Letter from Dominican sisters displaced in Iraq

GUESTWORK | Sr. Maria Hanna, OP

A year ago Illinois Times published two letters from Dominican Sisters in Iraq who had then recently been displaced from their convents in ISIS-controlled areas to live as internally displaced persons in Erbil. Many Springfi eld residents will be familiar with the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena in Iraq because of their association with the Dominican Sisters of Springfi eld. Over a period of 15 years, U.S. Dominican congregations, the Springfi eld Dominicans among them, have developed an enduring bond with their Iraqi sisters. Now, a year later, the sisters in Iraq report on their fi rst year of displacement.

Erbil, Iraq, July 22, 2015 – As we approach the first anniversary of our displacement, we look back and recall the past 12 months. We undertake this recollection to call to mind what the Lord has done for us, and how He accompanied us throughout the night of Aug. 6, 2014, to be displaced with His people. We would like to share with you our vision, our hope, and also our fears.

Remembering last August, the words of Psalm 124: 2-3 come to our mind: “If the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive.” It was really a dark night when we left, not knowing what to take with us or what to leave behind. Christians were everywhere on the road, not knowing what direction they should take. The shadow of ISIS’s hatred surrounded everything, and we understood little of what was happening. When we eventually arrived in Kurdistan, many people were homeless in the street. After a few days in Erbil, we realized that our towns in the Plain of Nineveh had been taken by ISIS, and our return became a distant and uncertain dream.

As a community, we thought of ways to mitigate the crisis and help people with their basic needs. We started our projects with empty hands, but with the help of our Dominican sisters and brothers, our friends and different organizations, we were able to provide the IDPs [internally displaced persons] with food and non-food items. We distributed blankets and mattresses (for 5,000 families), milk, diapers, home ware, towels, soap, summer blankets (for 10,000 families), shoes (for 740 pupils), 5,000 air-coolers, 600 refrigerators and 400 water-coolers.

Additionally, we thought of children who were lost in the midst of this chaos. We opened two kindergartens where children can come for free, and cooperated with some organizations to open a charitable clinic for the IDPs. And, we have just received a license to open a primary school, also for free. There are so many IDPs that sometimes we feel as if our work is inconsequential. Also, we were not prepared for this kind of work, nor have we skills to deal with it. Most shocking was the unexpected death of 10 sisters (most of them were in their 70s) in a period of three months.

Despite that, our ministry continues to be strengthened by the Lord, who blesses our efforts no matter how modest they are. Being occupied with such projects, we do not forget our mission to preach the word of God for our troubled people. Since winter, some of our sisters have been preparing 400 children for First Communion in six groups. Additionally, sisters continue to go to the IDP camps to minister: give talks, form groups of young people to have different spiritual exercises, pray with them, arrange Masses.

We wonder how long this will last. Our hearts are filled with sadness and overwhelming grief. We wait but we get nothing, we think but do not understand. What is next? No one knows. Where are we going? Everyone is lost. Yes, we do have shelter but our hearts are anxious and the relationships are truly troubled and the reality is bitter. Most elites have already left, and many are thinking of leaving the country because of the unhealthy conditions. Hundreds of IDPs are living in small, dark and damp (cubicles) caravans. With the help of Pontifical Mission and Oeuvre D’orient, we are working to provide flats for the IDPs. We depend on people of good will who help the IDPs live with dignity and hope. We ask you to continue to pray for us.

Sr. Maria Hanna, OP, is Prioress General of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena-Iraq.

Readers may send financial contributions to the Dominican Sisters in Iraq by going to https:// adriandominicans.org/Portals/1/ Donate/. Click “Other” and designate “Iraq.” Or they may mail a check marked “Iraq” to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan 49221.