{"id":14596,"date":"2025-10-24T04:06:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T04:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/14596\/"},"modified":"2025-10-24T04:06:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T04:06:17","slug":"queen-camilla-humbled-by-work-of-uisg-sisters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/14596\/","title":{"rendered":"Queen Camilla \u2018humbled\u2018 by work of UISG Sisters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Queen Camilla meets with a group of Catholic Sisters representing the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), which enables leaders of religious congregations to be a prophetic voice and witness in the Church and the world.<\/p>\n

By Linda Bordoni<\/p>\n

Queen Camilla met with a group of women religious from the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) in Rome on Thursday, expressing her deep admiration for their service to accompany people living in conditions of conflict, poverty, and displacement across the world.<\/p>\n

The encounter took place at the Pontifical Beda College following an ecumenical celebration at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, attended by King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their official visit to the Holy See.<\/p>\n

While the King met with the seminary rector and students, the Queen was welcomed by six UISG representatives who shared stories of their work and the mission that unites women religious across continents in the service of human dignity.<\/p>\n

At the end of the exchange, the sisters presented Queen Camilla with a symbolic painting created by Sister Sandra De Filippis, a member of Talitha Kum, the UISG\u2019s global anti-trafficking network. The painting depicts the wounded yet resilient faces of women and children who have survived human trafficking, at the centre, an outstretched hand with a bird about to fly. It represents both suffering and transformation \u2014 a reminder, Sister Abby Avelino, International Coordinator of Talitha Kum, explained, that \u201ceven in deep pain, there can be light, beauty, and hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\n The painting by Sr Sandra De Filippis gifted to the Queen\n <\/p>\n

The Queen thanked the sisters for the gift and for their stories. \u201cIt\u2019s incredibly moving to hear what you do,\u201d she said. \u201cI am humbled by your work and by the strength and courage of those you serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

A global family of consecrated women <\/p>\n

Introducing the group, Sister Roxanne Schares, Executive Secretary of the UISG, outlined the mission and reach of the organisation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe International Union of Superiors General brings together more than 1,900 congregational leaders from across 95 countries,\u201d she said. \u201cTogether, we represent about 600,000 sisters who live and work in service to the people of God \u2014 in schools, hospitals, refugee camps, rural missions, and communities that are often on the margins.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sister Roxanne described the UISG as \u201ca network of communion and solidarity,\u201d connecting women religious engaged in education, healthcare, social work, advocacy, and ecological justice. \u201cOur sisters are not enclosed in convents; they are present in the world \u2014 accompanying migrants, refugees, trafficked persons, and the poor,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Sister<\/p>\n

\n Sister Abby Avelino and Sr Patricia Murray\n <\/p>\n

Refugees are pilgrims of hope <\/p>\n

Drawing on her own missionary experience, Sister Roxanne recalled her ten years of service in Kenya with the Jesuit Refugee Service. \u201cThe refugees I met are truly pilgrims of hope,\u201d she said. \u201cThey leave their homes in desperate situations, seeking life and protection for their families. Their courage and resilience are a powerful witness.\u201d<\/p>\n

She recounted meeting a young Rwandan girl, only fourteen years old, who fled with her four-year-old sister after their father and brother disappeared. \u201cThey arrived in Nairobi and struggled to survive,\u201d she said. \u201cShe learned basket weaving and, in time, was referred to the UNHCR. She was later resettled in the United States, completed her studies, and recently sent me a photo of her first child. Her story is a symbol of what hope can achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Sr<\/p>\n

\n Sr Maamalifar Poreku\n <\/p>\n

Sisters working where hope is fragile <\/p>\n

Among the UISG representatives was Sister Abby, who shared the story of her ministry against human trafficking. \u201cIt\u2019s more than a mission,\u201d she said, \u201cit\u2019s a vocation of compassion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I meet women and children who have suffered in body, mind, and spirit, I realise that our mission is to accompany them from trauma toward healing and freedom,\u201d she continued. \u201cEven in moments of despair, we witness joy and renewal. Through collaboration, even small gestures can give life and open paths to hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

