Nuns on the Bus at the Sunday morning Mass - Sylvania, OH

Pictures from the Sunday morning Mass in Sylvania, Ohio.

The Franciscan Sisters and Nuns on the Bus supporters with a display of Pope Francis.

Sisters Julie Ann and and Clare with a display of Pope Francis.

Sunday morning Mass at the Sylvania Franciscans in Sylvania, OH.  (Sophia Center, where Sister Sharon ministers, is sponsored by these sisters.)

Sister Julie Ann receiving communion.

Sisters Simone and Clare are waving goodbye as they board the bus for Cleveland.

The people prayed in blessing for the Nuns on the Bus at the end of the Mass, as they were about to leave for Cleveland and the Republican Convention.

At the Toledo stop - Saturday

Nuns on the Bus at the rally at International Park in downtown Toledo, Ohio.

Caucus on Mending the Gap in Toledo Saturday evening. 

Ohio Representative Marcy Kaptur who was instrumental in Congress for the passing of the Health Care Bill and supportive of women religious.

Sisters Clare, Sharon and Julie Ann.

Sister Julie Ann and Clare

Sister Simone in front of the Nuns on the Bus group.

Caucus on Mending the Gap in Toledo Saturday evening.

Sister Julie is presenting a question for the participants to discuss.

Sister Clare is introducing some Healthcare questions fir small groups to consider for Mending the Gap.

Rolling Into . . .

Nuns on the Bus Rolling into St. Louis

“The wheels on the bus go round and round” was the music on the bus as we entered the Forest Park Southeast area of St. Louis. Met by Ms. Bobbie Sykes, chairperson of VOW (Voices of Women), the sisters participated in a tour of the local neighborhood. Ms. Bobbie explained that the area is undergoing gentrification where houses that previously were affordable were now out of the economic range of the local population.

Ms. Sykes gathered a group of VOW members (clients, board members, elected officials) for a discussion about the Work of VOW. Their vision affirms:

· Women, particularly mothers, are decision-makers.

· People bring diverse experience and knowledge to our efforts.

· Everyone contributes their efforts, ideas and hopes.

· People will be respected for their contributions.

· No contributions will be allowed to be diminished by anyone.

In order to assist women as heads of households, Ms. Sykes and her Board of Directors has been embodied this mission in a project called the “Unbanked Program”.  Instead of using Payday Loans, the Board set up the “Unbanked Project”. Women can make small, interest free, loans. 

As Bobbie Sykes says, “We don’t do background checks, we do face checks! Women repay the loans and Contribute to the services of the program.

 Another microfinance project, Women’s Helping Hands and Tiny Hands for children, allow women and children to make and save money, amounts of which are matched by a generous donor. 

Nuns on the Bus Rolling into Terra Haute, Indiana . . .

Rolling on, Nuns on the Bus participated in a rally at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Sr. Simone greet the large groups of caucus participants, grouped at tables labeled by the Nuns on the Bus gap and access issues. Groups reported out the need for more jobs that pay a living wage, the need for re-tooling workers for today’s jobs.  The healthcare group raised the issue of child hunger where 60-65% of children are hungry. The group asked “Why? Why is this happening in our community?” Local people need to work 2 and three jobs to afford housing which results in less time available to support their family in ways other than financial. The absolute interconnectedness of all of the issues was key learning from the evening.

Day 5 on the Bus

Yes, the signatures from CSA Days are on the Bus as it travels to the Republican and Democratic national conventions. We can't believe it is already day 5, yet can't believe it's only day 5. We are riding to Fort Wayne today. Bus is quiet as everyone gets a break long enough to get work done. Every sister is sitting with a phone, an iPad or their computer . . . 

Occasionally interviews, planning, and orientations break the silence as we prepare for the stops. 

We meet with local citizens such as the group in Jefferson City, Missouri, sharing our goal to mend gaps in our society and, gathering their stories of gap challenges. Energy is always high, stories tragic, and hopes possible. 

The bus is signed by those pledging to do their part to mend the gaps. When the last finishes, we move on to the next stop.

Pre-Launch Blessing

Nuns to Collect, Share Stories From Trip to Republican / Democratic conventions

The nuns and nunsonthebus (NOTB) staff arrived in Madison this morning, July 11.  So did the Bus! The external graphics are beautiful, proclaim our message, and wait to be signed.  The inside is also beautiful, invites us to be together and says we have some serious work to do.   The orientations today, our energy, and our discussions speak clearly:  'It is good for us to be here.' We gather tonight with the community of Madison and Wisconsin to bless the Bus and send us on our way.  Please join us in prayer. networklobby.org  nunsonthebus.org
More NETWORK photos     CSA Photos  
                                                                                                                       Video: CSA Sisters, Associates and Staff Support Nuns on the Bus

The morning news from Dallas, Minnesota, Louisiana, reports from the campaign trails, ... scream of anger, division, hatred, pain. Our reflection this morning called us to revisit the NETWORK-Nuns on the Bus website and refresh our understanding of the purpose this trip. We share this with you. 

 * * *

Nuns on the Bus 2016

NETWORK’s Nuns on the Bus are hitting the road again – daring to call on elected officials and candidates to Mend the Gaps in income and wealth inequality in our nation.

Read Our 2020 Vision: Mend the Gaps | View Our 2016 Bus Schedule

In an election year, it is crucial that this message be heard and heeded because we know that when people at the economic margins do better, we all do better. We will bring the bus to both the Republican and Democratic Conventions where we will educate people on the gaps that we are experiencing in our society and NETWORK’s proactive policy strategy that can bridge those divides.

Our goal is to bring a politics of inclusion to divided places, change the conversation to mending the vast economic and social divides in our country, and counter political incivility with our message of inclusion.

NETWORK’s 44 year-old faith-filled political message is an alternative to the anger, fear, and polarization of this election cycle.  We believe in faithful citizenship, which compels us to travel the country to listen to the lived experiences of people in their communities and hold elected officials accountable to the promises they have made to legislate for the common good.

* * *