Prayer
As sisters travel to the assembly next week, I offer this prayer for safe travel.
A Summer Travel Prayer
Loving and merciful God, you have commissioned your angels to guide and protect us. Command them to be with us from our leaving until our return; keep us safe from all injury, accident or malice and sin. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, - Author Unknown
Advocacy and Action
Keep up your calls to your Senators about the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” that is poised to cut Medicaid and SNAP as well as give the sitting president the power to ignore judicial orders. Keep up the calls because there is evidence that they are working! There are even several House Representatives who have expressed regret in voting yes! Had even two of them voted no, this would have been defeated in the House.
Please call your own senators as well as the senators on the list provided last week. If you can’t get through, email them through their websites. The vote could happen within the next two weeks. So, keep up the pressure. You can also write a letter to the editor. Senate aides do watch for those.
For further information on this bill: Read this article from Charles Schwab or this one from NPR. It is likely that the Senate version of the bill would change some of these.
Local friends - Our partners at Ignite Peace are joining Cincinnati Resist and holding a Vigil for Hope on June 13, 2025 from 6 – 8 PM at International Friendship Park. It will be an evening of unity, community, and peace.
The Vigil for Hope is a gathering dedicated to compassion, inclusivity, non-violence, and shared humanity. In times of uncertainty and division, we believe in coming together to celebrate the strength of the human spirit and the values that bring us together. This event is envisioned as a peaceful, uplifting evening filled with candlelight, music, and heartfelt reflections.
The Justice Conference of Women Religious will hold a rally in Washington DC on June 24, 2025. It is titled Sisters Speak Out - A Prayer and Public Witness for Immigrants and a Just Economy. As members of JCWR, our Ohio Unit is a part of this action. The Ohio Sisters Justice Network is working on plans for a companion rally locally. You can find information on Sisters Speak Out here. Stay tuned!
Education and Information
Join the next Online Public Dialogue from Georgetown’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life titled What Happened to America’s Racial Reckoning? Faith, Justice, and Catholic Social Teaching Five Years after the Killing of George Floyd on June 10 from 6:00 - 7:00 PM ET. The speaker line up is impressive. RSVP today! If you cannot attend that evening, RSVP anyway and you will get a recording.
The new SNDdeN EW social justice promoters Kathryn Yanik and Sabrina Harper have been busy! You are invited to join them and your EW and SNDBC sisters as well as associates, staff and others at their second Jubilee Series of Hope event on June 18 from 7-8 PM ET. The title is International Aid - What's Next for our work abroad? Sr. Eucharia Madueke, SNDdeN, will be one of the guest speakers. As many of you know, Sr. Eucharia is the Women Empowerment Project Coordinator for the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN). Join Zoom Meeting.
Democracy Watch
I was hoping to only need this section of the Weekly Update during the election cycle, but sadly I think it will be needed for a while. The uncertainty around the globe means our opposition must be often and loud. We can support candidates that believe in the system of checks and balances in our government. We can support independent journalism. We can be “a gnat in the ear of our politicians.” What have your daily calls been about this past week?
Resources:
NETWORK Executive Order tracker
USCCB Dept of Migration Immigration Actions document
This week's Save the Democracy Opportunity:
It’s almost impossible to keep our eyes on every political issue. Secide what is most important to you! Protecting our democracy is key to having a say in everything else. The so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” and the SAVE Act are the two that are taking up my brain space these day.
Useful Links: