Sister Antona Ebo at Selma, circa 1960

1. Women and Spirit:Catholic Sisters in America Sister Antona Ebo at Selma, circa 1960 www.womenandspirit.org

2. ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, a traveling American history exhibit, opens May 16 at Cincinnati Museum Center, documenting the sisters’ contributions to shaping America’s healthcare, educational and social justice institutions. A three key box (pictured) , one of 70 artifacts gathered for the first time from over 400 sister communities, documents the way the sisters managed their money because, as women, they could not have bank accounts.

3. POLITICAL ACTION Sister Kathy Thornton as Executive Director of NETWORK. Circa 1960.

4. ELDERLY CARE Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, a traveling American history exhibit, opens May 16 at Cincinnati Museum Center, documenting the sisters’ contributions to shaping America’s healthcare, educational and social justice institutions. Pictured is Sister Madeleva with an elderly patient.

5. SOCIAL JUSTICE Supporting social justice causes is documented at Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, a traveling American history exhibit, opening May 16 at Cincinnati Museum Center, depicting the sisters’ contributions to shaping America’s social and cultural landscape. Pictured is Anne Curtis, a Sister of Mercy speaking out for NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby, c. 2005.

6. POLITICAL ACTIVISM Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, a traveling American history exhibit, opens May 16 at Cincinnati Museum Center, documenting the sisters’ contributions to shaping America’s educational, healthcare and social justice institutions. During the 1960’s and 1970’s, the nation’s social upheaval, coupled with the renewal of the Second Vatican Council, motivated sister communities as peace and social justice became more central to their mission. (Photo courtesy of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Family.)

7. IMMIGRANT AID Iconic image is part of Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, a traveling American history exhibit, opening May 16 at Cincinnati Museum Center, documenting the sisters’ contributions to shaping America’s social and cultural landscape. Six Sisters of Mary of the Presentation (pictured) took part in a great European migration, arriving from France to North Dakota in 1902, to offer aid to immigrants. (Photo courtesy of Sisters of Mary of the Presentation.)

8. FOUNDLINGS Before the current infant drop-off policy at local hospitals, sisters initiated procedures for unwanted children. Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, a traveling American history exhibit, opens May 16 at Cincinnati Museum Center, documenting the sisters’ contributions to shaping America’s educational, healthcare and social justice institutions. Pictured is a sister of Charity of New York at the New York Foundling Hospital, c. 1920, whose mission continues today. (Photo courtesy of the Sisters of Charity of New York.)

9. SOCIAL JUSTICE Social justice causes, uniting sisters of all races, are documented at Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, a traveling American history exhibit, opening May 16 at Cincinnati Museum Center, depicting the sisters’ contributions to shaping America’s social and cultural landscape. Dolores Bundy (pictured) listens intently at a 1970’s religious vocation conference, showing support for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s nonviolent movement for change. (Photo courtesy of the Oblate Sisters of Providence.)

10. EDUCATION Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, a traveling American history exhibit, opens May 16 at Cincinnati Museum Center, documenting the sisters’ contributions to shaping America’s educational, healthcare and social justice institutions. Today almost 10% of 63,000 sisters teach 2.5 million students in Catholic elementary and high schools. Sister Lila Sciabica (pictured) teaches student at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Carbondale, PA. (Photo courtesy of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, PA.)

11. HOSPITAL CARE Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, a traveling American history exhibit, opens May 16 at Cincinnati Museum Center, documenting the sisters’ contributions to shaping America’s healthcare, educational and social justice institutions. Benedictine Sisters (pictured) anticipate the completion of St Anthony’s Hospital in Bemidji, Minnesota in 1900. Before workers’ compensation was mandated by law most laborers went without coverage. The sisters made healthcare affordable by selling “Lumberjack Tickets” (from $1.00 - $9.00) and guaranteed medical care in Benedictine hospitals. (Photos courtesy Benedictines of Duluth.)

12. MEDICAL INNOVATION Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, a traveling American history exhibit, opens May 16 at Cincinnati Museum Center, documenting the sisters’ contributions to shaping America’s healthcare, educational and social justice institutions. Sr. Hilary Ross (pictured) was an outstanding scientist and award-winning medical photography who authored over 40 scientific papers on the biochemistry of leprosy. (Photo courtesy Daughters of Charity.)

13. SOCIAL JUSTICE War is not the answer -- Evolution of support for social justice causes such as global peace and non-violence is documented at Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, a traveling American history exhibit, opening May 16 at Cincinnati Museum Center, depicting the sisters’ contributions to shaping America’s social and cultural landscape.

14. Thank a Catholic sister today! Support this project and send your notes to: Jane Burke, SSNDat the Leadership Conference of Women Religious jburke@lcwr.org