Sisters who attended the information meeting on New Orleans were (clockwise from bottom left) Therese Groulx, Cyrilla Zarek, Renee Richie, Sharon Beckmann, Mary Soher, Durstyne Farnan, and Dot Trosclair, Prioress of the Eucharistic Missionaries of St. Dominic.

ADRIAN, MI October 16, 2006-- It’s been a little over a year since Hurricane Katrina and the breaching of the levees caused massive flooding and destruction in New Orleans, leaving a city and its people in ruins. The stories of the victims, survivors and lost loved ones no longer make front-page news, but to those left behind who are picking up the pieces, the wounds from that catastrophic event remain as fresh as ever.

During a recent meeting of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Prioress Donna Markham, OP, moderated a panel discussion in which four leaders from congregations in New Orleans gave heartfelt reflections on their experiences following Katrina. Mindful of their call to care for wounded brothers and sisters just as Jesus would, Sister Donna and the Leadership Council discussed how they could offer aid to Dominican congregations in the area. After contacting Dot Trosclair, OP (Eucharistic Missionaries), Angeline Magro, OP (St. Mary’s), and Marty Gleeson, OP (St. Martin de Porres Province), the Leadership Council issued a special “Call to Mission” in which sisters were asked to consider volunteering in New Orleans for a three-month period.

In response to the Call to Mission, more than 35 interested sisters attended a meeting October 1 at the Motherhouse. Another six sisters who were unable to attend the meeting expressed their interest via e-mail. Sister Dot from the Eucharistic Missionaries was in attendance to share firsthand the needs they are experiencing. Because the people of New Orleans are still struggling to rebuild their lives, the primary needs are for sisters to be a comforting presence to the people in the neighborhoods and parishes and to assist them in their grief and healing processes. Sisters were asked to think about the skills they could bring to the people of New Orleans, whether it’s as a teacher, social worker or clinical pastoral educator, or other needed skills.

Thus far, 15 sisters have made the commitment to go to New Orleans and several have begun making preparations to arrive there in the next few weeks. They will work alongside Dominican brothers and sisters and live in community with them. Groups of Adrian Dominicans will continue to arrive in New Orleans through next spring.