What's Happening

December 5, 2019, Adrian, Michigan – The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ recently proposed increases in fees for services to immigrants and asylum seekers could cause undue hardship for low- or middle-income immigrants and those seeking asylum. That is the point made by Sister Attracta Kelly, OP, JD, an immigration attorney and Director of the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Office of Immigration Services. In an op-ed article in The (Adrian) Daily Telegram, Sister Attracta argues that if the proposed fee increases are adopted, “this will be the first time in U.S. history that those seeking freedom from unsafe countries will have to pay for asylum here.” She also argues against the proposed increase in fees for Dreamers, young adults who came to the United States as children with their undocumented parents and who have known only the United States as their home. Finally, she argues against the proposal to use the money raised by the fees to increase enforcement against immigrants. Read Sister Attracta’s entire article, “Proposed Fee Hikes Present Undue Hardship to Immigrants.”

November 26, 2019, Detroit – An article in the latest issue of Wayne State, the alumni magazine of Wayne State University, details a study on 40 Adrian Dominican Sisters ages 65 to 90. The Sisters Integrating Exercise and Neuro Activity (SIENA) study, first conducted in 2018, demonstrates the connection between physical and spiritual health – and the role that prayer and meditation plays, along with physical activity, in keeping seniors healthy. The study was conducted by Adrian Dominican Sister Mariane Fahlman, OP, PhD, a Professor of Kinesiology, Health, and Sports Studies at Wayne State University, and her colleague, Assistant Professor Jeanne Barcelona of Wayne State’s College of Education. Read the article on the results of the study, which demonstrated the connection of prayer and physical well-being.