In honor of Women’s History Month, a student at Davis High School in Yakima conducted a video interview of Virginia Hislop, former Chair of the Yakima School District Board and of the Heritage University Board of Directors, and Kathleen Ross, SNJM (CLT/Yakima). The student asked for stories and advice that would be encouraging to other students, especially young women. The following 8-minute video interview was shown to the whole Davis High School student body.

On March 10, Jennie Lechtenberg, SNJM and Jo’Ann De Quattro, SNJM (both Southern CA) participated in a local NETWORK-sponsored virtual delegation with the staff of their newly appointed California Senator Alex Padilla, who replaced Vice President Kamala Harris after she transitioned to the White House. Padilla is chair of the Senate Immigration Committee of the Judiciary. His office is crucial in seeking passage of the comprehensive immigration reform U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021.

Srs. Jennie and Jo’Ann expressed their support and made known their concerns about the areas lacking in the proposed legislation. They were also able to call attention to the tragic deportation of Haitians, which continues in the Biden-Harris administration. Sr. Jo’Ann was among the many Holy Names Sisters, including the PLT, who signed a letter to DHS calling on the Biden administration to stop expelling Haitians and other migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. To read the letter to DHS, click here.

Maria Elena Perales and the women religious who were part of this delegation are members of the Southern California Partners for Global Justice.

World Water Day 

On the eve of World Water Day on March 22, the SNJM Water-Ecology Committee has prepared a new communication in support of this year’s theme on water valuation.

The campaign aims to encourage the sharing of stories, thoughts and experiences about what water means to each of us. It also serves as an opportunity to encourage people to learn more about water issues. The committee’s document contains many links to more information in the form of text and videos.

Beyond the statistics of the United Nations, which reminds us that one person out of three, that is to say 2.2 billion human beings, does not have access to clean water, there are a lot of consequences. The testimony of Josicleide, a citizen of Maceió in Brazil, makes us aware of all the impacts in people’s lives of a poor supply of drinking water or its absence. There is also a reference to a video on the water situation in Vietnam.

Consult the Water-Ecology Committee document available in three languages:

English | Español | French

Aluminum is the most recyclable of all materials. It can be recycled forever and can be melted down and reformed without losing any quality. Recycling aluminum not only saves energy but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

The aluminum cans you recycle today can be made into a new can, filled and added back on the shelf in six weeks.

Suggestion for this week: switch to personal hygiene products that come in aluminum rather than plastic bottles. Alpine Provisions is one company that creates sustainably-sourced shampoos, conditioners and deodorants packaged in infinitely recyclable aluminum bottles.

Source: Connections – February 12, 2021

Carrie McClish, Associate (East Bay) is one of over 110 creatives who are participating in the annual Art of the African Diaspora, an online exhibition featuring artists of African descent in the San Francisco Bay Area. The exhibition began Feb. 11 and runs through May 16.

The exhibition — in partnership with the Richmond Art Center in Richmond, CA — will offer both virtual and in-person events during the coming weeks (COVID permitting). To read more about the exhibit and events, click here. To read more about Carrie and go directly to her virtual artwork display, click here.

Valarie Kaur – Source: Video YouTube

Valarie Kaur, the activist and educator whose words inspired us last summer during our virtual Assembly, gave the opening presentation at the biennial convocation of Justice in a World of Transition on Feb. 2. Her online presentation was recorded and can be viewed by clicking the green button below.

The convocation continues with sessions on racism (Feb. 25), migration (March 11) and climate crisis (March 25). Each session is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Pacific time/4:00 p.m. Eastern and Peru (5:00 p.m. in Peru on March 25). There is no cost to register. Click here to register for upcoming sessions.

Watch Valarie Kaur’s presentation

As a sign of solidarity with the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking and the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, the Congregational Leadership Team (CLT) extended an invitation to SNJM sisters and affiliates and members of their network.

The message of the four members of the Leadership Team is a way to update the commitments of the corporate stand to stop human trafficking, adopted in 2004 by the Congregation.

Still relevant today, the text of the position paper states:

We will educate ourselves and educate others about the scale, causes and consequences of this abuse, not only where we are sent on mission, but also around the world.

Through our NGO affiliations, SNJM: JPIC-Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Congregational Coordinating Committee and our efforts to promote justice, our Congregation, alone and in collaboration with other religious congregations, advocacy groups and non-governmental organizations, will advocate policies and programs that deal with the prevention of such trafficking where we will provide other choices to the women and children that this traffic endangers.

It is in this spirit that everyone is invited to visit the websites of SNJM-sponsored partners to support them in their efforts to end human trafficking.

Talitha Kum: International Project of Women Religious:

Ministry of Justice, Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons:

CATHII: Comité d’action contre la traite humaine interne et international

U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking

Catholic Relief Services: Photo Essay

In past years, the Yakima Mission Centre organized a fundraiser to benefit the SNJM work in Lesotho. It was usually a spaghetti dinner, but that was of course not possible this year. The Associates suggested sending donation checks to Kateri House.

Kathleen Ross, SNJM (CLT/Yakima) arranged to have the donations go to the Lesotho fund at the General Administration in Longueuil (thanks to Vicki Cummings’ help in the U.S.-Ontario Province office). Sixteen Yakima Mission Centre members participated, raising a total of $1,160! The organizers were very pleased with this year’s result, which was more than some dinners raised in the past.

Lourdes Quintana Cortavitarte, SNJM (NE Portland/Peru) has sent a report on ministry activities during recent months.

The report includes details about volunteer programs to help young students and a Christmas encounter with school families that included group prayer, gifts and food baskets.

Sr. Lourdes also provided an update on citizen resistance to political corruption and chaos during the autumn, as well as actions to advocate for human rights and care for the environment.

Last fall, Alma Benitez of the Yakima Diocese contacted the Holy Names Sisters at Kateri House to say that she was applying for funding from the Catholic Extension Society for a project called “Sisters on the Frontlines in the Pandemic.”

Her successful application led to the society providing $1,000 for the ministry of each Sister at Kateri House. The funds will benefit the families of children at the Heritage University Early Learning Center, who learn songs from Marina Rose Parisi, SNJM twice a week (now via Zoom); four needy families at the Toppenish Food Bank where Charlyne Brown, SNJM volunteers; and two Heritage University students identified by Kathleen Ross, SNJM as being on the brink of dropping out due to pandemic-related financial crises. 

Each Sister was asked to create a one-minute video to express thanks for the funding and describe her ministry. Click here to watch Sr. Marina Rose’s video, click here to watch Sr. Charlyne’s video and click here to watch Sr. Kathleen’s video.

L-R: Kathleen Ross, SNJM, Marina Rose Parisi, SNJM and Alma Anaya, Director of the Heritage University Early Learning Center.