Associate Blog
Associate Pat Schnee says it's ok to ask God for even the most trivial things ...but God's real gift is unending love. Click to read her blog.
Peace & Justice Update
The Importance of Multi-Issue Voting
NETWORK will host Fr. Bryan Massingale, and Robert P. Jones for “White Supremacy and American Christianity: We Choose Freedom.” The discussion will focus on freedom, democracy, participation, and the importance of multi-issue voting. This virtual event will take place Wednesday, September 11 at 7:00 PM Eastern/4:00 PM Pacific. Please register here to watch live or receive the recording.
Upcoming Zoom to Remember
Justice and Peace Promoters of North America are planning a series of Zoom discussions on current topics viewed through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.
Mark the date for the first Zoom presentation: Saturday, Sept 7th at 1PM Eastern and note this zoom link: https://providence.zoom.us/j/97165488819
You can learn about the guest, a Catholic native of Gaza whose work was recently covered in the media by clicking here: Khalil Sayegh.
Conservation Education Videos
The Dominican Sisters of Peace are involved with the Land Justice Futures (LJF), formerly known as the Nuns & Nones Land Justice Project. In preparation for our daylong Zoom Formation and Information session with the LJF team scheduled for Saturday, November 23, 2024, we have been asked to view three videos, each approximately 1 hour. A link for related printed material will accompany the link for each video. We encourage you to consider viewing these videos, and discussing the content and materials with others, if possible. The link for the first video is: Introduction to Land Justice.
Justice Promoter Gemma Doll in Mexico
Sr. Gemma has begun a month-long program at the Kino Border Institute (KBI) in Nogales, Mexico. The program is designed to raise awareness and concern for the plight of migrants and to highlight the Gospel call to treat every human person with dignity. Dignity for each human being is the core motivation of KBI. The Center gives a 10-day refuge to migrants from Central America, parts of Mexico, and a few from Asia and Africa. But the Center also extends to the civic community with needed food, clothing, and legal assistance Volunteers make desert outreach trips to provide water and food to those walking.
A Mexican community, the Missionaries of the Eucharist, lay staff, and long-term volunteers are the consistent staff. Many volunteers from both sides of the Border fill in to provide daily services. The number of those served varies from day to day. While eating breakfast/lunch on our first day, eight new arrivals sat at the next table. My eyes kept searching their faces, their body language. I saw the bronze skin of sun exposure, tired eyes, and sagging shoulders, quiet children unsure that they were safe. There was even a blind woman on the arm of a young adult daughter.
We do not ask their stories. We offer food and kindness, a place to rest, and whatever legal and social assistance is required. Children who had been there a couple of days were running and playing noisy games. The resilient joy of the young gives hope to us all.
At the close of the day, we visited the wall. The wall stretched as far as one could see from east to west - up and down the hills. I was surprised to see the artwork, which was both inspiring and grim. At one point a young family was visiting with an older woman on the US side. It all leaves me with wonder at the tragic stories of separating families and displacing mothers and children due to an unjust immigration policy and uncontrolled violence and poverty.
May God have mercy on us all!
Congregational News
Mass of Perpetual Profession for Sr. Ellen Coates
The Perpetual Profession Mass for Sr. Ellen Coates will be held Sunday, November 10, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. EST in the Columbus, OH, Motherhouse Chapel. Please see the attached invitation for further details and RSVP information.
From Our Founded Ministries
Ministry on the Move
The Siena Learning Center in New Britain, CT, has moved to a beautiful new location with some important history. The building formerly served as a post office and has an elegant exterior and newly renovated interior. The new space is just minutes from the old location and is on several bus routes for the convenience of learners and tutors. Tutors and learners gathered together last week to enjoy fellowship before classes begin on September 9, and Director of Founded Ministries Mark Butler, OPA, also paid a visit. Click here for photos of the move, the new space, and the open house.
Prayer Requests
- Sr. Theresa Fox (St. Catharine, KY, theresa.fox@oppeace.org) is grateful for all the prayer that has been offered for her brothers. Jim is home and hopefully will get his strength back. Her brother Bob is not doing well. He has been in rehab for some time and doesn't have much strength. It sounds like they will make some decisions about the next steps on Thursday.
- Sr. Renee Dreiling (Great Bend, KS, renee.dreiling@heartlandspirituality.org) requests prayer for James K who had surgery for prostate cancer. Microscopic cancer cells were unexpectedly found in his bladder. James and his wife are generous supporters of Heartland Center.
- Associate Geneva Brungardt (Storm Lake, IA, genevabrungardt123@gmail.com) requests prayers for her sister Mary Ann's husband, Larry Peterson, who has been hospitalized with pneumonia and a blood clot in his lung.
Updates and Notes of Gratitude
- Sister Yvonne Clark (Great Bend, KS, saynun2fun@gmail.com) thanks you for your prayers for her cousin Naomi Gloyd, her daughters, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and her extended family. Naomi passed into the arms of Jesus on Friday, August 30th.