What's Happening

May 9, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – “Oh, Sister, I’m not hungry for food. I’m hungry for talk. I’m hungry for somebody to listen to me. I’m hungry for somebody not to judge me.”

Those were the words of Dawn, a transgender woman who, in 1999, spoke to Sister Luisa DeRouen, OP, a Dominican Sister of Peace, asking for understanding and spiritual accompaniment. This conversation propelled Sister Luisa to move from her ministry with gay and lesbian people to ministry with the transgender population.

Sister Luisa spoke of this experience and what she has learned about transgenderism in her presentation, Ministering with the Transgender Population. Her April 30, 2025, talk – transmitted via Zoom to Weber Center on the Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse Campus and via livestream – was one of a series of presentations offered by the Congregation’s Office of Racial Equity and Cultural Inclusion. 

Speaking to an audience that included Adrian Dominican Sisters, Sister Luisa began with her hope: “I hope I can give you language today so you can speak up for [people in the transgender population] with more suitable language. You may have transgender and nonbinary people in your families.”

Sister Luisa explained a new understanding of sexuality. “Being transgender is a neuro-biological issue,” she said. “It is a biological issue, not a moral or psychological issue.” She said five criteria determine a person’s sex: genitalia, chromosomes, hormones, internal genitals, and the brain. “For most of us, they all line up, but for transgender people, that is not the case,” she said. “Being transgender is for real. It’s a real condition, and transgender people need appropriate, professional medical care.”

Sister Luisa asked Catholic Sisters to be a helpful resource for the spiritual dimension of the lives of transgender individuals. 

“For trans people, the primary process is transitioning,” Sister Luisa said. “I walked with them through the transition, and who they are on the other side of the transition. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that it’s a spiritual transition,” though one that’s experienced differently, and that entails different components for each person.

Sister Luisa spoke of the grace that’s available to transgender individuals when they go through transition – whether socially with a change in clothes or hairstyle or medically with hormones or surgery. Once they transition, she said, they often need to renegotiate every aspect of their lives, from relationships with family and friends to their jobs. 

“They’re in a liminal, unknown place – and that is the most profound place where we find God,” Sister Luisa said. “They experience the grace of God’s spirit – self-hatred turns to self-love …. They still have problems like we do, but they can deal with life’s challenges from a place of integrity and honesty and much deeper self-knowledge, knowing how precious they are to God.”

She addressed the issue of the use of hormone therapy for children, with many arguing that children don’t know who they are and that hormone therapy would not be right for them. Until last year, she said, children who believed they were transgender had to have parental consent up to the age of 18 for hormone treatment or surgery. That age has been changed to 16, she said.

Some arguments claim that “any kid can walk up and say they’re transgender,” Sister Luisa noted. “But the norm is to go slowly and very carefully” before prescribing hormone therapy or surgery. “If the child is persistent, consistent, and insistent for [only] six months, it doesn’t make the criteria” for transgenderism. “It’s judged case by case.” Some children might have been misdiagnosed. “There are not enough doctors trained well enough. But for the most part, transgender children are getting the appropriate care.” 

May 7, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – For the second year in a row, Joanne Wood, Spanish teacher at Lenawee Christian School in Adrian, brought her service group of eight seniors to the Dominican Life Center (DLC) at the Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse Campus for the school’s annual day of service. Spending the day with the Sisters were Keira Naegele, Brielle Parker, Madison Pillar, Laina Reitz, Ila Stewart, Tory Swiggum, Ava TenCate, and Emilia Yatzek. 

The students comprise one of three groups of seniors who provided service on April 28, 2025. The other groups served at different sites.

Sandy Place, RN, DLC Administrator, explained that the students spent a full day at the DLC, beginning with a blessing of the hands created by the Spiritual and Social Care Services Department. Chaplain Bryan Gregory read the blessing, while Chaplain Pamela Przybylski blessed the hands of the students and others in attendance.

During the day, the students worked with Sisters to plant flowers in pots at the entrance of the Regina residence or planted perennials in the permaculture section; paused for a pizza lunch; bussed tables in the dining room after the Sisters’ lunch; spent time speaking with the Sisters; and created cards to be distributed to Sisters who seldom have visitors.

The day brought joy to the students as well as the Sisters.

“I like helping people,” said Keira, who hopes to study music education at Michigan State University and serve as a band director. “I’m happy to take the opportunity to do what needs to be done and show God’s love for others.”

Emilia, granddaughter of Sandy, said she had come to the DLC last year for service day and enjoyed it. “We’re just happy to come back,” she said. She was impressed by meeting one of the Sisters who ministered in a variety of ways over the years, including teaching. Emilia herself plans to attend Adrian College to study Elementary Education.

“I like talking with the Sisters and listening to them and their life stories and how they help people,” said Ila, who plans to study interior design.   

Both Joanne and Sandy also appreciated the day and the blessings it brought to everyone involved.

Joanne said the students in her group have been working together in service for four years. “We meet on a monthly basis,” she explained. “We’re looking for an opportunity to help others, putting hands and feet at the service of others. When you come to serve, you are also blessed.”

“This is the second year in a row that Joanne Wood’s service class has come to the DLC to provide service to our campus, and we have both received blessings from their visit,” Sandy said. “I am hoping this becomes an annual event.”
 

Caption for above feature photo: Participating in the day of service are, from left, Sandy Place, Administrator of the Dominican Life Center; students Emilia Yatzek, Ila Stewart, Tory Swiggum, and Brielle Parker; Spanish teacher Joanne Wood; and students Keira Naegele, Ava TenCate, Laina Reitz, and Mady Pillar.