What's Happening

May 16, 2022, Adrian, Michigan – Women religious (Catholic Sisters) have tended to be at the forefront of recognizing and appreciating differences among people in the world: they have striven to become anti-racist, to welcome the immigrant and the exiled, and to care for all creatures who share our common home, Earth.

Sister Laurie Brink, OP, PhD

Sister Laurie Brink, OP, a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, takes Sisters to the next level in her presentation, The Differences Among Us: Seeking Unity in Diversity, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at Weber Retreat and Conference Center. She reflects on the need for women religious to recognize and respect the generational, ecclesial, racial, and cultural differences among members of their own congregations.

Sister Laurie, a Professor of New Testament Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, is the author of several books and an Associate Editor of The Bible Today. 

The Differences Among Us is offered both in-person at Weber Retreat and Conference Center and via live stream. In-person guests will be screened for COVID-19 and required to wear masks. There is no cost, but donations are appreciated. Registration is required and is available at www.webercenter.org; click on “programs.” Registrations may also be made by calling 517-266-4000 or emailing webercenter@adriandominicans.org. 

Weber Center is located on the campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Motherhouse, Adrian, 1257 E. Siena Heights Drive, Adrian. For information, call the Weber Center at 517-266-4000.
 

May 4, 2022, Washington, D.C. – Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) met May 3, 2022, with five Ukrainian bishops in the United States to discuss the role of CCUSA in the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees. 

“The focus of the meeting was to plan for the arrival of Ukrainian refugees,” Sister Donna said. “Catholic Charities USA pledged to do everything possible to assist the bishops as they receive their people. This will include financial support, housing support, jobs training, trauma counseling, and whatever else is needed.”

Sister Donna said the meeting began with a prayer as the bishops chanted an Easter hymn in their language in several parts. “It was a heart-wrenching meeting as we heard stories of the suffering of their people from men who have family still in Ukraine,” she said.

More information on this resettlement effort will be posted as the planning and implementation proceed. 

In addition to immigration advocacy and refugee services, CCUSA works through its member agencies throughout the United States in areas such as affordable housing, food and nutrition, integrated health, social enterprise initiatives, advocacy and social policy initiatives, and disaster relief. Donations to Catholic Charities for resettlement of Ukrainian refugees or other programs can be made online or mailed to Catholic Charities USA, 2050 Ballenger Ave., Alexandria, VA 22314.

Featured photo: Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, and colleagues from Catholic Charities USA meet with five Ukrainian bishops in the United States to plan the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees.