What's Happening

By Judy Byron, OP

I kept my fourth- to sixth-grade students safe by conducting fire and earthquake drills. Lockdowns weren’t in my teacher’s toolkit.

I didn’t have students bringing packets of ketchup with their school supplies, as I recently heard about one little girl doing. If a shooter came to her classroom, she wanted to be prepared to spread ketchup on herself and her friends so that the shooter would think that they were dead.

Everytown for Gun Safety reports that every day, 125 people in the United States are killed with guns and more than 200 are shot and wounded. And research by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions found that since 2020, firearms have been the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 17. When motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death for children, we changed that statistic by mandating seat belts, airbags, car seats, and driver education. Can we change the statistics on children and firearms?

Faith-based investors think we can. In 2017, the Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment (NWCRI), along with a group of colleagues from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), joined a growing number of public health experts, gun owners, state and city governments, and citizens in seeking solutions to gun violence.

We purchased stock in firearm manufacturers such as American Outdoor Brands (Smith & Wesson), Sturm Ruger, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, with the goal of engaging these companies regarding the positive role they can play in ending the epidemic of gun violence.

We wrote letters to the companies to raise our concerns and to request dialogue. When none of the companies responded, we filed shareholder resolutions with the manufacturers in early January 2018, “requesting a report on the company’s activities related to gun safety measures and the mitigation of harm associated with gun products.”

The Dick’s Sporting Goods resolution, filed in December 2018, requested a “report on actions our Company has taken on elements such as those based on Sandy Hook Principles,” including measures designed to curb gun violence such as background checks, technology to enhance the safety of guns, and gun safety education at point of sale. The company, including Chief Executive Officer Ed Stack, dialogued with us regarding the actions the company was taking. We were convinced that management was taking steps to reduce gun violence, so we withdrew our resolution.

We had not heard from the manufacturers when the tragedy in Parkland, Florida, on Valentine’s Day 2018 ignited a youth movement that had the potential to address gun violence in our country. Yet the manufacturers of firearms remained on the sidelines, even as their largest investor, BlackRock, publicly urged the companies to address gun safety with questions identical to those in our shareholder resolution.

At the Sturm Ruger annual meeting on May 9, 2019, a majority of shareholders – 69 percent – made it perfectly clear that they wanted the company to take seriously the social impact of its business and that gun safety is a significant and growing social issue. Chief Executive Officer Christopher Killoy’s response to the vote was, “The proposal requires Ruger to prepare a report. That’s it: a report…. What the proposal does not and cannot do is force us to change our business, which is lawful and constitutionally protected.”

Our resolution and dialogue with Dick’s Sporting Goods, however, did result in the company changing its business. On February 28, 2018, Dick’s announced that the company would no longer sell firearms to anyone under 21 or sell assault-style weapons and high capacity magazines. Stack ended his media release saying, “We deeply believe that this country’s most precious gift is our children. They are our future. We must keep them safe.”

Four years later, on May 24, 2022, at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the teachers and students knew what to do when confronted with a mass shooter, yet 19 children and two teachers did not survive. Today, compelled by the 10-year-old girl who survived and pleaded with the 911 operator, “Please help. I don’t want to die,” NWCRI and our colleagues continue to press firearms manufacturers to help end gun violence.

Used by permission from Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, A Matter of Spirit, Spring 2025, No. 145

Feature photo at top: Gun Safety Committee panel with Giffords Law Center, Guns Down America, and Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, whose daughter Jessie was killed in the Aurora Theatre in 2012.
 

June 16, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – The Adrian Dominican Sisters and Co-workers celebrated the milestone years of the employment of 35 Co-workers, who represent a combined 465 years of service. The carnival-themed celebration, held June 13, 2025, at the Motherhouse Campus, included a picnic lunch for all Co-workers and a recognition ceremony.

Two Co-workers shared the honor of working with the Adrian Dominican Sisters 40 years. Rowena Heck, of Food Service, and Teresa Horn, currently in the Office of Information, recently shared their experiences.

Rowena began working part-time for the Sisters when she was a high school senior, starting out in Food Service – washing dishes, sweeping, mopping, and performing other kitchen tasks. Over the years, she has been involved in nearly every element of Food Service. “Right now, I do everything in the kitchen except [serving as] the main cook,” she said. 

