Experience Together

Voter awareness and participation
urged by Nuns on the Bus

Sister Alice Zachmann being interview during Nuns on the Bus rallySister Alice Zachmann, SSND, joined the Nuns on the Bus for the “We the People, We the Voters” tour to help promote the right and responsibility to vote. The tour reminds each person of the importance of being engaged in the democratic process. She rode the bus Sept. 22-24 for the Minnesota leg of the trip.

Sister Alice is an inspiring octogenarian, who made her first vows as a School Sister of Notre Dame in 1949. She taught children in elementary grades for the first 22 years of her ministry; ministered in parishes for 15 years; founded the Guatemala Human Rights Commission in Washington, D.C., serving as its first director from 1982-2002; and worked for the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition from 2002-2012. She currently lives at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Mankato, Minn., where she ministers with the community and works on peace and justice concerns.

“Heartened and hopeful” were the words Sister Alice used to describe her experience with the Nuns on the Bus tour. The Minnesota tour stops were in Rochester, Mankato, St. Joseph, Duluth and St. Paul. Because the stops were in college towns, people young and old attended the town hall meetings. They raised and discussed issues concerning:

    • Growing militarization in the country
    • Inadequate funding for education
    • Ongoing poverty and homelessness
    • Access to healthcare
    • Lack of support for military veterans
    • Unemployment and underemployment
    • Human trafficking
    • Drug abuse
    • Overcrowded prisons

Sister Alice commented, “By talking together and forming bonds of relationship, we came away from the meetings with hope.” How can apathy be addressed in the face of so many problems? People took to heart the responsibility to vote. Through pledge cards, individuals committed to vote in the upcoming elections and encourage others to vote.

Regarding the seemingly insurmountable number of problems we face, Sister Alice said, “In addition to voting, each person can counter indifference by working on one issue at a time, doing what s/he can do. The cumulative effect of these efforts will yield results for the common good.”

The 10-state tour began with a kick-off rally in Des Moines, Iowa, Sept. 17 and ends with a town hall meeting for the 100 percent in Denver, Colorado, Oct. 20.

As a faithful citizen, how has God called you to participate?

Nuns on the Bus - We the People, We the Voters

More information about the Nuns of the Bus in Mankato, including resource links, available at http://www.ssndcentralpacific.org/Experience/Nuns-on-the-Bus-Mankato-Minnesota

Photo credit: Sister Mary Kay Ash, SSND
Graphic credit: Network

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