Collaborating with Other Justice Advocates

Dominicans in search of truth and justice engage with one another on many issues of concern.

Dominicans have a long history of advancing the understanding of human rights and the economic, social, and political systems that influence and shape the lives of people.

The Dominican Sisters~Grand Rapids collaborate with the North American Dominican Promoters of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation which represents Sisters and Brothers in Dominican Congregations in North America.

The ministry of the North American Dominican Promoters of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation is to encourage all members of the Order of Preachers and their associates to embrace a deepening of the Dominican charism to search for and preach TRUTH as it impacts the lives of people and planet. This group promotes the call of Gospel justice and helps guide the study of and advocacy for human rights and climate justice in our world today. This document reflects our priorities in this time and place in history.  Download Dominican Call To Justice

Our Justice Ministry Priorities

The North American Justice Promoters have given priority to the following justice areas for our ministry:

  • Climate Justice
  • Peace and Security of All Life
  • Migration and Immigration
  • Human Trafficking
  • Economic Justice

Knowing that everything is embedded in the web of relationships, we note the reality of racism and its impact on all these issues. Our commitment to justice calls us to work to dismantle racism.

Our Process
Woven through the Dominican pillars of prayer, study, ministry, and community is the quest for TRUTH. Finding truth is not a simple process, nor can we ignore truth’s complexity. How do we find Truth? We being with prayer and contemplation.

Dominicans in search of Truth and Justice engage with one another and join the international community of Dominicans in studying the link between faith and justice.

We accompany and collaborate with many individuals and organizations.

It is through dialogue and with courage that we…

  • Listen to those who are oppressed, economically poor, and living on the margins.
  • Seek to understand the interconnected realities that are the roots of injustice and conflict.
  • Work with others to challenge and change the systems that perpetuate the harm that is being done.
  • Address injustice in a spirit of respect, compassion, and solidarity.

 

More Justice Collaboration

CARE OF EARTH: Our Congregation is allied with the Dominican Alliance EcoJustice Committee, the Catholic Creation Covenant, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development Laudato Si Action Platform, GR Climate Resolution Coalition, West Michigan Environmental Action Council WMEAC, among others advocacy groups.  Contact

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: We are members of the United States Catholic Sisters against Human Trafficking and serve on their educational committee. We meet regularly with the Michigan Task Force on Human Trafficking and the Kent County Area Human Trafficking Coalition: Labor Impact Group Meeting.   Contact

IMMIGRATION: We are among the members of the West Michigan Coalition for Immigration Reform, and rely on USCCB’S Justice for Immigrants, Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. CLINIC, Michigan Immigration Rights Center among others to information and support.   Contact

A Legacy of Justice

In the early 13th century, the young theology student Dominic de Guzman sold his school books to help those who were starving and destitute during a time of famine. His subsequent impassioned preaching helped to form others in the Truth of the Gospel and led to the founding of the Dominican Order of Preachers.

16th century Dominican missionaries shared their experiences of accompanying native peoples with the Dominicans at the University at Salamanca, Spain. Those Dominicans then reflected, wrote, and called for justice for the native people oppressed by the system of colonialism.

Dominicans, 800 years later, continue that work, recommitted to the promotion and defense of human rights and protection and care of Creation.