What's Happening

March 3, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – During a recent meeting, the Lenawee County (Michigan) Board of Commissioners unanimously declared January Human Trafficking Prevention Month. After the proclamation was read, Laura Schultz Pipis, Executive Director of United Way of Monroe and Lenawee Counties, noted that Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia McDonald was with her throughout her efforts against the scourge of human trafficking, modern-day slavery. She added that the Adrian Dominican Sisters have been involved in anti-human trafficking work for 20 years.

Sister Patricia, a member of the Lenawee County Anti-Human Rights Coalition, has spoken at various events to make people aware of the prevalence worldwide of human trafficking, defined in U.S. law as “the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor against their will.” 

The Adrian Dominican Sisters approved a corporate stance against human trafficking in 2008, and in 2009 formed an anti-human trafficking task force. The Sisters are now part of the Lenawee County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force.

Read the entire article and listen to audio clips on the website of WLEN Radio.

Caption for above feature photo: Sister Patricia McDonald, OP

February 19, 2025, Winter Park, Florida – A recent article in The National Catholic Reporter recounted the focus on Haiti by the worldwide Dominican family in its annual Month for Peace observance in December as well as the long-time presence and partnership of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Winter Park, Florida, with parishes in Haiti.

The article cites a letter to the Dominican family by Father Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP, Master of the Order, calling on Dominicans for greater reflection and solidarity with the people of Haiti suffering from “violent atrocities and human rights violations, incessant killings, kidnappings, sexual assaults, human trafficking, and forced labor.” Adrian Dominican Sister Durstyne Farnan, OP, Dominican Representative to the United Nations, speaks of the “moral obligation” to advocate for the people of Haiti.

Much of the article focuses on the long-running efforts of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Winter Park, Florida. Since 2006, the parish has partnered for five years with one Haitian parish at a time, listening to their needs and working with the parishioners to address those needs. The focus is on the self-determination of the Haitians and the sustainability of their projects.

Read the entire article by Chris Herlinger and watch a video in which Sister Rosemary and other involved parishioners describe their ministry with Haitian parishes.  
 

Caption for above feature photo: A slide during a recent presentation on the Haiti Mission of St. Margaret Mary Parish, Winter Park, Florida, depicts Haitians working in micro-enterprises to help them remain self-sufficient.

Courtesy of St. Margaret Mary Parish, Winter Park, Florida