We’re excited to share a few of the ways our Sisters are supporting our dear neighbors through their presence, wisdom, and work in recent weeks:
Sister Christine Kresho will be featured in Global Sisters Report’s “The Life,” which shares Advent Reflections from Sisters around the world. Here is an excerpt from her essay, which will be included in their series (here):
“Advent is also a time of anticipation and a time of hope. The vision that the gift of hope offers is sight – that we will open our eyes and hearts to the God who became one of us, who is Emmanuel, God with us. The Incarnation, the awesome truth that God became human, is the truth looking for a home, a room in which to be born again, every day for everyone. When this truth settles into and is embraced by our souls, we do not see ourselves as separated from God or separated from each other.”
Sister Kari Pohl offered testimony and encouragement to those gathered for the “Speak Easy, Speak Free” National People’s Hearing Tour that brought together people and organizations in the Appalachian region concerned about environmental pollution and its impact on creation with the People’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council:
“We need mandatory and ongoing continuing education for health care providers regarding the various environmental health hazards in Pennsylvania. We need our insurance companies to cover equipment that would mitigate our risks. We need our health care systems and our religious and government leaders as well to stand up to the polluters who are poisoning our communities. . . Look around this room at each other. Look across the room. Rebecca Solnit would call this ‘a paradise built in hell.’ Martin Luther King would call this ‘building God’s beloved community.’ Pope Leo the 14th would call this ‘social poetry.’ And I’m calling it a glimpse of the divine.”
Sister Janice Vanderneck was one of two presenters for an Association of Pittsburgh Priests virtual event, “How to Stand in Solidarity with Migrants and Asylum Seekers” in early November. She and Father Brendan Curran, a Dominican friar and co-founder of Chicago’s Priests for Justice, spoke about how immigrants are being treated in our current landscape and how Casa San José is responding to support our Latino neighbors in this region:
“We do have various ministries to try to respond to the needs of the families when a loved one is taken. In many cases, it’s the breadwinner, and Mom and children are left with no income, at risk of homelessness, and not able to provide for basic necessities. . . We – fortunately over the years – have developed a great case management system for helping people with their livelihood. . . There’s a lot of trauma, so we’re very fortunate to have a mental health program.”