Articles by Sister David Ann Niski

In generations past, we thought that children were born as “blank slates.” Within the past 35 years, we have learned that as babies listen to their world, for instance, a mother’s voice reading, their brains [Read More…]

Women facing unplanned pregnancies often feel afraid and alone. Add in a pandemic and you have a crisis on top of a crisis for vulnerable moms on the Virginia Peninsula. An unplanned pregnancy can make [Read More…]

“In these past six weeks since my dad died, I’m not really able to sleep. Am not sure what to do. My job depends on my concentration. I need my job to support my family. [Read More…]

At 8 am, Monday through Friday, the van is pulling out of the Menchville House Shelter parking lot, transporting 10 youth to summer camp at the Tom & Ann Hunnicutt YMCA. It may be early; [Read More…]

Having a new baby—the happiest time in a woman’s life. Not always. One in five women will experience anxiety or depression during pregnancy or the first year of her baby’s life, turning joy into sadness, [Read More…]

According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Nothing astonishes people so much as common sense and plain dealing.” The following account demonstrates the effectiveness of this philosophy. In the summer of 2003, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation [Read More…]

May 2017 marked the 65th year of  Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital (MIH) serving our community. Established in 1952, Mary Immaculate was the first hospital in Newport News and has retained its commitment to providing [Read More…]

Human trafficking is an increasing concern in the United States, deserving the attention of every citizen. In 2016, Virginia ranked in the top third of human trafficking of all 50 states and the District of [Read More…]