One of the commitments of the Dominican Sisters of Peace is to “Promote justice through solidarity with those who are marginalized.” In the United States today, among those marginalized are immigrants and refugees – people fleeing their home countries in search of safety.
We support immigrants and refugees in many ways.
Our Sisters speak truth to power in the public space and in the halls of government.



We welcome those who are new to our country, housing refugees in St. Catharine, providing education in our learning centers, and helping families cope with the challenges of settling into a new country and a new culture.
In December 2018, Dominican Sisters of Peace answered the call to welcome the stranger by volunteering at Annunciation House, a house of sanctuary, welcome, and assistance for those entering the US at the southern border in El Paso. Annunciation House is completely staffed and run by volunteers, and many people of faith have been part of its ministry,
Sisters Barbara Kane, Doris Regan, Roserita Weber, Imelda Schmidt, and Mary Vuong have traveled to El Paso to volunteer at Annunciation House, and have shared with us the journey of a refugee, from entering Annunciation House to departing for life with a sponsor.

When a person or family checks into Annunciation House, they processed and assigned a bed. Each person is allowed to pick out one set of clothing, including a warm coat, which is a blessing in El Paso, where the temperature often drops below freezing this time of year. Each person also gets a hot shower to help them wash off weeks of travel.
Many people have sent material support to Annunciation House – clothing, food, blankets. Volunteers help sort these items so that they can be more easily distributed to those in need.
Refugees often arrive at Annunciation House hungry and tired. The detention centers do not provide much food for these people, who have been traveling for many days. Annunciation House offers simple, filling meals provided by donations and volunteers: fruit, cereal, and bread for breakfast, and sandwiches or comfort food for lunch and dinner.




Annunciation House volunteers work to help refugees find and travel to sponsors, who will help provide for them while their asylum claim is being processed. Here, Dominican Sisters of Peace Roserita and Doris work with refugees to arrange travel to sponsor locations. The refugees must notify their sponsor to let him/her that they are ready to travel, and transportation – bus, train or plane – and schedules must be coordinated so the refugee and sponsors can find each other.

Once travel has been arranged – usually in just one or two days – the new arrivals begin to prepare for their trip. In addition to the clothing they received at arrival, each person gets 2-3 sandwiches per day of travel plus fruit, candy, water, juice. If they are going to a cold place, they get a small blanket. Sisters Imelda and Mary helped pack lunch bags for refugees who are traveling to their sponsors.

More than just a hand at the table or a voice on the phone, our Sisters have been a friendly, welcoming face to Annunciation House guests as they prepare for life here in the US. These people have shown incredible courage just to get here, and now they are traveling into a country where everything is strange and new.
As his family was preparing to go to the airport, one little boy was heard to tell his stuffed lamb, “Don’t worry. It will be ok. I am here to take care of you.”

Our Sisters met many wonderful people at Annunciation House, including this family that spent the week working at the Pastoral Center. Mom was raised in Brazil, dad came from Ireland, and the boys were adopted from Guatemala.

After their time at Annunciation House, these refugees board trains, buses, and planes to travel to their new homes. Many are in an airport for the first time and are drawn to the festive Christmas displays. Hundreds of immigrants pass through El Paso’s airport every day. Airline, TSA, and Border Patrol employees have done their best to be helpful and kind.
The Sisters had a day off each Thursday. On January 3, they traveled to Tornillo, the tent city built to house children separated from their parents by ICE and the border patrol.


I have coats I would like to send to you for the refugees! And also a check from me to you to help in your work for Jesus! Please give me the address to send them! Thank you ! Mrs. Frances Opperman OP. In the Peace of Christ and St. Dominic
2320 Airport Drive
Columbus, OH 43219
Thank you!
Much love and respect! I’m with you in spirit!
Blessings on those refugees and you!
Thanks for representing those of us who can’t be there in person, but are with you in spirit, and for the pictures that help tell the stories unfolding there.
January 10 So glad to see your photos and all the
good work you are doing! Thank you! With in prayer,
Sr. Martina Stegman,OP
Know that I am with you in prayer and spirit as you represent us at “The Border”. Thanks so much.
God bless you and those you serve Corina Padilla
Thanks to you all for being there. Just today we got a call from one of our families here, telling us that the social worker from Tornillo would be calling to make sure we can assist them to find connections for a youth with medical needs who is being released to them. (We assured the family that we would say yes!)
Thank all of you for your work in this mission of mercy!
Wonderful article and pictures – thank you for sharing your experiences with us. We are so grateful for the beautiful ministry you are providing these families. Sending you our continued prayers and love!
Yes, thank you!
I am so grateful all of you were there! Thank you!!
Thank you for your work and for letting us see beyond the statistics.
Thanks and God bless you for the ministry you are performing in the name of us all! Great work! “When I was homeless . . .” etc