility for the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
- Dominican Sisters, Zambia: Sr. Astridah Banda OP shares how the Sisters in Zambia are joining the fight against COVID-19 and partnering with Alight to support the St. Rose of Lima community in Lusaka.
- Franciscans International: after publishing its first statement (ENG, ESP, FRA, ITA), Franciscans International published the second COVID-19 statement (ENG, ESP, FRA) to address this crisis.
- Indian Jesuit Network: Jesuit priests were saving thousands of people in need with food and money in India.
- Independent Catholic News: explains why we must be “Bringing climate change to the forefront of public and government consciousness” in our COVID-19 response
- Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary-Loreto Generalate in Kolkata, India: Sisters running the Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre are ensuring effective food grain supply to the Adolescent Girls Group (AGG) members and their families amid lockdown while simultaneously operating protocols for carrying out the COVID-19 relief materials.
- International Presentation Association, St. Rita´s College, Clayfield (Brisbane, Australia): St Rita’s College is a Catholic secondary school for girls in the Presentation tradition which adapted to COVID-19 in several ways. The first one is a project by the students who sewed scrub caps for a local medical facility. The second one is a letter writing initiative to the elderly, veterans and healthcare workers offering virtual hugs which turned out as a great and very appreciated success. Lastly, some of the teachers wrote an article about their innovative ways to teach and use online learning skills with the girls.
- International Presentation Sisters in Waga Waga, Australia: Sr. Sheila Quonoey describes their service which consists of, amongst others, fundraising “for projects to improve the education, health and wellbeing of women and children, and to support the empowerment of East Timorese women.”
- International Presentation Sisters in Australia: Iona Presentation College in Perth has put in a lot of work by “writing notes to the elderly, making donations, online prayer services, and caring for the environment to respond to the needs in the Western Australia community.”
- International Presentation Sisters in India: Sr. Sudha exemplifies the success of a training program on how to conduct house to house services with a lot of pictures.
- International Presentation Sisters in North Dakota, USA: Sister Bernadette Trecker shares how the community has been sharing love in the difficult time of the quarantine.
- International Presentation Sisters in the Northern India Province: Sr. Sneha PBVM shares her experience how the Sisters are combating the virus while supporting families in need in their region.
- International Presentation Sisters in San Francisco: “Presentation People in San Francisco, CA are going one pace beyond in response to COVID-19 through prayer, sewing masks, and delivering baskets to SafeHouse, a living community for women experiencing homelessness.“
- International Presentation Sisters in Pakistan: the Presentation Sisters in Pakistan share how they manage to be bearers of light and hope during the pandemic
- International Union Superiors General (UISG): This webinar is titled “Re-imagining the future: How spirituality can help Religious Life to be generative in this time” with the following speakers: Sr. Teresa Gil, stj Fr David Kinnear Glenday, mccj
- International Vincentian Family: The Family issued a global call to action and solidarity to protect those experiencing homelessness amid the COVID-19 crisis.
- Iowa Monastery of Trappist Monks: Monks of this monastery are providing free caskets to financially struggling families who have lost a loved one amid the global pandemic.
- Lay Maryknoll Missioner: “A Maryknoll lay missioner who serves as an immigration attorney at the U.S.-Mexico border is ringing the alarm bells about the life-threatening consequences of immigration policies at the U.S.-Mexico border.”
- Lovers of the Holy Cross of Kampong Cham, Cambodia: Though small in number, they have contributed greatly to sustaining the mission of the center and the church and continue to rebuild the fledgling Cam
bodian church.
- Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers: Fr. Frank Breen shares his experience with the Maryknoll office in Nairobi, Kenya and how he tries to support them remotely.
- Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers: A Maryknoll priest writes of life at a displaced persons camp in East Africa under the threatening cloud of pandemic.
- Medical Mission Sisters: began springing into action all across the world to help the most vulnerable communities in the times of the pandemic.
- Medical Mission Sisters: Members from all over world are sharing and describing the different aspects of their ministry in the COVID-19 crisis. Additional testimonies and stories can be found in another MMS COVID-19 response report from their communities all over the world.
- Medical Mission Sisters in Bihar, India: “It is the first time we are experiencing warmth and respect” was the response by the scavengers and transgender community in Bihar when the MMS Sisters conducted the foot washing ceremony on Holy Thursday 2020.
