At Nazareth Residence, which provides shelter, education, interim care, and supportive services to women and children, Sister Mary keeps a collaborative and positive tone in her work.

Unsure of what to do with her life after graduating high school, Sister Laurie MacDonald, SA, worked at various jobs until realizing she wanted to be a sister with the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement.

Since becoming a sister, Sister Laurie had worked in Canada, Vermont, and New York, before settling in Boston.

Today, she serves as the assistant program director for Catholic Charities in Dorchester where she has found her true calling -- working with children in need.

Sister Maryadele Robinson, has been the director of the Laboure Center since 1988. Although she plans to step down from that role this year, her nearly 30 year tenure has contributed to the help that thousands of youth and families serviced by the center received.

Besides running the day-to-day operations at the Laboure Center, Sister Maryadele also councils grandparents in the Recovering Connections Program, which provides support to families of those suffering from an opioid addiction.

National Catholic Sisters Week was formed in 2014 as an extension of National Women's Month.

This year, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh delivered a proclamation saying that the city of Boston would be celebrating National Catholic Sisters Week.

"I extend my heartfelt thanks to all Catholic sisters who have dedicated their lives to care for others," he wrote.