Bending the Arc

The group, Catholics in Communion, is offering a Virtual Election Novena to pray, reflect and act in communion November 1 through November 9 at 6:30 pm CT each of the nine evenings. Together, participants will pray utilizing the USCCB's Novena for Faithful Citizenship, share prayers of the faithful, check in with local communities holding vigil across the country, and hear about the latest election related news and opportunities to act to ensure all citizens can meaningfully participate and all legal votes are counted. Sign up for resources. You will be emailed the Zoom link after you register.

Additionally, The Leadership Conference for Women Religious (LCWR) will be offering an Election Novena October 26 - November 5 with a virtual prayer vigil throughout the day on November 3 - Election Day. A 10-minute contemplative prayer will be posted for each day on the LCWR website. The daily prayer will be posted by 7:30 pm on the preceding day, with the first posting on Sunday evening, October 25. The daily posting will allow the prayer to be responsive to what is happening in our world, in our lives, and in our congregations. 

On Election Day, November 3, LCWR will also be offering a virtual 24-Hour Prayer Vigil. Simply join with this Zoom link any time during the day, 12 am - 12 pm. 

The USCCB offers these 10 Ways You can Take Action for Faithful Citizenship, which includes this novena. 
 

Jeffrey Weisheit is scheduled to be executed on November 5 by the state of Indiana for the murders of Alyssa and Caleb Lynch. Please hold Jeffrey, Alyssa, Caleb, their families, and the people of Indiana in prayer. 
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Michael Taylor is scheduled to be executed on November 5 by the state of Alabama for the murders of Ivan and Lucille Moore. Please hold Michael, Ivan, Lucille, their families, and the people of Alabama in prayer. 
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Jesse Guardado is scheduled to be executed on November 5 by the state of Florida for the murder of Jackie Malone. Please hold Jesse, Jackie, their families, and the people of Florida in prayer. 
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James Pavatt is scheduled to be executed on November 12 by the state of Oklahoma for the murder of Rob Andrew. Please hold James, Rob, their families, and the people of Oklahoma in prayer. 
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John Allen Rubio is scheduled to be executed on November 12 by the state of Florida for the murders of Julissa Quesada, John E. Rubio and Mary Jane Rubio. Please hold John, Julissa, John E., Mary Jane, their families, and the people of Florida in prayer. 
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Reinaldo Dennes is scheduled to be executed on November 19 by the state of Texas for the murder of Janos Szucs. Please hold Reinald, Jano, their families, and the people of Florida in prayer. 
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Nidal Hasan is scheduled for execution by the U.S. Military on December 3, for the Fort Hood shooting in Texas, in which he killed 13 soldiers and injured 32 others. Please hold Nidal and all service members and their families in prayer.

Nidal Hasan's stated motivation is to become a martyr. Executing him fulfills that wish, providing him a platform to inspire other religious extremists to replicate his action. Throwing away the key on him will provide severe punishment while not giving him a platform to inspire more terrorist attacks.

If carried out, this would be the first U.S. Military execution since 1961, and it comes at a time when the public is becoming more and more concerned about the use of the death penalty in light of recent failed executions, as well as with a number of other problematic issues regarding mental illness, race, intellectual disability, problematic attorneys and judges, and more.

Please sign the petition asking U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump to call off this execution.

Want to do more? Please consider attending First Friday Prayer Vigils with Catholic Mobilizing Network. The next vigil is scheduled for November 6, 2026, at 1 p.m. CT, featuring a Scripture reflection from Most Reverend Jaime Soto of the Diocese of Sacramento.  

You can also take action and oppose upcoming executions at https://catholicsmobilizing.org/our-work/death-penalty/executions/ 

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes goes on record as being opposed to the death penalty. 
 

A recent report from Midwest Environmental Advocates shares the great news that, with their help, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin has reached a settlement in a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) over the proposed use of an aquatic herbicide that threatened wild rice beds within the Menominee Reservation.

The case began in February 2025 when Legend Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District applied to the DNR for a permit to treat parts of Legend Lake with an herbicide known to harm wild rice. The Tribe challenged DNR’s decision to issue the permit, which led to months of negotiations.  

