Sinsinawa
Spectrum
A Congregation News Magazine
ARTT Day of Remembrance and Celebration
by Mary Ellen Gevelinger, OP
From left: Srs. Mary Ellen Gevelinger, Tanya Williams, and Pat Mulcahey at the ARTT Day of Remembrance and Celebration.
Aug. 4, 2009, was indeed a day of remembrance and celebration as over 140 Sisters, Associates, coworkers, and guests gathered at Sinsinawa. The day was dedicated to Mildred Thompson, OP, scholar, lifelong advocate for justice, and member of the Anti-Racism Transformational Team; and Sister Carol Artery, OP, whose dedication to multicultural education and liturgy inspired so many. We remembered the intersection of several anniversaries on this day:
- The 100-year anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), begun in 1909 and still, today, giving voice to the voiceless in the struggle for racial equity;
- The 30-year anniversary of “Brothers and Sisters to Us,” a pastoral letter by the U.S. Catholic Bishops, in which they declared, “Racism is a sin: a sin that divides the human family, blots out the image of God among specific members of that family and violates the fundamental human dignity of those called to be children of the same Father.” Their words continue to be as true today as when they were written.
- The 20-year anniversary of “What We Have Seen and Heard,” written by the Black U.S. Catholic Bishops, in which they declared, “Finally, the causes of justice and social concern are an essential part of evangelization. To preach to the powerful without denouncing oppression is to trivialize the Gospel. . . . We must not ignore those whom others tend to forget, and even contribute our efforts and money. When we share our talents and our possessions with the forgotten ones of this world, we share Christ.”
- The 10-year anniversary of the partnership between the Dominicans of Sinsinawa and Crossroads Ministry to assist us in becoming an “anti-racist and multicultural institution.”
The continuous call of our General Chapters to deconstruct the racism in our lives and in our Congregation began with the Chapter of 1990 (Enactment 5): “Inspired by the Gospel values, we commit ourselves to continued confrontation of economic, social, political and ecclesial injustice: A. Initiate a process to examine, analyze and respond to the evil of racism as it is manifest in personal and systemic actions.” The General Chapter of 2000 proclaimed, “We commit ourselves both personally and congregationally to become an anti-racist, multicultural institution” (Enactment 5). And most recently, the General Chapter of 2006 recommended “that the Prioress and Council continue to support the work of the Anti-Racist Training Team and the commitment of the congregation members to examine and redefine all aspects of our life and mission so that we may embody our identity as an anti-racist, multicultural institution”( Enactment 22).
Congregation efforts to eradicate the sin of racism and its effects were traced to their beginnings in the life of Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP. A series of vignettes during the day highlighted the work of Fr. Samuel, as well as Mary Ellen O’Hanlon, OP; Martin de Porres Hogan, OP; and Consuelo Fissler, OP.
In 1988, the Racism Task Force had its beginnings in the Chicago area, and that work continued with the encouragement of Co-Promoters of Justice Gerry O’Meara , OP, and Toni Harris, OP. In 1999, the Anti-Racism Training Team, now called the Anti-Racism Transformational Team, emerged with the initiative of the Prioress and Council. In the ensuing years, over 200 Sisters, Associates, and coworkers have attended the 2½-day Crossroads Training, emerging with a shared analysis and understanding of the evils of racism.
Director of the Office of Racial Justice for the Archdiocese of Chicago Anita Baird, DHM, was the keynote speaker for the day. Sister Anita challenged us to change not only our laws, but our hearts, to respond to the insidious sin of racism. She reminded her listeners that the culture of white privilege and dominance shapes the social, political, cultural, and economic dimensions of society and weaves a web of racial discrimination.
While acknowledging the sacred ground of Sinsinawa Mound, Anita reminded us that the land originally belonged to the native people until squatters claimed it as their own. Later, George Wallace Jones owned slaves who lived on this land and who were brought north to work in the refineries of the mines. Acknowledging this history is a reminder to honor those who have inhabited this land and their stories.
Anita also reminded us that congregations such as Sinsinawa are “bathed in whiteness,” and, as such, need to transform our institutions in both internal and external ways. She challenged the audience to stretch ourselves in ways that will enrich all of us. “Do not tell me how to pray to God; do not change the music of my people that took us through, brought us across the Red Sea of slavery and segregation. To do so is disrespectful, is white privilege.” She encouraged us to be patient with each other in the struggle, admitting stereotypes and biases.
Finally, she reminded us that this journey is a Eucharistic one and that God’s grace transforms us and sets us free. We become what we eat in the Eucharist, and thus we receive the power of the Spirit. In Eucharist, Jesus touches our hearts and calls us into a body of love where the weak are at the center. Eucharist makes us of one race; bread and wine are changed, and we are changed, transformed, enlivened. By the power of the Eucharist, all are equal, and all are welcome. The prayer of Jesus that all may be one is the work of becoming anti-racist.
Afternoon sessions for the day included locations to learn about the following:
Story Telling―Sharing our story of undoing racism.
Walk of History―A contemplative guided walk through our Sinsinawa history of resistance and oppression.
Human Trafficking―Today’s slavery of women and children as sex trade.
Anti-Racist Caucusing―A brief description and demonstration.
Sinsinawa Peace and Justice Groups―Adelante, Alternative Investments, Shareholder and Consumer Action, Ecology, Restorative Justice, and Faith and Resistance, how each group works to undo racism.
A compelling panel discussion with other congregations sharing experiences of working to become anti-racist institutions and working with the Crossroads analysis captivated the audience. Panelists included Patty Chapell, SNDdeN, and Anne-Louise Nadeau, SNDdeN, representing Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur; Marcelline Koch, OP, and Mrs. Johnetta Jordan, representing the Dominicans of Springfield; and Roberta Popara, OP, and Rosetta Brown, OP, representing Dominicans of Sinsinawa. The common experiences, challenges, and frustrations of each group made the shared struggle more real.
A second series of panels included two topics. “Ministry through an Anti-Racism Lens” was facilitated by Tanya Williams, OP. Panelists who are ministers in the African American community and ministers in early missions outside the United States included Associate Delena Stephens-Bowen; Connie Lennartz, OP; Patricia Caraher, OP; and Margaret Ryan, OP. A second panel focused on “Immigration through an Anti-Racism Lens.” This panel included the following Sisters working on immigration issues: Chris Feagan, OP; Lou Anne Willette, OP; and Regina McKillip, OP.
One Sister’s comments summed up the experience. “I was not clear about what the day would entail. I have experienced a wonderful day filled with a new awareness of past journeys and new journeys; [it was] a grace-filled day and a blessing.”