USA
Donate to Amazonia
Justice and Peace
Dominicans Embracing the Heart of Laudato Si’ Lights a Spark
The Laudato Si’ Action Team from the Dominican Sisters and Associates of Racine, Wisconsin hosted an inspiring day for Dominicans and supporters. The Zoom presentation, called Dominicans Embracing the Heart of Laudato Si’, took place on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 with more than 140 people registered for the day.
The presenters included Dr. Lorna Gold, CEO of FaithInvest and President of the Laudato Si’ Movement Board of Directors, Elizabeth Garlow, Co-founder, Francesco Collaborative and Senior Fellow, New America and Catherine Devitt, Programme Manager of FaithInvest. In addition, the day included speakers and storytellers from the Dominican family who brought the gifts of Laudato Si’ alive, including Sharon Zayac, OP, Dominican Sisters of Springfield and Colette Kane, OP Dominican Sisters of Cabra and Program Director, An Tairsearch, Wicklow, Ireland. S. Marilin LLanes, OP, Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Lisa Kane, OP Dominican Sisters of Racine and Pat Siemen, OP, Dominican Sisters of Adrian and the Dominican Climate Solutions Fund.
“During our planning meetings, the teams from the Racine Dominicans and FaithInvest talked about the goals of the day. I asked them to set our hearts on fire, which they certainly did! It was such an inspirational day and we saw the spark of what is to come,” said Ann Pratt, Laudato Si’ Facilitator for the Racine Dominicans.
Attendees joined in from across the United States as well as from Ireland, Kenya, Buenos Aires, Italy, and Mexico. Spanish interpretation made it possible for many Sisters and supporters to join us and participate fully. The day gave attendees a better understanding of how faith-first investing can bring about a new economy that benefits people and planet as we work to restore right relationships. While many congregations are not sure where to start, the resources shared helped to give some direction, and the discussion very quickly led to the idea that collaboration amongst religious communities could make an even greater impact.
“We hope the seeds of collaboration were sewn that we may be able to make real change to the communities we serve,” said Maryann McMahon, President of the Dominican Sisters of Racine. “Together we have the chance to make real, generational change in our world.”
“Eleven Sisters from the province of Mexico participated at this workshop, reflecting a shared urgency in our hearts to respond as Family to the crisis of our Common Home. This, in of itself, is a case of the multiplication of the loaves. As a province, we put into the basket our two fishes in the spirit of subsidiarity. We sense beneath all, God’s ardent longing for us to claim our deepest Self for the good of our World,” said Helena Im Jeong, OP and Francisca Quintero Osorio, OP from the Dominicans Sisters of Mission San Jose, Chiapas, Mexico.
Does your congregation want to know more about faith-first investing? Or are you interested in being part of further conversations about collaboration to make lasting change in our communities? If you would like more information, please contact S. Ann Pratt, Laudato Si’ Facilitator for the Racine Dominicans, at dcjr@racinedominicans.org.
Meeting of the International Dominican Commission of Justice and Peace, Nairobi, Kenya
The meeting of the International Commission of the Dominican Order for Justice and Peace (IDJPC) was held in Nairobi Kenya from 2 to 5 October 2023. Present were the General Promoter, Br Aniedi Okure, and Sr Durstyne Farnan, representative at the United Nations of the Dominican Sisters Conference, together with the regional promoters of the brothers and delegates of the sisters, lay people and the Dominican Youth Movement IDYM from the five continents. For the North American Region, Br Brendan Curran and Sr Reg McKillip were present.
On 2nd Oct., after greetings from the Dominican Family in Kenya, work began with an introduction by the General Promoter, Aniedi Okure, who spoke on some of the challenges of justice and peace on the African continent.
In the afternoon the regional delegates presented reports from the individual regions based on the reports received: Africa, Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe and Latin America.
The morning of 3rd Oct. was devoted to a discussion on wars and conflicts in our time, and the delegates of the Dominican Family of Latin America presented material for the month of prayer for peace on the Amazon – December 2023.
In the afternoon there was a discussion on the major challenges of justice and peace in the different regions and the ways in which the Dominican Family can respond.
On 4th Oct. a session was devoted to identifying some of the Commission’s work and commitment goals for the coming year, followed by a report on the Mosaiko project for the promotion of human rights in Angola.
On 5th Oct., the Commission participated in a working session at the UN headquarters in Nairobi dealing with environmental issues.
After a visit to the parish of the Dominican friars of St. Catherine, there was an evaluation of the work and the closure of the meeting.
