What's Happening

November 15, 2016, Detroit – The following blog is by Sister Nancyann Turner, OP, who ministers in the Rosa Parks Children and Youth Services of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit. It was originally posted on the Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s website.

I think Thanksgiving must be a difficult time for those who feel bereft or abandoned. I remember my first Thanksgiving prayer with the children at the Soup Kitchen. Brother Ray and I had worked hard to promote prayers of gratitude among the children. One distraught 9-year-old girl shouted out, "I ain't thankful for anything. I don't even know who my daddy is." Her pain stayed with me for a long, long time, but eventually, her life got better and she often expressed words of gratitude.

Sometimes, I also feel pain at the beauty and simplicity of prayers at the soup kitchen morning prayer. So often, someone prays, "I thank God I woke up this morning." 

Being with so many grateful people has greatly encouraged and increased my own gratitude. But I know gratitude cannot be forced and I will continue walking with some people who need love and patience and healing before their spirit can recognize gratitude. Hopefully, some day, all people will experience blessing and express thankfulness. 

Even when times are hard, I must remember to grieve but not to despair. Despite many challenges in our city, country and world, there are, also, so many, many blessings of life, love, family, friendship, a beautiful moon and a rising sun…

Will this Thanksgiving season be a time you can share gratitude with someone? Will this special day be a time that you pray thankfulness?

"With gratitude, all life is a journey of blessing. Without gratitude, all of life is perceived as a burden.”  - Jonathan L. Huie

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." - Melody Beattie

November 9, 2016, Adrian, Michigan – In a letter to the Congregation, the General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters underlined President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to reach out to those who did not support him for help and guidance so that "we can work together and unify our great country." 

For the past eight weeks, the Sisters and Associates of the Congregation have been praying that “the common good of all people and planet rises as a central concern for all candidates and voters this election.” In their letter, the General Council called for a rededication to the common good as expressed in the new direction (“Enactments”) set by the Congregation for the next six years at their February 2016 General Chapter.

“Our Enactments call us to be signs of [the] life-giving work of God in our midst, especially among those who might read the results of this election as a condemnation – our Muslim brothers and sisters, our Mexican neighbors, immigrants who have long called this country home, women victimized by sexual assault, people with disabilities,” the letter states.

The Sisters further noted, “This election calls on us to reach out to friends and neighbors, who responded to the message for change but do not endorse the ugly speech of the campaigns, in our common cause to improve the lives and well-being of all our people. Let us manifest our unshakable belief in the power of peace, non-violence, and the possibility of creating resilient communities.”

Read the letter and the Enactments, which call on the Congregation to respond to the spiritual longings of the world, help build resilient communities, mitigate climate change and ecological degradation, and invite others to vowed and Associate life and collaboration. The Sisters convene a General Chapter every six years to set the direction for the Congregation and elect new leadership.