Engagement with the Poor People’s Campaign continues as Sisters of Mercy justice coordinator Jean Stokan joined a diverse group of faith leaders from across the country at an urgent congressional briefing in support of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. The group urged Congress to act on living wages, voting rights, and polices that can help lift millions of families out of poverty.
On June 18, 2022 more than 50 Sisters, Associates and co-workers joined thousands of others to participate in the Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington, a generationally transformative gathering of poor and low wealth people, state leaders, faith communities, moral allies, unions and partnering organizations.
The Poor People’s Campaign is building power for an agenda that lifts all people by challenging the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and the false moral narrative of religious nationalism. It’s is no wonder that the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas are partners in this movement as our Critical Concerns are aligned with this agenda.
Watch a recording of the event here.
Sister Aine O’Connor opened the prayer service for Catholic participants (photo above). Sister Anne Marie Miller represents Catholic faith partners and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas on the main stage at the Moral March in the video below:
Reflections on the day:
- Read reflections by Sister Carren Herring and Sister Diane Guerin in their blogs “We can make a difference” and “This is what solidarity looks like”
Learn more about the Poor People’s Campaign:
- Read about the preparations of Sister Joan Serda and Sister Marilyn Graf as they prepare to ride the bus from Mobile, AL to Washington, DC: Ready to Ride the Poor People’s Campaign Bus.
- Register to attend the Assembly and Moral March in Washington, DC on June 18.
- Watch the recording or the May 5th webinar, Catholics Engaging the Poor People’s Campaign, hosted by the Mercy Justice Team.
- Learn more on the PPC event page.
- Read about how the Poor People’s Campaign mirrors Mercy’s Critical Concerns.
- Check out this April 2022 report from the Poor People’s Campaign mapping the intersections of poverty, race and COVID-19 or watch this recording of the press conference. Additional reporting is available from the Washington Post and Newsweek.
- Watch the promo video for the June 18th event:
From the archives:
- Sister Mary Ellen Howard is featured in this article from the National Catholic Reporter about PPC efforts to address health care and the health of the earth.
- Mercy Justice Team member Marianne Comfort chronicles her first experience of civil disobedience that took place at an event sponsored by the PPC.