Singing a Dominican blessing for the Nuns on the Bus. Arlene Flaherty, OP (Blauvelt) is at right.

Nuns on the Bus II
Sisters hit the road for immigration reform

NETWORK’s Nuns on the Bus is travelling from Connecticut to California to promote common-sense immgration reform. Dominicans are supporting the effort both on and off the bus, every step of the way. The tour began May 28 in New Haven, Connecticut, and will end with a rally in San Francisco, California, on June 18.

Sister Arlene Flaherty, OP (Blauvelt) was among the seven sisters who participated in the first leg of the 6,000-mile journey. She writes about her experience in the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt blog.

From left: Dominican Sisters of Peace Associate Barbara Ryan and Sisters Anne Kilbride, OP; Maryann Lawlor, OP; Carole Hermann, OP; and Elizabeth Chickory, OP.

In Connecticut, the Dominican Sisters of Peace were among those participating in the pre-launch blessing at St. Rose’s Church in New Haven.

Photo by Alison Faubert

In New Jersey, Veronica Miller, OP (Hope) and Dorothy Hall, OP (Blauvelt) provided overnight hospitality for the travellers. The Dominican Sisters of Caldwell joined the crowd for the kick-off event May 29 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

The Atlanta stop included a “Friendraiser” at Good Shepherd Services of Atlanta in Chamblee. Photo by Aneesah McNamee, OP (Adrian)

The Nuns on the Bus arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, June 5, to the welcome of at least 100 people, including six Dominicans: Marie Sullivan, OP (Sinsinawa), Aneesah McNamee, OP (Adrian), Patty Caraher, OP (Sinsinawa), Liz Sully, OP (Sinsinawa) and Jeffery Ott, OP (Southern Province).

In Houston, Texas, June 7–8, the travellers enjoyed the hospitality of the Dominican Sisters of Houston.

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Bernadine Karge, OP, will be boarding the bus in San Diego, California, for the final leg of the trip, from June 13–18. Sister Bernadine has taught ESL classes in Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C., and witnessed the injustice of the U.S. system of immigrant detention. For the past 30 years, she has been practicing immigration law in Chicago as an immigration staff attorney with the Chicago Legal Clinic.