What's Happening

February 2, 2022, Adrian, Michigan – Sister Patricia Siemen, OP, Prioress of the Adrian Dominican Congregation, was noted in a recent article in National Catholic Reporter’s Earthbeat for her work in the worldwide movement to secure legal rights of non-human life and ecological systems to exist and flourish for their own sake. 

Sister Patricia Siemen, OP

Before being elected Prioress in 2016, Sister Patricia, an attorney, founded and directed the Center for Earth Jurisprudence at Barry University Law School in Orlando, Florida. The Center’s goal is to “advance laws and policies designed to protect the natural systems, species, and entities that sustain life on Earth.”

Read the article on the rights of nature by Barbara Fraser.

February 2, 2022, Adrian, Michigan – The General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters issued the following statement in response to a series of bomb threats against historically Black colleges and universities.

We are horrified by the series of bomb threats that have closed down historically Black colleges and universities during the past month, including 16 yesterday, the first day of Black History Month. Although no bombs have been found, these terrifying and disruptive threats of violence against innocent students, faculty and staff are an assault against the foundational freedoms of our democracy – and a threat to us all. 

As women of faith, we stand in solidarity with our Black brothers and sisters at these iconic educational institutions, and call for a thorough investigation and prosecution of these despicable hate crimes. We pray that God’s loving care and protection surround and safeguard them against all harm, and for the conversion of all whose hearts are poisoned by hatred. 

Members of the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ General Council are Sisters Patricia Siemen, OP, Prioress; Mary Margaret Pachucki, OP, Vicaress and General Councilor; Frances Nadolny, OP, Administrator and General Councilor; and Patricia Harvat, OP, and Elise D. García, OP, General Councilors.