But for Rowena, her work for the Adrian Dominican Sisters has become like her home. “This place really helped me through life,” she said. Married at 25, she had two sons, Michael and Jared. She at first took them to after-school care, but the Sisters encouraged her to bring them to work. “The Sisters would help them with their homework,” she recalled. “They enjoyed teaching them spelling and writing.” One Sister took Jared with her when she fed apples to the deer. “It’s like their home, because they always came here before school started and after.” 

The late Sister Anthonita Porta, OP, who brought the Montessori education system to St. Joseph Academy, helped get Rowena’s sons into the Academy. In addition, Rowena said, the Human Resources Department worked with her when she needed time off when her mother was dying. “There aren’t many places that work with you when you go through crises,” she said. “When I had to take [time] off because of my mom, they were there for me.”

Rowena said her biggest challenge over the years was during the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the Congregation to close the dining room for Madden Hall, the administrative building. She was transferred to the dining room in the Dominican Life Center, serving the Sisters who were residents there rather than Co-workers. “Now I’m getting closer more and more with the Sisters in the area,” she said.

Overall, Rowena said, “It’s been an awesome ride, and I’m hoping to put in more years.” 

Teresa Horn, who began working for the Adrian Dominican Sisters as “a struggling college student” at Siena Heights College (now University), has worked in a variety of positions over the past 40 years: secretary in the Ministry/Personnel and Retirement Offices; Campus Administration; Technology; Communications and Technology; and finally the Office of Information, where she currently works with the Congregation’s database. 

Teresa has fond memories of the past 40 years, particularly of her years as administrative assistant for Campus Administration. Her responsibilities ran the gamut, from working with Sisters moving into the Motherhouse and working with policies and procedures to planning special events and responding to the needs of the Sisters and Co-workers during storms and power outages. Finally, Teresa worked on the telecommunications project, working with consultants to install an updated telecommunications system on the Motherhouse Campus. “I absolutely loved that job,” Teresa said. “Our office was the hub. We oversaw everything.”

She also likes the balance of prayer time, Church, and work time, including permission to attend the funeral of a Sister who impacted her. The Sisters and Co-workers at the Motherhouse often celebrate special feast days, such as the Feast of St. Dominic, “where we can all be together and sing and share Scriptures together. It’s nice to have that kind of environment.”

Teresa also emphasized the team spirit she encountered during her work. “Everything that I have done over the 40-plus years has always been accomplished because of others that I worked with,” she said. “We always did things together as a team and I am so appreciative of the support that was given to accomplish the end goals.”

Service has also been an important component of her time with the Adrian Dominican Sisters. “I always loved helping others with their needs – whether they were staff, resident, vendor, or visiting guest,” she said. “I believe helping others makes their day just a little lighter.”

Other Co-workers recognized during the recognition event included:

•    35 Years: Jan Perry, Dominican Life Center (DLC) Administration, and Marilyn Paus, Weber Retreat and Conference Center.

•    25 Years: Melissa Comfort, Nursing, and Diane Keefer, Resident Services.

•    20 Years: Barb Watson, Environmental Services, and Sister Sandy Exley, OP, Resident Services.

•    15 Years: Michelle Kadrovach, Finance Office, and Amanda Johns, Nursing.

•    10 Years: Joel Henricks, Campus Administration; Amy Palmer, Development Office; Sandra Place, DLC Administration; Kathi Serrato, Environmental Services; Lacey Bales, Facilities and Grounds; Beckie DuShane, Finance Office; Jeanette Desgrange, General Council Administration; Stacy Colley, Devin Horstman, Heather Ruskowsky, and Amanda Wilt, Nursing; Robyn Wellman, Office Support Services; and Heather Warren and Frreya Willnow, Resident Services.

•    5 Years: Keith Gordon, Eleta Moll, and Ashley Serrato, Environmental Services; Levi Pike, Food Service; Stephanie Garcia, Gwi Jeong Jung, Madison Morgret, Lisa Paulette, Louann Pursifull, and Alison Tripp, Nursing; and Russ Amo, Transportation.

The Adrian Dominican Sisters, an equal-opportunity employer, always seek Co-workers in a variety of fields, willing to serve as partners in mission with the Sisters. See our employment page at https://adriandominicans.org/Employment for more information on the culture of the workplace and current job openings.

 

Feature photos at top - Left: Rowena Heck, left, receives her Service Award for 40 years with the Adrian Dominican Sisters from Jason Wilkins, Director of Food Service. He was dressed as a ring master in keeping with the celebration’s theme, Carnival. Right: Teresa Horn, left, recognized for 40 years of service with the Adrian Dominican Sisters, stands next to Sister Joy Finfera, OP, Director of the Office of Information.