What's Happening

June 2, 2020, Adrian, Michigan – Sister Elise García, OP, in an article for The National Catholic Reporter, proposes that people of Earth undergo a “profound transformation” as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic rather than returning to normal. A General Councilor for the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Sister Elise notes the inequalities that left the African-American population disproportionately susceptible to the virus and the ecological degradation that endangers our planet. The human species is called to a profound transformation,” a spiritual call to awaken to the sacredness, interdependence, and interconnectedness of all life.” Read Sister Elise’s article on our call to transformation.

May 20, 2020, Adrian, Michigan – A talk by Adrian Dominican Congregation Prioress Patricia Siemen, OP, in June 2019 is included in a special edition of The Journal of Moral Theology. Sister Patricia offered the concluding keynote address during the inaugural meeting of “Laudato Si’ and the U.S. Catholic Church: A Conference Series on Our Common Home,” held at Creighton University. The special edition marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the fifth anniversary of Laudato Si’", an encyclical by Pope Francis focusing on the importance of caring for Earth.

In her article, “In Honor of Laudato Si’: Stories of Ecological Conversion in Action,” Sister Patricia writes of the need to change the story of our relationship with creation from one of dominance to companionship and notes her own conversion as a human rights advocate to one who advocates for the inherent rights of all of creation. She goes on to write about some of the environmentally sustainable works of the Adrian Dominican Congregation: from its permaculture site to its focus on the use of green energy to power the Motherhouse Campus in Adrian.

To change the pages in Sister Patricia’s article, hover your mouse over the bottom of the page and click on the down arrow to bring you to the next page.

Feature photo: Sister Patricia Siemen, OP, enjoys the view of Ecuador during the January 2014 Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature meeting.