- Merciful Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul in Untermarchtal, Germany: In order to help the people during the current crisis, these Vincentian Sisters have initiated a prayer network that enables them to be present to people in a new way. They want to assure people that they are not alone.
- Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, United States Province: The Oblate youth in Tijuana continues to reach out and support the community during COVID-19 crisis.
- Patna Jesuit Society, India: This Jesuit voluntary organization has been serving around 5,000 people in 13 Musahar hamlets all across the capital city of Bihar with cooked meals.
- Religious and lay Catholics: prayerfully sewing an incredible amount of face masks for hospital staff in the past weeks
- Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in New York, USA: The RSHM LIFE Center is doing what they can to help the community they serve through these difficult times, including staying in touch with the children in their after-school program and helping them with homework via phone and video chat.
- Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary: in this concise report, Sr. Beatrice Magaya and Sr. Susan Gardella describe their experiences in their ministries in Zimbabwe and New York
- Salesians of Chennai, India: “The Salesians of Chennai, India are supporting migrant workers and their families with nutritious food and face masks during the pandemic, as well as providing resources to help them return home.”
- Salesians of Damas, Panama: “In early April, Damas Salesians launched “Seeders of Hope” (Sembradoras de Esperanza) campaign in Panama City, Panama which prepares bags of food & supplies for the most vulnerable families. They’ve been able to help about 1,000 people with funds raised during the pandemic.”
- Salesians of Don Bosco: created a concise report and overview over their response to the pandemic in all the countries where they are represented
- Salesians of Don Bosco: shares the story of a “Don Bosco Graduate Among Pandemic Heroes”
- Salesians of Don Bosco in Brazil: “nearly 300 bags of basic food items, blankets, masks & hygiene kits were recently distributed to needy families in São José dos Campos“
- Salesians of Don Bosco in India: Salesians are helping in the fight against coronavirus by providing fabric & materials to local fishermen’s wives so they can make protective masks. Healthcare workers at Holy Cross hospital system in Bangalore are grateful for help in preventing the spread of COVID19!
- Salesians of Don Bosco in India: “Our missionaries help wherever and however they can… the Salesian school in Kerala, India has been transformed into a quarantine center to help those struggling with COVID19 related issues.”
- Salesians of Don Bosco in India: “Leveraging the immense reach of the Don Bosco Network, which comprises more than 350 Salesian-affiliated non-governmental organizations across the country, these
dedicated missionaries, staff, program participants and volunteers launched meal sites and distributed food kits that have already nourished over a million people.”
- Salesians of Don Bosco in India: “The Don Bosco Development Society of Mumbai, India distributed over 250 liters of nutritious milk to poor children living in several slums on the outskirts of the city“
- Salesians of Don Bosco in Italy: “Students and volunteers from the bakery and pizza shops of the Salesian Vocational Training Center in Piedmont, Italy donate delicious fruit pies and focaccia breads to city agencies to hand out to members of the community.“
- Salesians of Don Bosco in Alassio, Italy: Its “Table of the Heart” program for homeless people, those experiencing economic hardship and the elderly has been modified for food delivery purposes during this pandemic.
- Salesians of Don Bosco in Fiji Islands: “As restrictions & lockdown orders have eased in the Fiji Islands, Salesians of the Don Bosco House have been visiting students & families to discuss how they have dealt with the challenges of the last 3 months, offer them goodies and invite them back to religious services.”
- Salesians of Don Bosco in Guatemala: the Salesian program, Social Works Mama Margherita, has been distributing food & hygiene kits to hard hit families of COVID-19 in Guatemala City. This is possible thanks to the support of our benefactors and collaborators, including the Association of Past Pupils of Don Bosco.
- Salesians of Don Bosco in Honduras: “With assistance from the local energy company, Salesian missionaries in Honduras provided basic necessities (rice, beans, flour, soap, sanitizer, masks & other goods) to needy families. The Salesian youth volunteers distributed packages to nearly one thousand families.”
- Salesians of Don Bosco in New York: in their Community Center, the Salesians are providing “an average of 230 meals to lower income families in the tri-state area.”
- Salesians of Don Bosco in Nigeria: The Don Bosco Health Center in Akure, Nigeria assists over 1,300 low-income patients monthly. Additionally, the clinic has launched a COVID19 awareness campaign to inform patients of proper hygiene, precautionary measures and symptoms to watch for.
