Catholic Sisters Take the Lead in Telling Their Own Stories

By Sr. Francine-Marie Cooper

On the sidelines of the SIGNIS World Congress, titled “Digital Communication for Cultural Harmony and Environmental Well-being,” held in Kigali, Rwanda, on the first week of August, Vatican News spoke with Sr. Jane Wakahiu, PhD, Associate Vice President of Program Operations and Head of Catholic Sisters at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. She reflected on the importance of strengthening Catholic sisters’ communication capacities through targeted projects, education and training, enabling them to amplify the impact of their work in marginalized communities around the world.

Sr. Jane Wakahiu emphasized the importance of Catholic sisters telling their own stories, particularly in an age of digital communication. For generations, the experiences of sisters have often been narrated by others, but she said sisters themselves are best positioned to authentically describe their work among rural communities, inner cities and people living on the margins.

Pentecost Project

She highlighted the Pentecost Project, supported through a partnership with the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, as an example of how digital storytelling can amplify the voices of sisters and the communities they serve. Through weekly stories published on Vatican News in 10 languages, the project seeks to give a voice to the experiences of sisters from often-overlooked places, communities and war-zones, sharing stories of hope, joy and resilience.

Sisters living out the mission of the Church

Sr. Jane called these stories a form of evangelization, showing sisters not only in chapels but alongside people in their daily lives—offering compassion, love, faith and hope while living out the mission of the Church and the charisms of their communities. She stressed that sisters should not be portrayed simply as heroic figures by outside observers, but as people who accompany communities, speak their languages, understand their experiences and help restore hope and cultural harmony.