What's Happening

September 5, 2017, Adrian, Michigan – The General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters issued the following response to President Donald Trump’s end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA granted a path to citizenship for young adults who, as children, immigrated to the United States with their parents, but without legal documentation. 

The Adrian Dominican Sisters decry the Trump Administration’s harsh action to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has protected more than 800,000 young people from being deported from the only country they know as home. 

Our Sisters have worked side-by-side with young “Dreamers” under the DACA program to help them remain in school, seek employment, and come out of the shadows as vibrant contributing members of our communities. We grieve for the pain and hardship this will cause them and their families. This ill-considered and disgraceful action runs counter to our national and economic interests as well as to basic American values of decency in how we treat others, especially the young. 

As women of faith who have long called for immigration reform, we urge Congress to take immediate action to protect these young people – Americans in every sense of the word – by enacting the bipartisan Dream Act of 2017.

By Mary Jones, OP
Director of Mission Education and Heritage Development,
Siena Heights University

September 5, 2017, Adrian, Michigan – Saturday, August 26, 2017, was a special day of Welcome Week for the freshman students at Siena Heights University. It was their day to experience the Motherhouse of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, sponsors of the university.

Sister Mary Jones, OP, Director of Mission Education and Heritage Development at Siena Heights University, welcomed the students in St. Dominic Chapel and shared with them a brief history of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. The 300-plus students were then separated into groups of about 50 to visit six locations in the Motherhouse and to listen to Sisters share their knowledge. The six stations were:

• St. Dominic Chapel, the University’s chapel, with its history presented by Sister Jeanne Lefebvre, OP.
  
  
• The Adrian Room, transformed into a gallery of art work by the Sisters. Sisters Joan Mehney, OP, Mary Keefe, OP, and Mary Ellen Plummer, OP welcomed the students.
  
  
• The labyrinth, an ancient form of prayer built behind Weber Retreat and Conference Center. The students were welcomed by Sister Marilyn Winter, OP, and Erin Zerbe, Associate Professor of Art at Siena Heights University and a Torchbearer, trained to share the spirituality of the Dominicans with the university community.
  
  
• Permaculture, land set aside by the Motherhouse to follow nature’s way of farming. Presenters were Sisters Corinne Sanders, OP, and Rosemary Abramovich, OP.
  
  
• Holy Rosary Chapel, the original chapel of the Motherhouse. Presenters were Sister Jean Tobin, OP, and Arlene Bachanov, Associate and member of the history staff.
  
  
• The Rose Room, set up to offer Bingo and an ice cream social for the Sisters and their student guests. 

“We were gifted with a beautiful, sunny day that allowed for outdoor activity in the labyrinth and our permaculture site,” Sister Mary Jones said. “Our students left with a better understanding of who the Adrian Dominican Sisters are and a wonderful sense of our Dominican hospitality. We are already planning for next year.”

Left: Siena Heights University student Mia Dronchi and Sister Mary Ellen Plummer, OP, discuss Sister Mary Ellen’s quilt. Right: Sister Angela Susalla, OP, speaks with a group of Siena Heights University students during an ice cream social in the Rose Room of the Dominican Life Center.