- Salesians of Don Bosco in Papua New Guinea: they were able to return to school in the beginning of May under several precautions to avoid spreading COVID-19.
- Salesians of Don Bosco in Piura, Peru: The Salesians of Don Bosco have been and will continue to support the most vulnerable people around the world, especially during crises. In Piura, Peru, they are delivering food, essential items and other humanitarian aid to those affected by the pandemic.
- Salesians of Don Bosco in Recife, Brazil: The Salesian Solidary Action Campaign of the Don Bosco Educational Center continues to support the communities near Recife, Brazil by delivering more than 200 pandemic relief bags filled with hygiene and cleaning products as well as food.
- Salesians of Don Bosco in Samoa: “Following the closure of schools due to the pandemic, tailoring students at the Don Bosco Technical Center in Samoa use extra left-over fabric to produce protective face masks for the community and essential workers.“
- Salesians of Don Bosco in Sao Paulo: “The Don Bosco Bom Retiro Salesian Institute in Sao Paulo prepares and distributes hygiene kits and food staples to help families cope during this global pandemic.”
- Salesians of Padre Chava in Tijuana: “makes an extra effort to assist the needy during the COVID19 outbreak in hard-hit Mexico. Volunteers distribute meals to homeless living on the streets and give food, meals & supplies to those coming to the small community center.”
- Sisters of Charity of Nazareth: many response stories can be found in this overview, gathering stories from the Sisters from all around the world.
- Sisters of Charity of Nazareth: “Through food distribution to the hungry, designing and sewing PPEs, stocking medicines, awareness campaigns, and offering online counseling, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth continue their ministries as they adapt to the new normal.”
- Sisters of Charity of Nazareth: Sister Higinia Bol is serving in “Her ministry with the parish involves pastoral presence, including catechetical and youth ministry training to 38 villages in the Toledo District”
- Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Bangalore, India: Sister Jessie Saldanha reports about the COVID-19 task force at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, ensuring round the clock monitoring of stocks in the Department of Pharmacy.
- Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Chaibasa, India: “Indigenous communities face a host of challenges, and the unfortunate present reality is that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are worsening this. Sisters in Chaibasa conducted an awareness program about the challenges and difficulties faced by indigenous people.”
- Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Delhi, India: Sister Seeli teaching the proper hand washing technique to young children at Asha Niwas girls’ home.
- Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Musunuru, India: Sisters have stitched over 500 masks and distributed them to organizations and health workers who are working strenuously for the welfare of the people in this vast vicinity.
- Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Surkhet, Nepal: Sisters “continue health clinics and distribute relief materials such as food and medical supplies during the health pandemic.“
- Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill (Sisters of Charity Federation): Their members keep making masks in their work time to ensure that the more people can stay safe during this time.
- Sisters of Charity of St. Anne, Mumbai, India: These sisters are working, amongst other ministry
areas, with the Transgender community as well as distributing food to more than 1000 families in the region.
- Sisters of Mercy in Illinois, USA: JoAnn Persch, RSM, has adapted her ministry to the COVID-19 crisis, working with immigrants and their legal situation in the US.
- Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy (Sisters of Charity Federation) in South Caro
lina, USA: These Sisters serve people on James, Johns and Wadmalaw Islands and also run a soup kitchen in downtown Charleston through the program, Neighborhood House.
- Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Thailand, Australia and California, USA: Sisters are undertaking COVID-19 awareness training, medical treatment, and hunger and isolation relief efforts.
- St. Theresa’s Cathedral Parish in Livingstone Diocese, Zambia: Fr. Clifford Mulasikwanda reflects on the challenges as well as the use of social media in his parish to spread the Word of God to his members.
- Society of the Sacred Heart: Dr (Sr) Mudita Menona Sodder shares her experiences as a repatriate evacuee between agony and ecstasy, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Society of the Sacred Heart: Dr (Sr) Mudita Menona Sodder shares how a biblical and Christian response to COVID-19 looks like
- Society of the Sacred Heart, India: the Torpa Rural Development Society Response for Women (TRDSW) has been working with the local administration to identify families in need as described in the monthly newsletter of April 2020. Here is the report for the month of May/June 2020 with more response stories.
