We, the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, affirm our stance against the death penalty made in 2000. As followers of Jesus and Francis of Assisi, we hold the dignity of each person as sacred. Every person is the image of God and has the right to the breath of life.

• We are against both federal and state executions.
• We believe in the power of restorative justice.
• We work in harmony with organizations holding parallel views.
• We pray for peace first in our hearts and for our world.

The quality and safety of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the plants, fish and animals we use for food must be protected. One would think this is something we could all agree on. So it is most concerning to see the continual rollback of regulations that had, for instance, reduced pollution, such as brain-damaging mercury and cancer-causing pesticide. We cannot silently stand by and watch our Mother Earth, our health, and our lives be sacrificed for convenience or profit. Economy and livelihood are often the arguments, yet what good is a livelihood without health---or life itself? Or is this about who is actually affected---namely, not ourselves or our family, not our particular state or city, not our generation. It’s some nameless people, immigrant people, poor people, people who have not yet been born. 

We must be better than that. We must speak up against injustices against our common home. We must look to the vision set forth in Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ and respond accordingly. This year we celebrate the fifth anniversary of this encyclical which says that “those who will have to suffer the consequences of what we are trying to hide will not forget this failure of conscience and responsibility.” (169) “Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” (217)

So, what will you and I do, especially in honor of Laudato Si’? How will we stand up, speak up for life? There are plenty of options. We can spread awareness, sign petitions, contact members of congress, volunteer for a related cause or donate to it.

In accordance with the State of Illinois Outdoor Visitation Guidelines for long-term care facilities, we are now ready to welcome guests for visits with our Sisters at the Motherhouse. Although the Motherhouse is not a long-term care facility, these guidelines are being followed out of an abundance of caution for our elderly Sisters who are most vulnerable to the virus. The guidelines are can be found here. See you soon!

Have you ever wondered, what do women religious do? What are their lives like? Are they different today than in days past? See this brief video for some answers. Sisters in Ministry: The Gospel in Action https://youtu.be/l7E4Bt0JqW4 via @YouTube