By Sr. Nancy Negrón Ortiz, mbp*
Eleven religious sisters from eight countries across Latin America and the Caribbean received an invitation from SIGNIS — the World Catholic Association for Communication — in close collaboration with the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious (CLAR), to take part in the gathering “Wisdom Calls”, held July 16–19, 2026, in Bogotá, Colombia.
The purpose of this gathering was to bring together religious sisters and communication professionals to create a space for listening, dialogue, and the shared crafting of narratives that would give visibility to the mission we carry out across the continent. At the same time, it offered us storytelling tools to strengthen our ability to communicate stories with real impact, both locally and globally.
More than a formative experience, this gathering became a space of grace. Little by little, we came to understand that we had been called by God to open our hearts and recognize that our vocation is deeply woven together with the faces and stories of the women, men, young people, children, and elders we accompany in our mission. Their lives are not simply stories to tell; they are places where God continues to reveal his presence. We discovered that communicating is far more than transmitting information — it means safeguarding life, giving voice to those who remain unseen, and honoring the dignity that dwells in every person.
Out of this experience, new callings emerged that we now want to carry forward as a lifelong commitment. We feel called to look deeply, to contemplate what isn’t immediately visible, and to listen with reverence so we can uncover the story beating at the heart of each person. Only through that kind of respectful listening can we communicate with truth, sensitivity, and care.
We also received an invitation to let ourselves be moved more deeply by the cries of our time, wherever life cries out for justice, recognition, and hope. We are called to discern the traces of God present in everyday stories, to recognize the small gestures that build fraternity, and to share experiences that awaken resilience, hope, and trust in a more humane future. We came to understand that meaningful communication is measured by the life it inspires, the bonds it strengthens, and the prophetic denunciations it drives toward transformation.
Finally, we affirm that the narratives capable of transforming the world are born from the courage to see with new eyes, to listen with the heart, and to communicate the Gospel made flesh with creativity. We choose to tell stories that humanize, inspire, and generate hope, convinced that every story told with authenticity can become a seed of transformation reaching far beyond its own borders. Because communication, when it springs from the heart, means caring for life, weaving networks of communion, and making visible the mission of the thousands of religious sisters who give themselves with passion and joy. They proclaim and embody the Gospel through a gaze that truly sees, a presence that walks alongside others, and an embrace that holds them up.
*Sr. Nancy Negrón Ortiz, mbp, was one of 11 religious sisters who took part in the “Wisdom Calls” gathering for Latin America, held in Bogotá, Colombia, from July 16–19, 2026.