Page 17 - Catholic Extension Magazine Summer2020

Extension | Summer 2020 17

CONNECTING VIRTUALLY IN FAITH

On Giving Tuesday Now, Catholic
Extension featured a program with 60
sisters who are tirelessly serving across
America during this pandemic.

Catholic Extension believed
bringing the sisters together online
during this crisis time would bring
comfort and joy to many, especially
in impoverished communities
most impacted by COVID-19.
Bishop Kicanas said, “During
COVID-19, we are in awe of the
healthcare workers, first respond-
ers, grocery store workers and oth-
ers who are putting their lives at
Sisters take to demic: neatly arranged rows of risk. Let’s also look to these ex-

the internet to foster faith faces on video screens streaming traordinary sisters who are work-
and inspiration through our laptops, cell phones ing on the frontlines of this pan-
demic to mitigate the unimaginable
and smart TVs. This is how we
atholic Extension gather “virtually” for work meet- pain and hardships that it has in-
highlighted religious ings, family and friend gatherings flicted on the poor. These sisters
sisters on Giving and entertainment programming. are present to those who are strug-
Tuesday Now who The use of video conferencing has gling to survive, anxious about
are serving the poor helped us to feel in some way hu- their future and worried about the
Cduring this COVID-19 manly connected amidst the reali- well-being of their families.”
crisis—fearlessly and with great ties of all the social distancing. He added that the sisters are
compassion and ingenuity. Since transformative, human providing basic needs, spiritual
“Women religious are the heroes connection is the core of Catholic nourishment, compassion and
of our Church. They are agents of Extension’s mission, it made sense encouragement to those who need
change who make our world a bet- that a video conferencing format it the most.
ter place,” said Bishop Emeritus was selected to deliver inspiration These Latin American sisters,
Gerald Kicanas of Tucson and vice and hope in our Giving Tuesday sponsored by Catholic Extension,
chancellor of Catholic Extension. Now program shared live across serve diverse faith communities
Featuring 60 sisters from Cath- the internet on May 5. throughout the country to bring
olic Extension’s U.S.-Latin Amer- The sight of 60 sisters appearing marginalized Catholics, including
ican Sisters Exchange program, together via teleconference was a immigrants, closer to the Church
from countries across two conti- remarkable technological feat. As in a five-year program. After the
nents, the event engaged viewers they prayed for an end to the pan- program concludes, they return to
with stories of the sisters’ life-giv- demic, the presence of the Spirit their home countries and continue
ing work among our nation’s and was palpable. their work.
their home countries’ poorest faith
communities.
These “ZOOM” sisters presented View the Giving Tuesday Now program or support the work of these selfless
an iconic image from this pan- sisters by visiting catholicextension.org/givingtuesdaynow.