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March 3, 2023, Adrian, Michigan – The elected leaders of five congregations of Catholic Sisters in Michigan wrote the following letter of support to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and State Representative Samantha Steckloff in response to a recent antisemitic threat to the two political leaders. 
 

Dear Attorney General Nessel and Representative Steckloff,

We are alarmed and deeply concerned by public reports that antisemitism is on the rise in the State of Michigan and that you both were personally subjected to an antisemitic threat by a heavily armed Michigander. No elected leader in a democracy should ever face the threat of armed assault as you and Governor Gretchen Whitmer have encountered. The harmful repercussions of such violence are even more impactful when the threats are grounded in hatred of a leader’s religion, race, gender, ethnicity or sexuality.

As Catholic Sisters steeped in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and as elected leaders of congregations of women religious who have served people of all faith traditions in Michigan for nearly two centuries, we write to express our support and prayers for you and your families – and for all our Jewish sisters and brothers facing such hate-filled violence. We thank you, Attorney General Nessel, for fully engaging our State’s Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism Unit in threats of violence against elected officials and call on federal authorities to take vigorous action against such hate crimes. 

We pray that all Michiganders will join us in decrying antisemitism and in upholding the fundamental values of civil discourse in our democracy, respect for each other’s faith traditions, and love of neighbor.    

Sincerely yours,

Adrian Dominican Sisters (Adrian, Mich.) – Leadership Council: Elise D. García, OP, Janice Brown, OP, Bibiana Colasito, OP, Lorraine Réaume, OP, Corinne Sanders, OP, 
Peggy Coyne, OP, Judy Friedel, OP, Mary Jane Lubinski, OP, Mary Priniski, OP, Mary Soher, OP, Sharon Spanbauer, OP 

Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters (Grand Rapids, Mich.) – Leadership Team: Sandra Delgado, OP, Joan Williams, OP, Maureen Geary, OP, Megan McElroy, OP

Marist Sisters (Roseville, Mich.) – Leader: Linda Sevcik, SM

Servants of Jesus (Detroit, Mich.) – Congregational Leader: Paula Cooney, IHM

Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Monroe, Mich.) – Leadership Team: Margaret Chapman, IHM, Marianne Gaynor, IHM, Jane Herb, IHM, Patricia McCluskey, IHM, Ellen Rinke, IHM

 

January 30, 2023, Silver Spring, Maryland – Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). She will be presented the award on August 11, 2023, during the closing banquet of LCWR’s Assembly in Dallas. Her selection was approved unanimously by the LCWR board.

Recipients are chosen based on their “commitment and collaboration in the ministry of leadership; faithfulness to gospel values and mission; creative and innovative leadership in one or more areas; and significant contribution on the national and/or international level, particularly to women religious congregations in the United States.” 

“I’m deeply honored,” Sister Donna said in response to the news.

In a letter announcing Sister Donna’s selection, Sister Carol Zinn, SSJ, Executive Director of LCWR, wrote: “Having served as a clinical psychologist, educator, and executive leader, Donna has been recognized internationally for how she models collaboration, creativity, and innovation in leadership areas that include healthcare, social service, and religious life. LCWR looks forward to learning more about Donna’s approach to effective leadership when it honors her.”

Sister Elise D. García, OP, Prioress of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, said, “Donna’s outstanding gift of leadership could not be more aptly recognized. It will be a joy and an honor for all of us on the [Adrian Dominican] Leadership Council to represent our community at the LCWR Assembly this August when the Conference’s highest award will be bestowed on our outstanding Dominican Sister.”

Since June 2015, Sister Donna has served as President and CEO of CCUSA – a network of Catholic agencies throughout the United States that serve people in need in such areas as hunger, affordable housing, immigration and refugee services, integrated health, advocacy and social policy initiatives, and domestic disaster relief. Before being named President, she served on the CCUSA Board of Directors for eight years, including two years as Board Chairperson. She will retire this summer.

A graduate of Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette, Illinois – founded and sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters – Sister Donna served the Congregation on the General Council from 1986 to 1992 and as Prioress from 2004 to 2010. Her accomplishments as Prioress included establishing seven new mission initiatives in the United States, Canada, and Africa and inviting young Dominican Sisters from Iraq to the United States, sponsoring them for education. In addition, she served as President of LCWR from 1990 to 1993.

A licensed clinical psychologist, Sister Donna was a psychologist and Director of Dominican Consultation Center in Detroit, 1980-1986; clinical psychologist at Romero House in Toronto, Ontario, Canada 1992-1993; President of Southdown Institute, Aurora, Ontario, a residential treatment program for priests and religious, 1993-2003. She was served as President of the Behavioral Health Institute at Mercy Health System.

The LCWR is an association of the elected leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States.