Nuns on the Bus & Friends: A Journey for Justice
The re-imagined Nuns on the Bus & Friends carries the legacy of women religious forward, building a coalition of friends committed to social justice.
by Elizabeth Avalos, BVM
In 2012, Director Simone Campbell, Sister of Social Service (SSS), and her dedicated team at NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby based in Washington, D.C., decided to tour a select section of the country to promote healthcare prior to the national election.
The goal was to visit members of the 2012 House of Representatives and Senate to draw attention to nuns’ work with the poor and to protest planned aid cuts. Members of religious congregations saw this as a way to walk in solidarity with other women about healthcare issues.
The Power of Solidarity
The Nuns on the Bus tours grew from that initial effort, bringing women religious together in a national call for social justice. As the years passed, more sisters from various congregations joined the movement, traveling across the United States to push for change and raise awareness about issues of poverty, healthcare, and economic justice.
These tours weren’t just about advocating for policy change; they were about the people along the way. They were about stories, about relationships built in the spirit of solidarity, and about igniting hope for a more just future.
Once again, I felt the excitement of being with others who have worked for Catholic social teaching and joined many justice organizations trying to bring a just living to fruition for all.
BVMs On the Journey
Over the years BVMs have joined the bus in various areas of the United States. BVM Marilyn (Claudia Mary) Wilson and I traveled in California to the Central Valley, Oakland, and San Francisco to meet with legislators and advocate for justice. BVM Dolores “Dee” (Dolore) Myers and Bette (Esther) Gambonini joined Marilyn in San Francisco. BVMs Joellen McCarthy, Mary Therese (Marcina) Freymann, Rose Mary (Sebastian) Meyer, Marion (John Patrice) Murphy, Theresa (Dorothy) Gleeson. Associates Virginia Piecuch, Eileen O’Shea, and Marybeth Coleman also participated. Marge Clark, BVM was a NETWORK staff member at the time and participated on several tours. These are just some of the BVM participants.
A New Chapter
This year, the Nuns on the Bus movement entered a new phase. Mary Novak, executive director of NETWORK, and her staff made the decision to revitalize the tour, acknowledging the decline in the number of religious sisters and the need for others to step in and continue the work. With this in mind, they re-branded the tour as Nuns on the Bus & Friends, a broader coalition of justice advocates united by a shared vision of social change.
In September, I joined a reunion of sisters who had traveled on the bus in previous years, along with a number of new friends for the “Vote For Your Future” tour event. Headed by Mary and Meg Olson, NETWORK Grassroots Mobilization Director, approximately 20 gathered for a Town Hall at Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago and a rally at Resurrection Plaza the following day. The sense of community and excitement was palpable as we came together to reflect on our shared history and to look forward to the future. I was thrilled to join the other sisters.
A Vision for the Future
What stood out to me most during the reunion was the presence of young people. I had the privilege of meeting Chris, a young adult at the town hall, who was eager to learn how he could get involved in the work of social justice. Similarly, Patrick, a community organizer I had met at the Resurrection Project rally, shared his passion for engaging local communities in the fight for justice, better housing, and better wages.
It was clear to me that the Nuns on the Bus movement continues to inspire and energize the next generation of advocates. These young voices are vital to the ongoing struggle for social change.
One evening, Simone Campbell, the visionary leader who started it all, joined us for a heartfelt gathering. Simone shared her experiences, listened to stories from those of us who had been part of the tours, and inspired us to keep pushing for a better future.
The re-imagined Nuns on the Bus & Friends is not just about carrying forward the legacy of women religious; it’s about building a broader coalition of friends who are committed to social justice.
This story was featured in:
Winter 2025: Celebrating 50 Years of Salt
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