The annual meeting of the IDJPC was a moment of exchange and knowledge of the commitment of the Order in its various entities around the world and offered opportunities to learn about situations of injustice and suffering together with the many actions and projects underway by the Dominican Family to promote justice, peace and care for creation.
This year, the month of prayer for peace will be dedicated to Amazonia and will be an opportunity to promote moments of prayer, knowledge and solidarity with the Dominican Family in Amazonia, and also to accept Pope Francis’ call for an ecological conversion and a commitment to integral ecology.
Brendan Curran, OP
Reg McKillip, OP
Co-Promoters for North America
Coming Together: The Annual Conference of the North American Dominican Promoters for Justice and Peace
The North American Dominican Justice Promoters held “Coming Together” the Annual Conference on June13-16 in the Chicago area, gathering representatives of the Dominican Family.
First, Margaret Mayce, Coordinator, Dominican Sisters International, highlighted Dominican Sisters in Guatemala, Myanmar, Slovakia, Ukraine and Zimbabwe whose inspired witness in the midst of lands of conflict are like the women at the foot of the cross: “And the women stayed.”
Our dear brother Gerard Timoner, Master of the Order, continued the theme of global relationships by expanding on Margaret’s thoughts. He challenged the Dominican Family to be humble enough to receive and learn from those we serve in all of our ministries as we walk in the footsteps of many wisdom figures and prophetic voices of hope throughout the world.
Our International Justice Promoters at the United Nations also shared with us. We were fortunate enough to have Dusty Farnan, our UN Representative in New York, and Aniedi Okure, General Promoter, with us in person. They concentrated on the three things that affect all Dominicans throughout the world: Climate Change, Migration and War/Nonviolence. Their stories of the peoples’ struggles brought sobering thoughts to the group. They reminded us of our own rich history with the UN- that it was the writings and thoughts of Francisco de Vitoria that laid the foundation for the principles of the United Nations who is honored at the United Nations complex in both New York and Geneva.
In preparation for The Dominican Month of Peace 2023: AMAZONIA, we were treated to a presentation from Mons. David Martinez de Aguirre, Dominican Bishop of Puerto Maldonado, Peru. He gave us many facts about this vast area which encompasses nine countries, the largest river on the continent, numerous forms of animal and plant life and thousands of different indigenous peoples. The Amazonia zone is being destroyed by mining and deforestation. Dominican Sisters and Friars in the Amazon are working with the people there to help empower them to know their rights and assert them. When asked what he hoped the outcome of the Month of Peace focus would be on Amazonia, he smiled and said “I hope you will fall in love with the Amazon.” As preparation for our Month of peace, we encourage you to peruse/review/study the Final Amazon Synod Document from 2019.
We will be providing materials for our preparation as a Dominican Family to honor the 2023 Dominican Month for Peace in the next weeks.
We spent the rest of our time together evaluating our work and its impact on our communities, our Church and our world. We are hopeful that amidst these very trying times – the climate crisis, war, the rise of authoritarian regimes and increased migration – our Dominican family will work toward a justice that reflects truth and love.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Reintroduces the “Truth & Healing” Bill on May 18, 2023
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reintroduced legislation S.1723, a bill to establish
the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the
United States, along with 26 Senators as co-sponsors. The National Native American
Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) is beyond grateful for the support from
Senator Warren to reintroduce this bi-partisan bill for the 118th Congress.
S.1723 will create a federal Truth and Healing Commission that will conduct a full
Inquiry into the assimilative policies of the U.S. Indian boarding schools by:
- Examining the location of children: The Commission would locate and
document all children still buried at or near boarding school facilities, and
identify children who attended and went missing while attending boarding
schools. - Documenting ongoing impacts from boarding schools: The Commission
would compile evidence of the ongoing effects of intergenerational trauma in
American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. It would
also examine how assimilative policies attempted to destroy Native languages
and cultures, as well as the taking of Tribal lands and destroying the nucleus of
Indigenous ways of living. - Locating records from religious and government organizations: The
Commission would locate and analyze all records on Indian boarding schools.
Records of primary importance include those related to attendance, infirmary,
deaths, land, and other correspondences. The Commission would have the
power to issue subpoenas to produce all records. - Creating and disseminating a findings and recommendations report: The
Commission would be required to submit a final report to be shared with the
public and the U.S. government.
Las Casas and the NABS is asking for your advocacy and to reach out to your
Senator to request their support and passage of S.1723 to create a Truth and Healing
Commission on Indian boarding schools. To read more about the bill visit Native
News Online and The National Native American Boarding School Healing
Coalition (https://boardingschoolhealing.org) web sites.