- Society of the Sacred Heart, Mexico: the JPIC committee of this province has shared a video and a lot of material including powerful testimonies (all in Spanish) that exemplify how they strengthen the bonds with each other as well as other people
(Tejiendo Solidaridad; Escucha Cordial – Identidad Compartida; Iniciativa Solidaria En Tiempos De Pandemia; Compartiendo Experiencia de Esperanza y Solidaridad ante la Pandemia“)
- Society of the Sacred Heart in South Carolina, USA: Mudita Menona Sodder is at Springbanks, South Carolina, USA doing a program in Eco-Spirituality and the Arts. She is sharing here experience from the COVID-19 crisis and how she is coping with it.
- Syro-Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul, Iraq: This particular church makes its seminary rooms available to COVID-19 infected patients and their treatment.
- UNANIMA International Member, Dakar: Sister Josephine Gueye has been in charge of carrying out various actions to relieve refugees and immigrants.
- Vatican News: “The Vatican Museums and the Apostolic Palace and Gardens of the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo open their doors free of charge to all doctors, nurses and other medical staff in a sign of gratitude for their work on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
- Vatican News: reports on the magnificent achievement of an Indian Catholic transcribing “entire Bible by hand during lockdown”
- Vincentian Family in Medellin, Colombia: illustrates the efforts undertaken within the guidelines provided by the government to continue serving people in need. (ENG, SPA)
- Vincentian Family Homeless Alliance: “As part of the Vincentian response against COVID-19, the Bureau Social des Pères Lazaristas in Lebanon released this song to raise funds for projects working for the poorest of the poor and the homeless”.
- Vincentian Family Homeless Alliance: Fr. Robert Maloney, former Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, writes about how Vincent de Paul himself responded to pandemics of his time, offering hope, inspiration, and comfort while giving others the chance to respond to his remarks.
- Vincentian Family Homeless Alliance: the Vincentian response against COVID-19 shows solidarity through its major program, the 13 Houses Campaign, to support the poorest of the poor and the homeless.
- Vincentian Family Homeless Alliance: explains in the article “Homelessness and COVID-19 in an international context” the severity of people without a home during the pandemic
- Vincentian Family Homeless Alliance: Father Henri Matsinga CM shares his experience from the past months and the precious value of collaboration
- Vincentian Family Homeless Alliance: Father John Freund shares some valuable insights on “How Do We Listen To the “Cries of the Poor”?”
- Vincentian Family Homeless Alliance in Costa Rica: illustrates “The work of the AIC in Costa Rica during the covid-19 pandemic”
- Vincentian Family Homeless Alliance in Rwanda: Father Henri Matsinga CM, the local chaplain, explains the challenges they face with refugees in Mahama, Rwanda and how this community deals with them.
- Vincentian Family Homeless Alliance in Rwanda: “I know that God does not forget us” is a powerful testimony from Véronique from the Mahama Refugee Camp in Rwanda.
- Vincentian Family Homeless Alliance in Ecuador: it kick-started the campaign “To take care of all of us”, an initiative in which different branches work together to raise funds and distribute food among those who are suffering the most.
- Various Congregations: Global Sisters Report highlights the efforts put in by several Sisters in light of the hunger crisis in Africa.
- Various Congregations: Global Sisters Report addresses how Sisters around the world are responding to the social distancing component of the COVID-19 crisis.
- Various Congregations: Global Sisters Report shines a light on the work Sisters around the globe are doing amid the COVID-19 crisis.
- Various Congregations: Global Sisters Report shares short reflections and testimonies by various Sisters on COVID-19, its affect on them, their congregation and the world around them.
- Various Congregations: in this article, Global Sisters Report gives a brief summary on while highlighting the importance of women religious and their efforts during the pandemic.
- Various Congregations: different Sisters take food pantry ministries outdoors during the pandemic in Chicago and even got support by the Chicago Police Department.
- Various Congregations: Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) continue to serve in this country in the midst of several crisis.
- Various Congregations: several religious people from across the world are not only offering counseling services, but much more. “We understand our duty does not end fighting the deadly disease. We have to be available to people who suffer from post-COVID trauma. So we will be around even after the corona war is over.”
- Various Congregations: in the article “Vatican COVID-19 Response Fund Boosting Caritas Ghana Interventions among Deprived” various congregations are mentioned how they are jointly responding to the implications of COVID-19
