Bringing AI to Mission: LASI Sisters Engage in Digital Formation for Ministry
Throughout the last month, over 45 sisters of all ages and from across the United States actively participated in two online seminars in which they were taught about AI and its use in consecrated life. These sisters are part of the Latin American Sister Initiative (LASI) of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. The presentation was made possible by the head of the program, Robertolino Vargas Guerrero, who contacted Brother Javier Balán Cobá
Brother Balán currently serves as a Digital Projects Coordinator and Governance Manager for the Google Workspace for Education platform at La Salle Laguna University in México where he also implements innovative strategies for using artificial intelligence to benefit the educational community.
His commitment to digital education has also led him to serve as a mentor for Google Educator Groups in Latin America, where he shares his knowledge and experience with various educational communities in the region.
The LASI program is designed to help sisters acquire new knowledge and tools that enable them to fulfill their consecrated missions. Given that AI is a relevant tool in today’s society, the program recognized the importance of equipping its sisters with a foundational understanding of its possibilities and limitations. Brother Balán led both seminars, offering participants a practical and accessible introduction to artificial intelligence and its tools, while also guiding them in exploring how these can be applied responsibly within the context of religious and educational ministry. The positive response from the sisters underscored the value of this formation, with many expressing interest in continuing to learn and in finding concrete ways to integrate these tools into their daily ministries
