Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt

A Heart That Does Justice
Our Foundress, Mary Ann Sammon, responding to the plight of orphaned children in the late 1800s, founded our congregation to promote the welfare of destitute, homeless and unprotected children. We take our founding mission seriously and respond by our works of charity and our struggle to understand the causes of injustice so that we can work for systemic change.

As Blauvelt Dominicans, we continually strive to live our mission for justice as expressed in our 1987 Belief Statement:
“We believe that as women of compassion, we are called to use our power to help create an economic system in which the basic needs of all are met. We oppose unjust systems, which cause and sustain poverty, hunger and homelessness.”

At our 2005 Chapter we made a commitment:

to be a source of healing, compassion and justice in our world
to deepen awareness of the heresy of dualism as it affects our own lives and as it exists today in our church and world.
to seek truth and engage in theological reflection and social analysis with others on issues in the church and world.
to affirm our relationship with all creation and commit to actions that safeguard Earth
to address specific justice concerns such as the rights of women and children, immigrants, unjust structures, care of the earth, human rights.
to encourage those activities that will critically address unjust systems particularly in areas where we minister.

As part of our ongoing work for justice we:

Urge federal and state legislators to support budgets that enhance the lives of those in need rather than those with wealth and power. Visit A Catholic Social Justice Lobby for more information.
Are in solidarity with our Dominican family in Iraq through resistance to the causes of their tremendous suffering under occupation, and we support the US troops by calling for their return home.
Encourage the use of the Blauvelt Dominican Land Ethic, which is based on the belief that the earth is the primary sustainer of life and a sacred living revelation of God. Land Ethic.
Work collaboratively with the Dominican Earth Council toward a deeper understanding of the sacredness and oneness of all creation with its intrinsic call to live justly.
Support civil liberties in the U.S. by working to limit provisions of U.S. legislation and executive orders that threaten people's constitutional civil rights. See Bill of Rights Defense Committee for more information.
Continue our work to end the death penalty in the United States. See What are we doing at the United Nations? for more information.
Work collaboratively with other Dominican communities and with the Leadership of Women Religious to end the horrors of human trafficking through legislative actions. See Trafficking in Human Beings.
Advance the just treatment of the Irish in Northern Ireland.
Support the work of the Dominicans at the United Nations in NY and Geneva.
Promote "Fair Trade" as an antidote to the exploitation of workers here and around the world.
Continue our support of the rights of homeless people, exploited workers, immigrants, people with AIDS and especially women and children through our service, prayer and political action.

Our oneness with the universe and our belief in the gospel of Jesus call us to treat others as we want to be treated. Racism; disregard for low-income people; bias against people because of gender or sexual orientation, domination of other countries, etc., are violations against the equality of all. When we observe or are part of such abuses of power, we are impelled to speak out and to act against the injustice. Such actions require belief in the equality of all of creation and the courage to act.

Additional link:
Dominican Call To Action - www.op.org/dlc/justiceop/DCTAupdate.pdf