Catholic Sisters Sail the Hudson to Raise Awareness about Water Pollution

On Friday, September 5, 2025, forty-five Catholic Sisters and people of faith embarked on a powerful journey: a Pilgrimage of Hope for Creation on the Hudson River. Organized by Religious Organizations Along the River (ROAR) and the Metro New York Catholic Climate Movement, the pilgrimage brought together religious and environmental leaders to raise awareness about the growing pollution crisis in the Hudson.

The Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt were represented by Sr. Didi Madden, Sr. Ellenrita Purcaro, Sr. Terry Rickard, Sr. Mary Ann Collins, and Kristin DeGuzman (Communications Manager), joining a coalition of Catholic Sisters from 10 different congregations united in purpose. These included the Sisters of Charity of New York, Dominican Sisters of Hope, Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Ursulines of the Roman Union, Sisters of the Divine Compassion, and the Maryknoll Sisters. Together, their presence reflected a profound and collective commitment to ecological justice and care for our common home.

Also on board were interfaith partners, including an Episcopal monk from Holy Cross Monastery in Hyde Park, and leaders from environmental and faith-based organizations such as Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper, the Laudato Si’ Movement, and the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary.

A Sacred Journey on Sacred Waters

The day began in Cold Spring, NY, where the pilgrims gathered at the water’s edge to pray, reflect, and hold signs advocating for the protection of the Hudson River. They then boarded the Clearwater Sloop, a historic vessel known for environmental education, and spent the next three hours immersed in the living reality of the river—praying, listening, and learning.

They heard firsthand about the environmental challenges threatening the Hudson, including the issue of landfill leachate—a toxic liquid produced as water passes through waste in landfills. Between 2019 and 2023, over 89 million gallons of this leachate were discharged into the Hudson River Estuary and Mohawk River via municipal sewage treatment plants. That's enough toxic water to fill more than 12,000 tanker trucks.

These discharges threaten the health of the river’s ecosystem and the 368,000 people who depend on the Hudson and surrounding waterways for drinking water—particularly marginalized communities already facing disproportionate environmental risks.

John Lipscomb, retired Riverkeeper boat captain

“The River Is a Living Being”

John Lipscomb, retired Riverkeeper boat captain and longtime defender of the Hudson, addressed the group with a heartfelt call to action:

“The river is a living being. It is not a resource. The river is waiting on us to step up and help. The reason to come out here today is to reinforce in ourselves that we’re river protectors, not river observers. I find the spirit and faith in this group inspirational.”

Pilgrimage as a Path to Justice

“A pilgrimage is a journey toward the sacred,” said Sister Carol De Angelo, SC, ROAR member and Director of the Office of Peace, Justice, and Integrity of Creation for the Sisters of Charity of New York. “Humans are kin to creation… We need a new way of living and being, to recognize we’re all part of one single sacred community.”

Indeed, the pilgrimage was more than symbolic. It was a deep spiritual act of communion with the Earth—a statement that faith communities are rising to meet the climate and ecological crisis not with despair, but with hope and action.

What’s Next: A Call to Reflect and Act

As a follow-up, the Dominican Sisters of Hope will host a Zoom debrief on Thursday, September 25 at 2 PM ET. All are welcome to attend, hear reflections from the pilgrims, join in prayer, and explore ways to take meaningful action. Click here to sign up.

Help Us Close the Leachate Loophole

Now more than ever, we need strong voices to protect the sacred waters of New York. Current regulations allow leachate to flow into our rivers, but that can change with your help.

Take action today: Urge the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to close the leachate loophole and safeguard the health of the Hudson River, its ecosystems, and the communities that rely on it. For more information, go to https://leachateloophole.org/take-action/

Together, with faith and determination, we can become river protectors—and not just river observers.