Submitted by Sister Ceil Lavan, O.P. (Blauvelt)

“The Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, NY are committed to working against the dangers of Global Climate Change by working for systemic change and legislation that will protect the environment and all life on Planet Earth. We have publicly made this commitment in collaboration with the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, Caldwell, Hope and Sparkill. Transitioning from fossil fuels (coal, gas and oil) to sustainable energy (sun, wind and water) is part of that work. We support actions attempting to stop the construction of new fracked gas and oil pipelines like the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) and the AIM Pipeline, which will pass dangerously close to the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant on its way under the Hudson River.”

The North American Dominican Call to Justice challenges Dominicans to stand in solidarity with our Native Sisters and Brothers.
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Submitted by Sister Peggy Ryan, O.P. (Sinsinawa)

This week, upon returning to my ministry at the Food Pantry, the dedicated volunteers with whom I work, were what one might call skeptical of our journey to Standing Rock to accompany the native people in their search for justice. “Why did you go?” they wanted to know. “Sister,” they said to me, “we need you here.”  “How can you possibly change anything?”
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Submitted by Sister Kathy Long, O.P.

Going to North Dakota was a 15 hour journey by car from Waukegan. Peggy Ryan and I drove to Madison where we met Julie Schwab and three Dominicans from Adrian, Kathy Nolan, Marilyn Winter and Maureen Barzantni. Later in Bismarck we met with Evie Storto and Ceil Lavan, Dominican of Blauvelt. And the journey continues. For 9:00 p.m. evening prayer we began with ‘for our family at Standing Rock ‘ (prepared by Pace e Bene), “we pray for Our Sister Water who is our life. We pray for healing and safety of the Water Protectors . . .” In getting to know one another we shared why we answered the call to be there.
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Submitted by Sister Julie Schwab, O.P. 

I find it difficult to put our experience at Standing Rock into words. However, I will begin here and my traveling companions can add their reflections.

I cannot begin to describe the sickening feeling that passed through me when we stood on the road and witnessed massive machines gouging into Earth’s fertile surface leaving a 150ft-wide wound that snaked over Her graceful contours for as far as the eye could see in either direction (1,172 miles long).
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