Dominican Sisters Join “Families Belong Together” Rallies

Around the United States the first weekend of July, Dominican Sisters and associates joined rallies and marches to end family separation. For photos and more information about the rallies and marches, please see below.

Dominican Sisters of Adrian

“Adrian Dominican Sisters added their voices to thousands of others on June 30 as they participated in Families Belong Together marches throughout the United States. Demonstrations throughout the nation protested the U.S. immigration policy that has separated children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border as the families attempted to enter the United States without formal documents.” (Please click photo to read article)

Dominican Sisters of Amityville

In photo, Margaret Galiardi, OP with retreat directors and retreatants. Folks at St. Alfonso Retreat House in New Jersey integrated “Families Belong Together” Rally into their 7-day directed retreat. Evening prayer also held the theme.

Dominican Sisters of Amityville

This is a picture of S. Margaret Smyth, a Sister of St. Dominic of Amityville at a rally in Greenport, Long Island. She was one of the speakers. The event was hosted by North Fork Spanish Apostolate and organized by S. Margaret Smyth and others. (The North Fork Spanish Apostolate was established by S. Margaret in 1996.)

Dominican Sisters of Amityville

Here is a picture from a Rally in Westbury, Long Island, NY that was attended by Amityville Dominican Sister Marie Danaher. The event—Families Belong Together—was sponsored by Young Progressives of Nassau County, along with other nonprofits and advocacy groups.

Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt

Blauvelt Dominican Sister Jo-Anne Faillace at a rally in White Plains, NY.

Dominican Sisters of Caldwell

On June 30th, rallies in Washington, D.C., and around the country gathered to demand that our government leaders permanently end the separation of kids from their parents, end family internment camps, end the “zero-humanity” policy that created this crisis, and reunify the children with their parents. Srs. Alice Uhl, Marge Jaros, Jeanne Goyette, Mary Agnes Sullivan and Pat Stringer attended the rally in Glen Ridge, NJ. To see the posting on the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell Facebook page, please click the photo.

Dominican Sisters of Peace

The FAMILIES BELONG TOGETHER march and rally in Louisville was one of 700 across the nation on June 30. Sisters and an Associate in Kentucky participated in this memorable event. The current heat wave did not discourage all twelve from representing the Dominicans of Peace. Some joined the march to the immigration office while others, sitting in a prominent location, not only heard excellent speeches from a variety of concerned citizens, but also carried on conversations with fellow participants. Those participating were (as seen in the large group picture) Sisters Joseph Leo Pietrowski, Mary Brigid Gregory, Susan Morris, Mai Dung Nguyen, Judy Morris, Charlene Moser, Elaine DesRosiers, and Marilyn Pierson. Not pictured: Barbara Fava, Barbara Sullivan, Catherine Mahady and Associate Linda Medley. To read the article, please click the photo.

Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa

Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa join rally in Dubuque, Iowa.

Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa

Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa join rally in Madison, Wisconsin.

Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa

Bernadine Karge, OP with immigration attorney Kathryn Weber, her children, her mom and other ralliers in Chicago, IL.

Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa

Daley Plaza Rally in Chicago, IL

Dominican Sisters of Sparkill

On Saturday June 30th several Dominican Sisters of Sparkill participated in a rally in New City, NY to add their voices to the chorus of those insisting #FamiliesBelongTogether. As one of the many nation-wide rallies, groups demand that our government leaders permanently end the separation of children from their parents, end family internment camps, end the “zero-humanity” policy that created this crisis, and reunify children with their parents. Pictured from l-r are Sisters Mary Jane Bookstaver, Pat Conway, Maureen Conway, Helen Robert Boyd, Eileen Gannon, Grace Hogan and Margo Saich. To see the posting on the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill Facebook page, please click the photo.

Dominican Sisters of Springfield

Springfield Dominican sisters and associates, co-workers and antiracism team members were among the diverse crowd braving dangerously hot temperatures in the capitol city on Saturday to participate in the Families Belong Together rally here on Saturday June 30. To read the article, please click on the photo.

Dominican Sisters of Tacoma

Standing from left to right: Mary VanElk, Kathleen Reilly, OP, Kate O’Connor, OPA, Mary Plante, OPA (standing behind Mary is her husband Jim Plante) and Heidi Erdmann, OPA. Seated from left to right: Catherine Chick, Phyllis Kelleher, OP, Gretta Woodlock OP, Julie Manley, OPA and Patricia Hoppa, OPA.

Families Belong Gathering in Bothell, WA

Dominican Sisters of Adrian

Adrian Dominicans visiting the Kateri Chicago Indian Center at St. Benedict Parish where JoAnn ministers. They are: JoAnn Fleischaker, OP; Noreen George, OP; Jean Keeley, OP.

Dominican Sisters of Hope

Dominican Sister of Hope Bette Ann Jaster attended the Families Belong Together rally in White Plains, NY. Here is her description of the rally: “Yes, I attended the Saturday Rally outside the White Plains Federal Court building Saturday at 1pm. Several hundred people attended. There were a lot of good speakers, including families who had a loved ones, e.g. Dad, deported, and the grief that that causes in families. Others were Immigrants once themselves. Among the speakers were: Andrea Stewart Cousins State Senator of NY, Elliot Engel Rep.D-NY16 District, Thomas Roach the Mayor of White Plains, Doug De Candia the Lead farmer for the Westchester Co. Food Bank. There was a man who I think is with the New Sanctuary Coalition, then Vanessa Abuela a member of Peekskill City Council, lots of friends/members of Resist Spectra’s AIM Pipeline Project. I went with one friend Paola Dalle Carbonare and met up with Marie Inserra and John Sullivan and many others. Among the stated themes were Abolish ICE. Stop the Terror. It was a stirring day to see the passions of people for justice NOW! The Clearwater Singers also sang their hearts out.”

Here is a short segment that is posted on the Dominican Sisters of Springfield Facebook page. “Sr. Beth captured part of Valeria’s speech but most especially this interaction. Valeria is a teacher at our high school here in Springfield, on our anti-racism team, and on the immigration advocacy network group. She is a first generation Cuban American and was sharing of her parents tragedies and finally arriving in the US. She is also the mother of 18 month old Elena who didn’t want to stay with her Dad, Juan, yesterday but wanted her Mom who was on the stage. The whole interaction is a message of what this is all about.” – Sr. Marcelline Koch, OP

#keepfamiliestogetherThanks to Valeria Cueto, SHG teacher, Antiracism advocate, and Mom.
Posted by Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, June 30, 2018

“According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, there were ‘several thousand’ people at a downtown rally yesterday in the 92-degree heat. We pretty much closed Wisconsin Avenue in front of the court house. A number of folks spoke, including our U.S. Representative Gwen Moore. One of the more poignant speeches was given by the ex-wife of a man who had come here as a 13-year-old, and had been here for almost 2 decades, marrying and having 4 children. Three weeks ago, he showed up at ICE for his mandated visa waiver check-in and was arrested. His kids have had no contact with him and do not know if they will ever see him again.

I think it terribly important that people know that separation of families is not happening just at the border. There were other speakers who reminded us that the Muslim ban also separates families, as does the incarceration of so many African American people for nonviolent offenses.”

Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa

Dominican Sister of Sparkill Helen R. Boyd, OP wrote a wonderful reflection/response to the rally which has been posted on the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill’s website and Facebook page: http://sparkill.org/Public/SisterReflectsonFamiliesBelongTogetherRally_6.18.htm