The Sisters in Rural Ministry are vowed religious women who minister in the rural areas of
the Diocese of Wheeling/Charleston, West Virginia. Our work with the people of God flows
from our life of prayer and reflection on the Gospels and on the signs of the times. We are
impelled by our presence among rural West Virginians to live and give witness to those
values lived and taught by Jesus Christ. We share in prayer and retreats, and in ministries
and actions that support our individual and common concerns.

We listen to the cries of the poor and marginalized, of women and children, of families and,
indeed, of the earth herself, for peace, justice, and mercy. Therefore, in responding to the
calls from our rural areas, we endeavor to:

• give voice to those needs where a voice is needed in the Church and in society;

• bond with the people of God to foster a sense of self-worth among all;

• affirm the value of and need for small rural faith communities;

• encourage responsible decision-making and leadership qualities present in the
community, and provide lines of communications with the diocese regarding the needs
and concerns of rural communities;

• work with others to support the evangelization process and ecumenical activities in
the diocese; and

• promote awareness of the sacredness of the planet earth and the importance of
stewardship of all the earth’s resources.

We continue to reflect on new ways of being and acting together that emanate from our
inter-relatedness and unity with the earth and the entire community of beings. We seek to
collaborate with others in the Church and in society to make this statement a reality.

10/7/97
Revised 4/23/02