Catholic Sisters from different parts of the world are bringing the experiences, perspectives and communication expertise of women religious to the SIGNIS World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, contributing to global conversations on digital communication, environmental wellbeing and evangelization.
Their participation reflects the growing role of women religious as communication professionals, journalists, digital storytellers, media trainers and advocates, using communication not only to share the Gospel but also to amplify the voices of communities they serve.
For Sisters working across education, healthcare, social ministry, pastoral work, agriculture and advocacy, communication has become an increasingly important part of their mission. Through radio, television, websites, social media, photography, video and community-based initiatives, they are telling stories of faith, service, resilience and transformation.
Sisters connecting communication with ecological action
One of the voices bringing the perspective of women religious into the conversation on communication and the environment is Sr. Juunza C. Mwangani, Project Manager of the Emerging Farmers Initiative in Zambia.
Speaking during a panel on communication and the environment, Sr. Juunza highlighted agriculture as a practical way of communicating and promoting ecological conversion.
She explained how the initiative transforms waste into useful resources, including through the reuse of water, while promoting climate-resilient and integrated farming practices.
Her work also places young people and women at the centre of environmental action. Through mentoring networks, young people and pupils are encouraged to engage with sustainable agriculture and develop practical knowledge that can strengthen their communities.
For women, Sr. Juunza called for greater space and empowerment to tell their own stories.
«“We need to trust women. Their story is real and lived. They understand the cycle of nature.”»
Her message highlights the importance of moving beyond speaking about communities to creating spaces where people-especially women-can tell their own stories and communicate their lived experiences.
Women religious bringing a different perspective
The presence of Catholic Sisters adds an important perspective to conversations about the future of communication. Their work often places them directly within communities affected by poverty, conflict, migration, climate change and social exclusion.
This gives women religious a unique storytelling position: they are not simply reporting on communities but are often living and working alongside the people whose stories they tell.
Their communication work therefore goes beyond visibility. It can help communities find their voice, challenge misinformation, promote human dignity and draw attention to social and environmental issues that might otherwise remain invisible.
Communication as part of mission
For many Sisters, digital communication has become an extension of their pastoral and missionary work.
Social media platforms provide opportunities to reach young people, share Catholic teachings, document ministries and connect communities across geographical boundaries. At the same time, the digital environment presents new responsibilities around accuracy, privacy, safeguarding, misinformation and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
The discussions at SIGNIS are particularly relevant to women religious who are increasingly managing communication platforms and telling the stories of their congregations and ministries.
From telling stories to shaping the conversation
The participation of Sisters signals a broader shift in Catholic communication. Women religious are increasingly moving from being subjects of stories about the Church to becoming storytellers, editors, producers, communicators and voices shaping the narrative themselves.
Sr. Juunza’s contribution demonstrates how this expertise extends beyond traditional media. Her work connects communication with environmental action, showing how stories, knowledge and lived experience can inspire communities to adopt more sustainable ways of living.
As the SIGNIS World Congress reflects on “Digital Communication for Communion, Equity and Environmental Wellbeing,” Catholic Sisters are contributing perspectives rooted in their experience of accompanying people and communities on the ground.
Their participation demonstrates that communication is not simply about producing content. It is about listening, creating space for others to speak, sharing lived experiences and inspiring action.
For women religious, the Kigali Congress is therefore not simply a gathering to learn about communication. It is an opportunity to demonstrate that they are already active participants and experts in shaping the future of Catholic communication-and in using communication to promote human dignity, ecological conversion and the common good.