With the endless gun violence and murders that have occurred recently, sadness, exasperation, and even hopelessness are weighing heavy on many of our minds.  As Dominicans, we search for answers and, as importantly, actions we can take that will have some impact.  Below are links to videos and information that may help each of us discern how we might be called to respond.  

Arnold Ventures

Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing problems in the United States. They invest in sustainable change, building it from the ground up based on research, deep thinking, and a strong foundation of evidence. 

Click the link below to view their video: 
It's  Time to Stop Talking About Gun Violence and Invest in Saving Lives 

Georgetown University: Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life

The Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life is a unique effort to promote dialogue on Catholic social thought and national and global issues, build bridges across political, religious, and ideological lines, and encourage a new generation of Catholic lay leaders to see their faith as an asset in pursuing the common good. They will host a panel discussion on June 8 from 12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m. EDT that includes Sr. Judy Bryron, O.P., and Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio. For more information, visit:

After Buffalo, After Uvalde, After Tulsa – Broken Hearts, Broken Nation, Faithful Action

IMpowered Voices: A Unity Concert 2022 – InterFaith Ministries

InterFaith Ministries, IMpower women’s initiative, will stream a free live concert on their Facebook page on June 9 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. CST. The concert’s theme is “Unity is Our Strength” and will include performances by Teofilo BIjarro, The Ensemble Theatre, the Houston Grand Opera, and the Houston Symphony.  

For more information, visit: 
IMpowered Voices Concert June 9 - INFORMATION

The DF Racial Justice Committee, led by Calista Herbert calista@herberts.org, and Poverty Committee, led by Shawna Callahan shawna.callaghan@att.n..., actively pursue ways to learn about and act in response these serious social problems. Contact them directly via email for more information. 

Also, a reminder that our summer Social Gathering is on June 22 at Maria Burdick’s home at 5:30 p.m., 318 Isolde Dr., Houston 77024. Our DF community is stronger when we are well connected and know each other well. Please take this opportunity to build those ties between us that make us stronger as a group.

Peace,

Mary Gangelhoff
Maria Burdick
Greg Schockling
Sr. Carol Mayes, O.P.

Integral Ecology Highlight - GLASS

Glass does not decompose easily and is categorized as one of the human-made longest-lasting materials. A glass bottle may take up to 1 million years to decompose in the environment. However, recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to power a normal light bulb for about four hours.