What's Happening

October 14, 2015, New Orleans, Louisiana – Just as people throughout the United States recognized in the 10th anniversary of the devastating Hurricane Katrina, so four Adrian Dominican Sisters were among a number of women religious who were honored for their support and service of the people of New Orleans who suffered terribly from the hurricane. 

Attending the special celebration – hosted by the Marianites of the Holy Cross, were Sisters Judy Zynda, OP, coordinator of volunteers at Christopher Homes; Patricia Harvat, OP, vice president of Dominican and Catholic Identity at St. Mary’s Dominican High School, sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Peace; Kitty Bethea, OP, who ministers with the Hispanic community at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish; and Sister Mary Keefe, OP, founder of Nuns’ Build, an annual event that helps to restore homes severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina.  

Read the tribute in the Fall 2015 issue of The Marianite.

October 13, 2015, Adrian, Michigan – Long seen as symbols of peace, folded cranes have taken on a new meaning in recent months: the strong connection between the people of Iraq persecuted by ISIS and people of North America concerned for the safety and well-being of the Iraqi refugees. 

Coinciding with the August 6, 2015 one-year anniversary of the flight of Dominican Sisters of Iraq, their families, and other Christian and minority Iraqis, Adrian Dominican artists launched a website, www.1000cranesforiraq.org, featuring cranes created by the artists to support the refugee relief efforts of the Iraqi Dominican Sisters. Cranes are still available for adoption with a $100 donation made through the website.

Since January, Sister Barbara Cervenka, OP, has been creating one oil painting per day depicting a folded crane; she intends to paint 1,000 folded cranes. Sister Janet Wright has created water color paintings of actual cranes, and Sister Sue Schreiber has taken photographs of people with the folded cranes. 

To date, about 106 cranes have been purchased. The project has spawned a great deal of creativity, as well as support and concern for the Iraqi refugees. The cranes have been purchased in memory or in honor of loved ones; for organizations such as parishes, Bible study groups, and Adrian Dominican Mission Councils; and in recognition of weddings and other special events.

To make a donation and select your crane, visit the 1,000 Cranes for Iraq website.