by Megan McElroy, OP, Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids
In this election season in the United States, as the Republican Convention gets underway, all of us in our country have already spent months, even years, barraged by unrestrained voices spouting ideas and words that birth fear, hatred, and division.
I recently said to our Sisters, “Our world in so many ways and in so many places, in so many hearts and in so many bodies, is crying out for help. Do we dare to respond to the cry? Do we dare to risk asking the question “How can I help? How can we help?” Do we dare to get into some trouble, good trouble, to bring healing, to bring life, to bring hope to our world?”
“It’s the question, I think, that is at the heart of Jesus’ life and ministry. Our God, recognizing that people are hurting, are in need of care and compassion, lets such help and assistance, healing and hope, flow like a river.”
I encourage every Dominican Sister and Associate, each person who walks with us, to recall our Direction Statements that invite us to observe the witness on Earth and listen for God’s voice on our hearts about matters of the world.
Remember: Any conversation or activity that contributes to division, hatred, violence, or disrespect of another human being hurts all of us as a human family. We pray that people relate to each other with dignity and respect.
How Can We Help? Let’s Begin With Prayer
Our hope, as Catholic Sisters, as Dominicans, as members of the human race, is to continue opening ourselves to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit — and to be a flame of truth, love, hope, and mercy.
Hope obliges us to work toward the realization of the promises found in Jesus: freedom, peace, justice, and reconciliation.
Throughout the weeks of the U.S. Republican Convention and U.S. Democratic Convention, as well as the week of the National Election, the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids with women religious across our nation, will be offering special prayers to “bridge the divide between culture, religion, and politics”.
All are invited to join this Virtual Prayer Space
It will be open during the following days and timeframes:
July 15, 12:00 am ET – July 18, 11:59 pm ET (Republican Convention)
August 19, 12:00 am ET – August 22, 11:59 pm ET (Democratic Convention)
November 4, 12:00 am ET – November 6, 11:00 pm ET (National Election)
Enter the virtual prayer space by clicking the button.
This is part of an effort led by Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) to invite the public into prayer during the United States Republican and Democratic National Conventions and the days of the National Election. These days of prayer are open to all, bridging the divide between culture, religion and politics through the witness and commitment women religious make to the power of collective contemplation. There will be no presentations or comments during the virtual gathering. To participate, log in, review the orientation to our gathering in the waiting room, and join women religious from around the world as we pray in silence.
No registration is required. This is a quiet virtual prayer space. Sit in quiet contemplation. Or, you may choose to use this guide from LCWR as you pray with us. Alternatively (or additionally), we invite you to sit with the prayer below:
Give us, O God,
leaders whose hearts are large enough
to match the breadth of our own souls
and give us souls strong enough
to follow leaders of vision and wisdom.
In seeking a leader, let us seek
more than development of ourselves—
though development we hope for,
more than security for our own land—
though security we need,
more than satisfaction for our wants—
though many things we desire.
Give us the hearts to choose the leader
who will work with other leaders
to bring safety
to the whole world….from “A Prayer for Leadership” by Joan Chittister, OSB
