Salvatorian Sentiments

By Sister Patrice Colletti, SDSKateri Initiative – Sisseton, South Dakota Waaaay back last school year… when my Dakota Immersion Class reading students were still struggling to sound out words like “cat” and “hit,” I had one student who was significantly ahead of everyone else. They were on letter sounds and short words. She was already…

Sister Ellen Sinclair, SDS Milwaukee, Wisconsin I was motivated to become a lawyer because I saw it as a way to work for justice. As a Salvatorian I still work for justice. As a pro bono attorney I help clients navigate a system that is too complicated and many times seems weighted against them. I…

By Sister Patrice Colletti, SDSKateri Initiative – Sisseton, South Dakota One of the many things I love about teaching is being immersed in mini-celebrations of “national/ international- whatever month/day/week.”  Just in March, we’ve got: National Invasive Species Awareness Week…. International Waffle Day….  National Noodle Month…  National Banana Cream Pie Day… National Introverts Week… National Button…

By Sister Darlene Pienschke, SDSDesert Mission – Tucson, Arizona Greetings from Casa Alitas.  Due to the large numbers arriving at the Immigration Center at Casa Alitas, and because COVID-19 requires greater distancing between our guests (immigrants), we are using another facility called the “Hotel” for overflow when guests need to stay with us for awhile. The…

Hello once again from Casa Alitas, whose staff continues to welcome all in spite of Covid’s contagious variants, new compliance protocols, need for “fashionable” protective clothing, and a new, but necessary, designated area of isolation.

By Sister Patrice Colletti, SDS My friend Betty and I celebrated an historic moment: completing the two COVID vaccines. Our celebration? Making donuts! SHE made the donuts and I “supervised” and taste-tested! Then, we put them out in the hallway in baggies for neighbors to help themselves. It was a simple and fun way to celebrate…

By Sister Darlene Pienschke, SDS in Tucson, Arizona On arrival at Casa Alitas this morning, revitalized with eager anticipation, I met and saw over 20-30 volunteers energized in a flurry of transformative work  ̶  shifting work stations; reorganizing, relocating and redesigning a clothing shop; stocking supplies; readying guests’ rooms and living spaces for adults and children;…

By Sister Patrice Colletti, SDS Kids watch a lot of TV. And often it is on in the background, all day long. This morning, during Reading Meeting, one of my kids (8-, 9- and 10-year-olds) asked about the situation in Washington, DC. He wanted to know why there was so many angry people. We talked…

By Sister Patrice Colletti, SDS Keyapi. (Kay-YA-pee) That’s how traditional stories start. It’s not “once upon a time,” but rather, “It is said.” It places the story in this time, as well as that. After all, time is a human invention, and most indigenous cultures do not see “time” as something arrayed upon a line of…