Peace and Justice
Sinsinawa Dominicans and friends attend a protest in
Fort Benning, Georgia. The protesters called for closing
the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security
Cooperation, formerly named the School of the Americas,
which is linked to human-rights violations.
Commitment to justice is at the heart of being a Sinsinawa Dominican. When we authentically preach the Gospel, this commitment to justice follows. The words of the 1971 Synod of Bishops continue to challenge: "Action for justice and participation in the transformation of the world are constitutive dimensions of preaching the Gospel." Because the mission of every Sinsinawa Dominican is to preach and teach the Word, working for justice is essential.
For St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominican Order, the Gospel was the standard against which everything else was to be measured. As we look around our world and we reflect seriously on the Gospel, we are challenged to work to bring our reality into closer conformity with Gospel demands. That challenge means working toward the elimination of everything in our society that does not respect and sustain the basic dignity, fundamental rights, and decent quality of life for all persons. Compassion and truth define the Dominican charism and underscore the essential place of justice in our lives. We are called to be in touch with the needs, hopes, desires, and aspirations of those with whom we share this planet. Dedication to truth and the study required to know truth plunge us directly into issues affecting our society and church.
In the more than 150 years during which Sinsinawa Dominicans have worked to be faithful to the mission to preach and teach the Word, there have been thousands of Sisters who have, day in and day out, steadily, deliberately, without much drama or fanfare, poured themselves out in response to Gospel demands. Today, if we are faithful to our heritage and responsive to the times in which we find ourselves, together we will create a future for the generations who follow us in the next 150 years and beyond.
