Victory Together

Blog by Justice Promoter Kelly Litt
Blog by Justice Promoter Kelly Litt

Uniting in Love for the Common Good

On January 16, Michael B. Coleman, former mayor of Columbus, OH, spoke at the 32nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast. Mayor Coleman stressed the importance of uniting in love and commonality to work toward the common good of our communities. He also said, “stop whining, start winning.” Yet he didn’t speak in terms of personal victory or individual advancement and winning, rather, he explained that when communities come together, that’s winning, when individuals engage in peaceful dialogue, that’s winning, when we lift up the marginalized in our society, that’s winning. Continue reading →

Posted in Peace & Justice Blog

Elms Students Show that Words Have Power

Our Lady of the Elms Power of the Pen Tournament ParticipantsAKRON, OH – The District Power of the Pen Tournament was held on January 7 at Our Lady of the Elms School. The Elms middle school students were one of 15 schools that competed in the event. Coached by middle school teacher Lisa Walker, the seventh and eighth grade teams each placed third overall.

Eighth graders Alex Coleman and Sara Khan placed in the individual competition, second and fourteenth respectively. Seventh graders Avian Austen and Rachael Rice also placed in the individual competition, fourth and sixth respectively.

Seventh graders Avian Austin, Christianna Poblete, Talia Reiss, and Rachael Rice; and eighth graders Kaylee Brunton, Erin Coffman, Alex Coleman, Sara Khan, Lacy Nicholas, and Catherine Ross have qualified to compete at the regional tournament at the Kent State University on February 25.


Our Lady of the Elms School, an independent, Catholic school rooted in the Dominican tradition, educates girls and young women to listen openly, evaluate wisely, speak bravely, lead justly, and serve compassionately. The Elms elementary school is a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School.

Posted in News

Statement on Executive Actions Regarding Immigrants and Refugees

Dominican Sisters of Peace Denounce

Executive Actions Regarding Immigrants and Refugees


cropped-871efdf7861ddc4b47c116447ac2accb_400x400.pngJanuary 30, 2017, Columbus, Ohio – In response to recent executive actions by President Donald Trump regarding immigrants and refugees, the Dominican Sisters of Peace have issued the following statement:

The Dominican Sisters of Peace, in solidarity with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), denounce the recent actions taken by President Donald Trump that deny the inherent human dignity of our immigrant and refugee sisters and brothers of various faith traditions. These actions include the President’s executive order to begin construction of a border wall, the denial of funding to sanctuary cities around the country, the increased detention and deportation of immigrants, and most recently, the ban on refugees from predominately Muslim countries.

We acknowledge and respect our government’s obligation to protect everyone in this country from acts of terrorism; however the President’s executive order to ban refugees is confusing and has created legal uncertainty for thousands of innocent people.

These actions further harm those most vulnerable and marginalized in our communities and our world and continue to deny basic human and civil rights to our neighbors. Fostering fear which leads to greater division, these actions are inconsistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ where Jesus says, “I was a stranger and you made me welcome (Matthew 25:35b),” with our country’s founding principles, and our country’s welcoming message to “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

In his address to the United States Congress, Pope Francis explained that “…we, the people of this continent, [should not be] fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners.” In his recent letter to President Trump, Pope Francis expressed his hope that “Under your leadership…America’s stature continue to be measured above all by its concern for the poor, the outcast, those in need who, like Lazarus, stand before our door.”

We oppose the anti-immigrant actions taken by the current Administration and encourage President Trump and Congress to work to build peace and inclusivity throughout our country by welcoming the stranger in solidarity and love through prudent long established processes.

Posted in News

“Sister, please pray for…”

Prayer – A sacred task that we can share

Blog by Sr. June Fitzgerald, OP
Blog by Sr. June Fitzgerald, OP

Frequently, in the course of speaking with discerners, friends, family and Associates, I hear, “Sister, please pray for….” They know I am a person of faith and so they reach out and ask me to join them in prayer. Usually I ask for more information about the prayer request or the person/situation involved. Listening to their stories invites me to enter into their lives and the lives of those involved. Praying for and with others is one of the most sacred tasks we can do for each other. That is, to bring this person or situation before God in prayer and petition.

For whom and what are you praying this day?

Take a few moments to reflect on those intentions and to lift them up to God. Continue reading →

Posted in God Calling?, News

Sr. Lillian Kapelewski

kapelewski-lillianDominican Sister of Peace Lillian Kapelewski (90) died at Mohun Health Care Center (Columbus, OH) on January 5, 2017. She was born in 1926 in Amsterdam, OH. In 1943 she entered the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, now the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Continue reading →

Posted in Obituaries