Witness on Earth, listening for God’s voice on our hearts about matters of the world.
As vowed women religious and as a Congregation, it is the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching that call the Dominican Sisters~Grand Rapids to bear witness to the dignity of every human person.
We embrace our Dominican charism of Veritas (“Truth”) which compels us to search for and preach truth as it impacts the lives of people and planet—to be a voice that focuses attention on the cry of Earth and the cry of the poor.
Dominican prayer, study, community, and service are pillars, guideposts, of how we choose to be present in the world. This means that we remind ourselves to pray about, study, contemplate, and dialogue in community about social justice issues of this time and place in the history of the world. It is in this way that we seek Truth, by listening to witness on Earth and listening for God’s voice on our hearts about matters of the world.
Individual responses to the call to justice are very personal. We respect that the ways of justice preaching and teaching are as varied as each Dominican Sister, each Dominican Associate, and all persons.
We see first the common ground of our humanity, and allow our differences only to enrich, and not to disparage. In all of our undertakings, we will notice first and foremost the human person before us. (DSGR Corporate Stance on Racism 1999)]
We Raise Our Voices…
“As we take inventory of the condition of our world, we raise our voices to say that the people among us who are the most in need, who are most vulnerable, need to have our attention and they need to have supportive resources. We pledge to hold the needs and concerns of all in a contemplative space, in the heart of a loving and ever faithful God… and we pledge to continue to work together with all people of good will to build God’s beloved community in this place we call home.”
~ Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids Direction Statement
Change the World with Your Presence
Each one of us is called to be an artisan of peace, by uniting and not dividing, by extinguishing hatred and not holding on to it, by opening paths of dialogue and not by constructing new walls (284).
~ Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti
Our Approach to Justice
Address injustice in a spirit of respect, compassion, and solidarity.
Holding to our Congregation Constitution and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, we stand in solidarity with all peoples, recognizing the bond of interdependence among us. Our Directions in Ministry, Statements, Stances, and Commitments guide our congregation in setting guidelines, priorities, and investment decisions that have far-reaching effects. We always strive to address injustice in a spirit of respect, compassion, and solidarity.
We rely on a process that, through dialogue and courage, leads us to a deeper understanding of complex areas of injustice rooted in racism, sexism, poverty, and oppression that give rise to violence. Listen to those who are oppressed, economically poor, and living on the margins.
Seek to understand the interconnected realities that are the roots of injustice and conflict. Work with others to challenge and change the systems that perpetuate the harm that is being done. Address injustice in a spirit of respect, compassion, and solidarity.
Individual responses to the call to justice are very personal. We respect that the ways of justice preaching and teaching are as varied as each Dominican Sister, each Dominican Associate, and all persons.
How to Become Involved In Justice Response
If the issues we care about matter to you, you are welcome to join us through the four pillars of Dominican Spirituality: Prayer. Study. Community. Service.
- The ministry of the North American Dominican Justice Promoters is to encourage all vowed members of the Order of Preachers and their Associates to embrace a deepening of the Dominican charism to search for and preach TRUTH as it impacts the lives of people and planet. Our commitment since 2017 is “to promote the call of Gospel Justice and help guide the study of and advocacy for human rights and climate justice in our world today.” Dominican Call to Justice
- If you are feeling drawn to engage with others in Justice matters, Sisters, Associates, and Friends are welcome to engage on three levels of commitment: PRAYER, ALERTS & STUDY, and ACTIVE COMMITTEE WORK. Key Justice issues (in collaboration with the North American Dominican Justice Call to Action) include: Peace and Non-violence, Immigration, Human Trafficking, Economic Justice, and Care of Earth. To learn more about how to get involved, contact our Congregation Justice Promoter.
- In West Michigan, Sisters and Associates support the work of Together West Michigan in identifying and responding to the needs of people in West Michigan.
- Pax Christi West Michigan supports a spirit of nonviolence in our approach to issues of the times in our neighborhood, city, state, country, and world. Dominican Sisters and Associates are deeply engaged with Pax Christi at the local, state, and national level. Pax Christi West Michigan meets regularly at Marywood in Grand Rapids.
Are you seeking respite, inspiration, spiritual deepening, or community in these chaotic times in our world?
Explore retreats, programs, and workshops at Dominican Center Marywood at Aquinas College.
Receive a daily blessing.
As you are blessed, may you bless others.
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