Peace & Justice Update / Action Items
Call to Action: Urge a "No" Vote
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled vote on H.R. 9495 – Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act – this week. Without our immediate, collective action, this legislation could pass and limit the work of our ministries and those organizations with whom we partner to serve the people of God.
According to supporters of H.R. 9495, this piece of legislation is simply meant to focus on non-profits that support terrorist activities. However, a growing number of organizations, including civil rights, religious, immigrant rights, human rights, racial justice, LGBTQIA+, environmental, and educational organizations, describe this bill as legislation that would grant the executive branch broad powers to swiftly revoke the tax-exempt status of a nonprofit by asserting that it is a “terrorist supporting organization.” The Treasury Department could make the designation without any real due process, ruining the reputation of the organization simply because of the accuser’s perception of the non-profit’s work.
It is critical that we take action immediately by contacting our Members of Congress and urging them to vote “no” on H.R. 9459. You can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and follow the prompts to speak with your Member of Congress.
Congregational News
Leadership Webcast Tomorrow
A reminder that the November Leadership webcast will be held tomorrow, Thursday, November 21 at 7 pm EST.
Please click here to view the webcast through YouTube.
Land Justice Futures - Reminders for November 23
The congregation’s day-long study of Land Justice Futures will be held on Saturday, November 23.
You can begin logging into Zoom as early as 8:15 am EST, giving you time to enter the call, test your setup, and work through any issues you may have. At 9 am EST, we will offer music and video to help you center yourself for the information and discussion to come.
The presentation will begin at 9:30 am EST. This is a two-way zoom conversation, so please be sure to mute yourself until the periods of the program where you are invited to participate.
There will be a 15-minute break around 10:45 am EST, a 75-minute lunch break at 12:15 pm EST, and a second 15-minute break around 3:15 pm EST.
The program will end at 4:00 EST.
Please click here to join the webcast. The program will be available on ZOOM only.
To Register:
We ask that Sisters and associates who are attending the Land Justice Webinar on November 23 limit themselves to no more than two people per each computer screen. To help us manage the technical end of this call, we ask that you register if you will be attending by clicking here.
Materials to Prepare:
If you have not had the opportunity to review all of the materials to prepare for the webinar, they are listed below.
- To view the introductory video, Land Justice Futures, click here.
- To view the second video, An Historic Reckoning: Movement Leaders Respond to the Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, click here.
- To view the accompanying discussion guide, Confronting the Doctrine of Discovery, click here.
And, to view the final video for the webinars, Dominican Sisters of Peace - Heartland Farm — Intermill Land History Consulting, click here.- On the lower right side of the screen, click on “Contextualization Conversation.”
- Ignore the message that shows up at the top of the screen that says, “Open with,” and simply click on the start button in the middle of the screen.
This video is specifically geared to our Congregation, and to the land at Heartland Farm in Pawnee Rock, Kansas.
After viewing, you can also click on this link, DSOP Heartland European Treatment Report, to find a more extensive written report.
Zoom Updates
Finally, many of you have taken the time to update your Zoom application in preparation for this program, and we so appreciate your efforts.
But of course, as Zoom is updated, the methods to do some things have changed.
For a pictorial guide that shows how to raise your hand in Zoom, please click here. For a pictorial guide that shows shows how to mute and unmute in Zoom, please click here.
Associates Lead the Way
On Sunday, November 17, seven current associates and five others who are interested in becoming associates, met at the St. Catharine Motherhouse to walk, learn and reflect.
They traveled the Dominican Path, which was updated for the Bicentennial, and heard about the history of the Dominican Sisters and Associates. The formal journey to becoming an associate will also occur during a Discernment Retreat at the St. Catharine Motherhouse on January 12, 2025.
The day ended with refreshments and good conversation. Please go here to see some pictures. Those who have an interest in becoming an Associate can find more information here.
A Timely Reminder
News, prayer requests, and other items that Sisters, Associates or staff would like to have included in the OPPeace News should be emailed to this address: Sister.Peace@oppeace.org
Death of an Associate
Prayer is requested for Associate Fr. Ron Kurzawa, OPA, who passed away on his birthday, Sunday, November 17. He was a dear friend of the Oxford Michigan Dominican Sisters of Peace. His obituary can be found here.
Visitation is on Sunday, November 24 from 3-7 pm with a Scripture Service at 7 pm at Wasik Funeral Home, 11470 E Thirteen Mile Road [west of Hoover] Warren, MI. Fr. Kurzawa will lie in state beginning at 10 am on Monday, November 25, until the time of the funeral Mass at 11 am at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, 21201 E Thirteen Mile Road [between Little Mack and Harper] St. Clair Shores, MI.
Prayer Requests
- Sr. Renee Dreiling (Great Bend, KS, renee.dreiling@oppeace.org) requests prayer for 18-year-old Alex Nunez who suffered numerous serious injuries in a car crash.
- Sr. Joan Scanlon (South Bend, IN, joan.scanlon@oppeace.org) requests prayer for the repose of the soul of Dr. Patricia Campion who died November 10. Pat was a dear friend and colleague and ministered to many religious in the Chicago area for many years.
- Associate Yahaira Rose (Westerville, OH, yahaira.rose@oppeace.org) requests prayer for a quick recovery for 14-year-old Arianna Puma who is in Children's Hospital.
- Sr. Joanne Caniglia (Kent, OH, joanne.caniglia@oppeace.org) requests prayer for her sister, Mary Jo Braden who is scheduled to undergo extensive bloodwork and testing.
- Staff member Kate McAndrews (Columbus, OH, kathleen.mcandrews@oppeace.org) requests prayer for her four cousins who are grieving the loss of both of their parents. The father passed away this past weekend and their mother died in July. The prayer request is also for the repose of the soul of the father who just died.