The Dominican Sisters of Peace had a marked presence at a Monday, March 18 March and Prayer Vigil, centered on the need for an immediate, sustained ceasefire in Gaza. Sisters from the Columbus Community of the Dominican Sisters of Peace joined with others on downtown Columbus streets to march to the Columbus office of Senator Sherrod Brown (D) and demand that elected officials from Ohio support an end to the siege and pray for the protection of life.

The Sisters stood shoulder to shoulder with a cross-section of Columbus faith leaders, showing solidarity and calling for a stop to the fighting, humanitarian assistance, and the release of hostages and prisoners.

The event began with supporters of the cause gathering at Columbus’ McFerson Park, then walking to Senator Brown’s office to conduct a prayer vigil and deliver a document presenting their demands for the government, along with a petition with supporters’ names.

Dominican Sisters of Peace Justice Promoter, Sr. Gemma Doll, OP, spoke at the event. Sr. Annie Killian OP, was one of the organizers of the event, collaborating with the Coalition of Christians for a Free Palestine to arrange the happenings of the day. Sr. Annie said, “The occasion demonstrates that we are serving as a public witness to what is happening in Palestine and speaking out against it. We hope we can also influence those sitting on the sidelines to fight complacency, get involved and join us or find ways to speak out against the situation in the Middle East.”

The Dominican Sisters of Peace were also present at a Prayer Service for Peace in Palestine and Israel at the end of February in Louisville. Sisters from the St Catharine, Kentucky location of the Dominican Sisters of Peace were part of a group of about 50 to 60 people including Sisters from two nearby communities and others who prayed, sang and mourned lives lost in the Middle East. Sr. Rose Marie Cummins, OP, of the Dominican Sisters of Peace community in Kentucky participated in the February happening and says, “It was good we all came together for the day but I believe that it is going to take the work of many religious congregations and justice organizations to turn this situation around.”

Sr. Annie, ministering as an assistant professor of English at Ohio Dominican University says, “It is important to not ignore what is happening in the Middle East. I even ask those in my college writing class to focus their compositions on social movements, peace, and non-violent ways of social change. It is natural for me to use these subjects and to participate in the March 18 events in Columbus. I have been involved in Catholic peace-making circles since college and a member of Pax Christi for several years, so issues like this have been important to me for a long time.”

Sr. Pat Twohill, Prioress, Dominican Sisters of Peace says, “Our call is to be peace, to build peace, and to preach peace. It requires that we read the signs of our times and interpret them faithfully in the light of the Gospel. We know that our presence at the March 18 prayer vigil and march this month is the right thing to do. We pray for an end to the violence in Gaza and throughout the Middle East.”