November 16, 2012

UN Briefing Human trafficking: ‘We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers’

Trafficking happens right here in the United States. As President Obama articulated in his address to the Clinton Global Initiative, “It’s the migrant worker unable to pay off the debt to his trafficker. The man, lured here with the promise of a job, his documents then taken, and forced to work endless hours in the kitchen. The teenage girl, beaten, forced to walk the streets. This should not be happening…” How can we as individual citizens play a part in the prevention of human trafficking?

November 16, 2012

Dominican Sisters of San Rafael Congregation welcomes new candidate

attienza_at_mike On Nov. 3, the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael welcomed their newest candidate, Christina Atienza. As a candidate (also known as a “postulant”) Christina will live with the sisters in their house of formation, Jane D’Aza Convent, and participate in the daily life of community. She will learn about Dominican life and spirituality, and take Scripture and theology classes at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, participate in some ministry, and visit sisters in their local living communities. Read more

November 16, 2012

Dominicans Promote Racial Justice in the 21st Century Webcast

From left: Sister Tanya Williams, OP; Sister Joan Duerst, OP; Leroy Jordan, Sister Marcelline Koch, OP; and Barbara Johnson.

By Sister Marcelline Koch, OP

Members of the Sinsinawa and Springfield Anti-Racism Teams presented a webcast focusing on systemic racism. Sister Mary Ellen Gevelinger, OP, Sinsinawa prioress, welcomed those present in Sinsinawa as well as those joining via the Internet, noting that we cannot pretend that racism has gone away—that it is systemic within our institutions. She also echoed a challenge that this is the moment for Dominicans today to summon the transforming grace of our charism and to continue to preach for justice.

In introducing the presenters, Sister Tanya Williams, OP, recalled the two challenging questions of Antonio Montesinos: By what right do we still discriminate and disenfranchise persons and groups in our world? Are they not human?

The presenters included Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Joan Duerst, Sinsinawa Associate Barbara Johnson, Springfield Dominican Sister Marcelline Koch, and Springfield Associate Leroy Jordan. They engaged the audience in examining racism today, coming to a common definition, and understanding racism as a systemic issue. The evening concluded with a call to continue the conversation. The Resource Listing shares ideas that you can use.

You can also view it by visiting www.sinsinawa.org/live. (Click on the “On Demand” tab in upper right column, then click on the “WATCH” text next to the title “Dominicans Promote Racial Justice in the 21st Century.”) As of Nov. 16, the presentation has been viewed 130 times by individuals and groups around the globe.

View archived presentation

Download Resource Listing (PDF)

November 16, 2012

Hurricane Sandy – Storm impacts Dominican sisters, ministries on East Coast

St. Ignatius Church, Long Beach, Long Island, New York. Sister Diane Morgan, OP (Amityville), a Long Island native, is pastoral associate at the parish, which serves 2,000 families. They are continuing to have Mass on the weekends, with no heat and limited lighting.

The sisters of Dominican congregations in New York and New Jersey—Amityville, Blauvelt, Caldwell, Hope and Sparkill—ask your prayers for the people of their area who are suffering the great devastation from Hurricane Sandy as well as the snowstorm that followed.

Sisters from each congregation have been rendered homeless. In some cases, it is a matter of electricity; in others, water damage. Sisters from Hope on the Jersey shore won’t be back into Asbury Towers until December (Read story on Dominican Sisters of Hope web site). Amityville Dominicans from Long Beach, Long Island, New York, cannot return to the convent, which suffered structural and water damage. Sisters from Coney Island lost much of their belongings, and the condition of the building is questionable. Retreat houses staffed by Dominicans and others were hard hit on the Jersey coast.

From the Dominican Sisters of the Roman Congregation who serve on Staten Island: Houses have disappeared, lives have been lost (some are not mentioned because they were illegal immigrants and they cannot identify them), some people still do not have power and refuse to leave because they hold on to their possessions. Many people (looters) take advantage of the situation. However, there are lots of good people helping those in need, and it is beautiful to see. Other Dominican Sisters in the area: Adrian, Peace, Roman, Hawthorne, Maryknoll, and Sinsinawa.

The plight of our people on the Jersey Coast, Staten Island and Brooklyn, Queens and the Nassau coastline is overwhelming. Two weeks now without power, many have lost whole houses, cars and possessions. The cold and snow seemed to be too much to bear, but with others coming to their aid, hope was sustained. Some of the biggest concerns are housing, keeping families together as holidays approach, getting children to school, and the coming of winter.

We ask your prayers, and as immediate needs are met and long-range plans get underway, we will seek your help in other ways.

Margaret Briody, OP (Amityville)
Dominican Sisters in Committed Collaboration (OPSCC)

“Bit by bit, people are getting power, but it doesn’t mean they have heat… Stuff from people’s homes is all out on the curbs because of mold.”

—Sister Diane Morgan, OP, pastoral associate at St. Ignatius Church in Long Beach, Long Island, New York

Links

Hurricane Sandy Video: Rockaways Residents Tell Their Stories After The Storm
Huffington Post
Nov. 16, 2012

As Sandy recovery continues, parishes help meet theirs, others’ needs
Catholic News Service
Nov. 15, 2012

After the Storm, Church Offers Support, Solace to Parishioners
Catholic New York
Nov. 15, 2012

People lost ‘stuff’ in storm but still have each other, priest says
National Catholic Reporter
Nov. 6, 2012

November 16, 2012

Photo of the Week

peace_hs_preachers

Dominican Sisters of Peace
Hurricane Isaac brings high school students together

Student preachers from two Dominican Sisters of Peace high schools recently came together in New Orleans. Students and retreat team leaders from the Academy of St. Agnes, Memphis travelled to New Orleans to help the victims of Hurricane Isaac, which hit the Gulf Coast in late August. After a long day of giving out food and cleaning out areas filled with debris, they enjoyed supper and conversation with the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Two of these sisters, Sister Pat Harvat and Sister Mary Jones, minister with the Dominican Sisters of Peace at St. Mary’s Dominican High School. Before heading back to Memphis, the students visited St. Mary’s and enjoyed breakfast with the student preachers, who then led a guided tour of the campus.