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Sisters of Providence react with prayer, advocacy to federal executions in Terre Haute
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods spoke out against, and prayed for, all people impacted by the death penalty and their victims last week. The first federal executions in 17 years took place on July 14, 16 and 17 at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, located just 10 miles from the Sisters of Providence motherhouse at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. The Sisters of Providence held a prayer vigil at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods on Sunday evening. Representatives of the Sisters of Providence also attended and spoke at the Death Penalty Action group’s federal execution press conferences, which took place on July 6 and 13. Sisters of Providence also joined peaceful demonstrations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons at the corner of U.S. 41 and Springhill Road in Terre Haute, not far from where the executions were taking place.
We stand for all life, not death. As a Congregation, we believe humanity has moved past the old adage of “an eye for an eye.” In fact, Jesus urged all to “turn the other cheek.” As a Congregation, we call on our country to move beyond these barbaric rituals.
![Exec-prayer-vigil-2020-5-for-web Sister Paula Modaff prays the closing prayer during Sunday’s service, “God of compassion and justice, look with kindness upon your people and hear our prayer. In your goodness, you have given us the awesome power to generate life and also to take it away. Be with us, O God, as we keep vigil in our prayer. Be with us in our desire to be people of light and life to others. Amen.”](https://i0.wp.com/spsmw.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Exec-prayer-vigil-2020-5-for-web.jpg?w=271&h=180&ssl=1)
![Wed-protestors Sister Nancy Bartasavich, left, joins the group of the peaceful anti-death penalty protesters along US 41 in Terre Haute on Wednesday](https://i0.wp.com/spsmw.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Wed-protestors.jpg?w=279&h=195&ssl=1)
![Exec-prayer-vigil-2020-2-for-web Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp welcomed everyone to prayer and led the group in the opening prayer, “A Prayer to Abolish the Death Penalty,” by Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, published by Pax Christi. It began, “God of Compassion, You let your rain fall on the just and the unjust. Expand and deepen our hearts so that we may love as You love, even those among us who have caused the greatest pain by taking life.”](https://i0.wp.com/spsmw.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Exec-prayer-vigil-2020-2-for-web.jpg?w=279&h=186&ssl=1)
![Sister-Jeanne-Press-Conference-web Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp stands behind Terre Haute NAACP branch president Sylvester Edwards at the July 13 federal execution press conference.](https://i0.wp.com/spsmw.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Sister-Jeanne-Press-Conference-web.jpg?w=235&h=157&ssl=1)
![July-6-conference1-web Terre Haute NAACP Branch President Sylvester Edwards (center) speaks during a July 6 press conference alongside (from left) Sister Barbara Battista, Karen Burkhart and Arthur Feinsod.](https://i0.wp.com/spsmw.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/July-6-conference1-web.jpg?w=369&h=246&ssl=1)
![Exec-prayer-vigil-2020-1-for-web Sisters of Providence gathered in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on the evening of July 12 to hold a prayer vigil prior to the three scheduled executions in the coming week. While honoring physical distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sisters prayed for all who were involved in violence – the victims and their families as well the three men scheduled to be executed and their families.](https://i0.wp.com/spsmw.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Exec-prayer-vigil-2020-1-for-web.jpg?w=432&h=324&ssl=1)