Sister Judith Best: A Nun on the Bus

Sister Judith Best, SSND, is a social studies teacher whose master’s degree is in theology. That background creates a filter through which she sees the world. “I’m always hearing out of a perspective of history, sociology, spirituality, and it all comes together as you listen to people,” she said last week before embarking on her second great opportunity to listen to people as one of the Nuns on the Bus.

In 2013 she joined NETWORK, a social justice lobbying group, as it took a bus along the East Coast to bring awareness to and seek change in U.S. immigration policies. From Sept. 10-18 this year, she has returned to the bus as the organization is seeking to “Bridge the Divides, Transform Politics.”

As was the case two years ago, Sister Judith sees the topic as a look at national budget items and where the U.S. as a nation places its priorities. This year, however, it takes a broader approach to get people involved and to take political action.

“I think what touches me in it is knowing this is really a faith-based group, so that when we’re on the bus it certainly is listening to people and their stories, especially out of a Gospel context. And that means so much to me,” she said.

So when she was asked to join and help chronicle the journey she said yes, grabbed a laptop computer and set about to post updates from the road. She left her home in St. Louis, Mo., on Thursday, Sept. 10 and then made stops in Topeka, Kan., Fayetteville and Little Rock, Ark., Memphis and Nashville, Tenn., and finished up on Sept. 18 in Evansville and Indianapolis, Ind.

The trip is in advance of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States and an address before the U.S. Congress on Sept. 24. Although there is no audience with the Pope, NETWORK Executive Director Sister Simone Campbell will be a guest of California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and Sister Alice Zachmann of Mankato will be the guest of U.S. Rep. Timothy Walz of Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District.

To read updates by Sister Judith Best, please go to "Nuns on the Bus 2015 - Reflections from the Road".

What would it (or does it) take to get you politically involved?

Photo credit: Linda K. Behrens of LK Photography +