As many of you know, I belong to an international religious order of men and women, vowed religious and laypeople whose mission is to provide for the spiritual needs of people in virtually all parts of the world. We call ourselves The Dominican Family working to bring the good news of God’s love for us to all peoples everywhere no matter their religious beliefs.

News of my Dominican family in Ukraine come to me by way of a Dominican friar who serves in a leadership position there. His letters reach us through our network of communication. I post them there here on Shem Center’s website by way of sharing with you news of our international spirit and purpose, one that inspires Shem Center’s purpose of respectfully engaging all people everywhere.

This letter contains more than an incomplete sentence of a hastily sent text message. It asks for more than a cursory glance at a cell phone. Here are some moving stories of people who don’t make it on the network news. I invite you to find a quiet place to read and take in these stories knowing that they come from people much like the rest of us, with the same concerns about family, the world and its survival.

Adolfo Nicholas, SJ speaks of “the globalization of superficiality.” I invite you, no I urge you to take some time to read this letter reflect more deeply.

With respect and gratitude,

Joseph Kilikevice.,OP
Director, Shem Center for Interfaith Spirituality