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January 27, 2026, Adrian, Michigan – The late Sister Jamie Phelps, OP, longtime theologian, advocate for racial and social equality, and supporter of Black Catholic education, was awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation during the 38th annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Lenawee County, Michigan. 

The January 19, 2026, luncheon at the Tobias Center of Adrian College centered on a . theme from a quote by Dr. King: “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”

The Certificate of Appreciation honors Sister Jamie for “leading and performing her faith while being a blessing to others. We have been blessed by her presence while she lived and served in our community, making the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a reality for those around her.” The certificate, signed by Andre’a Benard, president of the celebration planning committee, also acclaimed Sister Jamie as “one of our giants.”

“We Adrian Dominican Sisters have been deeply blessed by Sister Jamie’s joyful, challenging, and transformative presence among us, calling us always to fully live Gospel imperatives in our Dominican sisterhood,” said Sister Elise D. García, OP, Prioress of the Congregation, in accepting the certificate. “She was a Dominican preacher through and through who played an indelible national leadership role in raising up Black Catholic Studies as an essential field of study for all Catholics. Her love and passion for the common good of all God’s people are an enduring legacy – calling us all to keep carrying on.”

Sister Jamie was born on October 24, 1941, in Mobile, Alabama, and, after her family moved to Chicago, was educated by the Adrian Dominican Sisters in elementary school. “When Jamie professed her first vows as a member of our Congregation, she became the first Black Sister in our Congregation,” Sister Elise said. “We all know too well what our nation was like in the 1960s and the painful struggle for justice and equality that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led – and that he and so many Black folk gave their lives to attain. Sister Jamie gave her life to that struggle in our nation, religious life, and the U.S. Catholic Church, where she also found prejudice.”

Sister Jamie died on November 22, 2025. More about her life and legacy can be found in the news section of the Adrian Dominican Sisters website.

The Martin Luther King Jr. celebration also included a welcome by Dr. Cheri Betz, President of Siena Heights University; expressions by Angela Sword Heath, Mayor of Adrian; keynote address by Dr. Leland Harper, Associate Professor of Race, Justice, and Equity Studies at Siena Heights University; and presentation of several awards:

•    Rolen Maclin of Adrian College, Student Award,
•    Kimberly Delgado of Siena Heights University, Student Award,
•    Lila Mouton-Howard of Jackson College, Student Award,
•    Delma Bosquez-Munos, Community Service Award, and 
•    Rev. Dr. Robert H. Berard, Lifetime Achievement Award.
 

Caption for above feature photo: Sister Elise D. García, OP, Prioress of the Adrian Dominican Congregation, accepts the Certificate of Appreciation Award on behalf of the late Sister Jamie Phelps, OP, during the Lenawee County, Michigan, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Community Celebration on January 19, 2026.

January 20, 2026, Adrian, Michigan – While it has not been easy in recent years for immigrants in the United States to obtain legal status or U.S. citizenship, immigrants in the United States today face greater difficulties in this area, said immigration attorney Sister Attracta Kelly, OP, during a recent public forum at Weber Retreat and Conference Center.

Sister Attracta spoke from her experience as the founding director of the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Office of Immigration Assistance. Now retired but still working in the office, she is the Director Emerita. 

Sister Attracta discussed the additional challenges that many face today under the current administration, including the elimination of a humanitarian program for people fleeing from nations such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Haiti; the practice by ICE agents of arresting people in previously protected areas, such as churches, schools, and shelters; and the Supreme Court ruling that people – including U.S. citizens – can be detained simply for the color of their skin, their accents, or where they work.

Read the entire article, which includes a link to a recording of the program, written by Erik Gable and published in the January issue of The Lenawee Voice.