CLINTON, IOWA — In response to growing concerns over the treatment of immigrants and proposed federal budget cuts to critical safety net programs, the Sisters of St. Francis in Clinton, Iowa will host a public prayer service on Tuesday, June 24, from 9:00 - 9:40 AM at The Canticle, located at 841 Thirteenth Avenue North, Clinton.

The event, titled “Sisters Speak Out: Prayer and Public Witness for Immigrants and a Just Economy,” is part of a national, multi-congregational campaign that calls on Catholic sisters, associates, ministry partners, and allies to join in prayer and public witness for federal budget decisions that reflect justice and compassion. The Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa are co-sponsors of the national event, along with nearly 50 other organizations and Catholic women religious congregations.  More information about the national Sisters Speak Out event is available at https://sistersspeakout.my.canva.site/.

While a simultaneous national gathering will take place on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the Clinton service will serve as a local opportunity to stand in solidarity with that effort. Participants will gather to pray for an end to mass and unlawful deportations, the preservation of public institutions and environmental protections, and the protection of life-sustaining programs such as Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which are facing severe cuts under the proposed federal budget.

The Sisters of St. Francis emphasize that their mission and corporate stances compel them to respond to urgent injustices threatening the most vulnerable members of society. Their participation in Sisters Speak Out reflects a broader call among Catholic women religious to take bold, faith-filled action in the face of policies that undermine human dignity and the common good.

This prayer service is open to the public, and all who are vaccinated against COVID-19 are welcome to attend.