The Golden Rule: Simple or A Challenge?

Colette Parker, OPA
Blog by Associate Colette Parker, OPA

The Golden Rule seems relatively simple to apply. But it can be a real challenge, when we view others as “different” from us.

On February 21, our newly formed committee on racial justice hosted a screening of the PBS documentary Sisters of Selma, which highlighted and reminded us of the work that women religious have done to model the Golden Rule, without bias. The film tells the little known story of Catholic nuns who answered the call of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to come to Selma in 1965 to protest the violent suppression of African-American voters. Continue reading →

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Walk With Me

Blog by Associate Mary Ellen George, OPA
Blog by Associate Mary Ellen George, OPA

As a teenager and young adult, I often wrote poetry to express and connect with my inner feelings. Through poetry, I could explore the musings of my heart and let myself wander in wonderment with what my words might reveal. For me, words are like art and music, taking many forms and expressions. Like an artist, the poet uses words to paint a picture in the mind’s eye. Like a musician, a poet uses words to elicit feelings in a person’s soul. Continue reading →

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Her Name is Spike

Blog by Sr. Pat Thomas, OP
Blog by Sr. Pat Thomas, OP

Shortly after moving into the Peace Center, we found a feral cat wandering around the outside of the building. It took some time, of course, but eventually it responded to the food we left for it and then, even let us begin to pet it a little each day. There were lots of cats around so we gave them each names just to tell them apart. Sometimes we did not know their gender, so our adopted cat became “Spike” before we knew she was a girl. The name has stayed with her. Continue reading →

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Sr. M. Hilary Simpson, OP

Simpson_MHilaryDominican Sister of Peace Mary Hilary Simpson, OP (78), died on February 15, 2016, at North Oaks Medical Center (Hammond, LA). Her parents were Siguard Edgar Simpson, Jr. and Beatrice Vitrano Simpson. Sr. Hilary was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Siguard E. Simpson, III.

In 1955, Sr. Mary Hilary entered the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary, (New Orleans, LA) now the Dominican Sisters of Peace. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Loyola University (New Orleans, LA) and a Master of Science in Music Education and Instrumental Music from Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA). Continue reading →

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Death Penalty: Is the End of It Near?

Kathy Broussard, OP
Blog by Sr. Kathy Broussard, OP

Is the death penalty on its way out? It is not abolished, but there has been a significant shift in attitudes about the death penalty. I live in Louisiana, a staunch death penalty state, but even here, changes can be seen. Since May 11, 2002, 49 death sentences have been reversed, five people were exonerated from death row and one person was executed because he waived his appeals. The civil parish district attorneys are bringing fewer cases as death penalty cases. Continue reading →

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