[ad_1]
In a remarkable achievement this spring, 44 women religious have graduated with university degrees through the U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program. This initiative is backed by Catholic Extension Society in partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
Out of the graduating sisters, 28 have completed their bachelor’s degrees in health care and human services management, while the remaining 16 have received master’s degrees in integrated studies, with emphasis on human services and pastoral care. Their graduation took place on May 4, awarding them diplomas from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Father Jack Wall, the president of Catholic Extension, has praised the sisters, saying, “I thank God for the gift of religious sisters, and today we celebrate their milestone of graduating with university degrees that will enhance their ministries serving the poor and marginalized. These women religious are the very face of God’s love and channels of God’s grace to those who need it the most.”
Spread over five years, the U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program enables sisters from Latin American religious congregations to earn a degree while also establishing new ministries in underserved U.S. dioceses supported by Catholic Extension Society. This program is particularly significant since it serves regions where over 80% of the poorest counties in the U.S. are located, according to census data.
Benedictine Sister Gabriela Ramírez expressed heartfelt gratitude at the commencement celebration: “Thank you, Catholic Extension, for the opportunity to participate and graduate from this program. For some of us, we were the first in our families or villages to obtain a university education. The education we received will bring benefits to every person we serve.”
The objectives of the program include providing access to higher education for Latin American sisters in the U.S., enhancing their ministries with newly acquired knowledge, serving thousands of disadvantaged individuals, and creating a network of sisters from multiple congregations that mutually support each other.
Over 10 years ago, Catholic Extension teamed up with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to bring the U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program to life. The participating sisters are hosted by 10 “mission dioceses” affiliated with Catholic Extension.
Catholic Extension, established in 1905, is a Chicago-based charity organization that works to nurture Catholic faith communities in neglected areas.
The Hilton Foundation, rooted in the legacy of the Hilton Hotels’ founder since 1944, focuses on improving the lives of the vulnerable and disadvantaged worldwide, with particular interest in the work of religious sisters in these areas.
With the successful graduation of the current cohort, Catholic Extension has also warmly received a new group of nearly 60 sisters into the program, coming from countries such as Colombia, Nicaragua, Mexico, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.
[ad_2]
FAQ Section
What is the U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program?
The U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program is an initiative that provides an opportunity for Catholic sisters from Latin America to earn university degrees in the United States and establish new ministries in underserved dioceses supported by Catholic Extension Society.
How many sisters graduated in the recent ceremony?
A total of 44 women religious graduated in the current year, with 28 earning bachelor’s degrees and 16 receiving master’s degrees.
What is the goal of the Catholic Extension Society?
The Catholic Extension Society aims to strengthen Catholic faith communities in the most impoverished areas of the United States by providing support and resources.
What is the relationship between Catholic Extension and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation?
The two organizations have partnered for over a decade to develop the U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program, with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation offering financial and programmatic support.
Where are the new group of sisters from?
The incoming group of nearly 60 sisters originate from Latin American countries such as Colombia, Nicaragua, Mexico, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.
