International Women's Day is Tuesday, March 8th. Medical Mission Sisters in many nations celebrate this day. Sister Juliana D'Cunha, Administrator of Kurji Holy Family Hospital in Patna, Bihar, India, explains that it is, "an opportunity we take to bring the women together to connect and foster relationships across borders because they are divided by factors such as caste (untouchables), class, illiteracy, poverty, violence, etc. The poverty they bear leaves no time for themselves but to meet the demands of basic needs. Most of the women we work with are below the poverty line."

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Our tsunami relief efforts are continuing. Our Sisters in the affected areas are responding to the tremendous psychological needs of the victims, as well as to their physical needs. "I see the need to listen to the people - allowing them to express their grief," says Sister Marykutty Kudaccachira, who is working in India, in the Tamil Nadu diocese of Nagapattinam. "The sea was their mother, support, life and livelihood, everything … their subconscious minds are shaken, and our mere presence will do miracles at this stage of their life."

Sister Irene Fernandez, also in mission in India, reflects on the psychological state of the victims: "Trauma counseling is the need of the hour in treating people affected by this kind of disaster. … The people also need to be reconnected to the immense spiritual resources from which they can draw energy to heal their pain and suffering. They need help to reawaken their lives with renewed faith, hope, and love."

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In Germany, Sister Michaela Bank has been appointed to the administrative board which is in charge of the finances of the Archdiocese of Berlin. For the first time, there are 2 women on the board. Sister Michaela also attended the annual meeting of Oikocredit in Rumania, and she has visited projects in Eastern Europe to see the economic development in that part of the world.

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The Liturgy Schedule for Medical Mission Sisters' celebration of Lent and Easter at our North American Headquarters in Philadelphia is now available. Evening Prayer takes place each Saturday in Lent at 5:00 p.m., and Sunday Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. For a copy of the full schedule, please contact us at mmsorg@medicalmissionsisters.org.