She explained that Talitha Kum operates as a global network empowering sisters and young people to raise awareness, prevent trafficking, and support survivors. \u201cThe painting we presented to Her Majesty,\u201d Sister Abby added, \u201cis a sign of this collaboration \u2014 a reminder that together, through faith and solidarity, we can transform suffering into new beginnings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other sisters present included Sister Patricia Murray, former UISG Executive Secretary; Sister Esperance Bamiriyo, former Director of the Catholic Health Training Institute of Wau, South Sudan; Sister Monica Joseph, Superior General of the Religious of Jesus and Mary; and Sister Maamalifar Poreku, UISG Executive Co-Secretary.<\/p>\n

They all shared stories of salvation, integral development projects, educational initiatives, and environmental efforts aimed at empowering women and young people. The gap between rich and poor keeps growing, the world continues to be fragmented by war, but they all affirmed that their vocation calls them to bring hope where life is most fragile.<\/p>\n

\"Queen<\/p>\n

\n Queen Camilla listens to Sr Abby\n <\/p>\n

Queen Camilla: \u201cHumbled by your work\u201d <\/p>\n

Queen Camilla listened intently to each testimony and expressed her admiration for the sisters\u2019 commitment. \u201cI didn\u2019t realise there were so many sisters around the world doing this work,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s remarkable and deeply humbling.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Queen thanked the UISG members for what she described as \u201cwork that brings light in dark places\u201d and for their enduring witness of faith and compassion.<\/p>\n

The sisters later said that the encounter was marked by simplicity, sincerity, and mutual respect. \u201cThe Queen was very moved by the stories,\u201d Sister Roxanne said, \u201cand we, in turn, were touched by her attention and her desire to understand our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Sr<\/p>\n

\n Sr Esperance Bamiriyo and Sr Monica Joseph\n <\/p>\n

\u201cA sharing of God\u2019s Spirit\u201d <\/p>\n

Speaking to Vatican News after the meeting, Sister Roxanne reflected on the significance of the exchange. \u201cMoments like this invite us to pause and reflect on our mission \u2014 to see where God\u2019s Spirit is leading us,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen people like the Queen show interest and concern, it encourages us to continue with renewed energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

She described the meeting as \u201ca sharing of God\u2019s Spirit that keeps us going,\u201d adding that the sisters\u2019 work remains rooted in presence and accompaniment. \u201cMany live lives of simplicity and prayer,\u201d she said, \u201cwhile others serve on the frontlines \u2014 in education, health care, peacebuilding, and pastoral outreach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recalling again her experience among refugees, Sister Roxanne told the story of a man who had been displaced for 25 years. \u201cI asked him what kept him going,\u201d she said. \u201cHe told me, \u2018For a Christian, there is always hope. God knows when I will be able to go home again.\u2019 A few weeks later, his ninth daughter was born \u2014 and he named her God Knows.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s that faith and perseverance,\u201d\u00a0Sister Roxanne concluded, \u201cthat continues to inspire our mission and our hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n Listen to Sr Roxanne Schares\n <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\n The Sisters and the Queen\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Queen Camilla meets with a group of Catholic Sisters representing the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), which…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14597,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[3242,10823,10826,9,24,63,122,124,123,10827,10824,10825,4903],"class_list":{"0":"post-14596","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-queens","8":"tag-environment","9":"tag-human-trafficking","10":"tag-migrants-and-refugees","11":"tag-new-york","12":"tag-new-york-city","13":"tag-nyc","14":"tag-queens","15":"tag-queens-headlines","16":"tag-queens-news","17":"tag-religious","18":"tag-school-university","19":"tag-solidarity","20":"tag-women"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14596","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14596"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14596\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14596"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14596"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14596"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}