The Tribe’s connection to wild rice—and its interest in managing Legend Lake—is difficult to overstate. “Menominee” literally translates to “wild rice people.” Legend Lake was created in the 1960s as part of an economic development plan following the termination of the Tribe’s federal recognition. The project dammed and dredged eight natural lakes where wild rice had historically flourished. Legend Lake’s legacy remains intertwined with the Tribe’s sovereignty and efforts to restore wild rice.

Under the settlement finalized in September, the DNR will no longer permit chemical herbicides where wild rice is growing or being seeded, or in designated sensitive aquatic habitats. The agency also agreed to update sensitive area designations based on Tribal input and consult with the Tribe before approving future chemical applications.  
 

On Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 11 am CT in the U.S. and 8:00 pm in Jerusalem, Lutheran Peace Fellowship is hosting a conversation with Bishop Dr. Munib Younan, former President of the Lutheran World Federation and retired Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. You are invited to attend. Registration required at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3FNwOh79TSKscSbU3QnnOg.

You can prepare by watching Stolen Stories | Episode 1: Nakba | ELCA Sumud

“Stolen Stories” is a 5-part educational video series, produced by ECLA Samud. In these short videos you can listen to the voices of Palestinian Christians as they recount their historical narrative from pre-1948 to present day. This series highlights the important perspectives of our Palestinian siblings in Christ and lifts up the experiences of Palestinians-- especially the indigenous Christians of Palestine and Israel-- in their own words. In “Stolen Stories”, Palestinian Christian pastors, bishops, and scholars offer important contextual, historical, and theological framework that continues to shape life in Palestine and Israel today.

After the administration ended a contract that paid attorneys to represent unaccompanied minors, more than 20,000 children have been left to represent themselves in immigration court, before a judge and government prosecutor speaking often in a language they don't know. The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act (HR 9259/S 1297) would ensure that every unaccompanied minor who faces immigration court is represented by a lawyer and not alone in the process. Join the United Church of Christ and tell Congress to pass this important legislation.

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Grist is an independent news magazine who reports on the climate and environment and their intersections with energy, policy, food, extreme weather, and more.

They’ve dug up a century of evidence that shows how fossil fuel companies sold a vision of prosperity - from the family care to the dream kitchen - that depended on their own products. 
We are literally prisoners of this system that fuels climate change and unhealthy conditions. How can we extricate ourselves and Earth from the ongoing damage? The following article by Grist Magazine's Kate Yoder examines how this happened to us under the radar in many pervasive ways. Read the full story.

In an October 22, 2026, press release, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced funding to help 12 communities remove over 15,000 lead service lines to ensure clean, safe drinking water. More than $102 million has been allocated for financial assistance through the Lead Service Line Replacement Program.

Read the full announcement and learn which municipalities have been selected to receive funding.

Also on this day, Gov. Evers delivered a radio address celebrating the launch of two new programs to fight PFAS statewide. The programs will provide funding to help communities sample private wells and public water supplies for PFAS contamination. The two grant programs are funded by the $125 million PFAS Trust Fund, which was previously approved in the 2023-25 Biennial Budget but languished unspent in Madison for years despite the governor’s persistent demands for the funds to be released. Earlier this year, that funding was released thanks to 2025 Wisconsin Acts 200 and 201, which were signed by Gov. Evers. Read the full press release.

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes applauds these commitments to care for Earth, home of all living creatures. 
 

CSA associates are committed to Care for Earth and would love your help protecting local wildlife and waterways. 

Save the date to lend a hand at our Adopt-A-Highway pick-up site in 2027:
Apr 24, July 24, Oct 16

Volunteers gather at the Park and Ride lot on the corner of Winnebago Drive and Hwy 151 at 8:30 a.m. and work for 45-60 minutes.
Safety vests and bags are provided.
If you have a ‘reacher’ for picking up items, please bring it. There are a few extra for folks to use.

In the event of questionable weather use good judgment, and don’t hesitate to contact crew chief Joanna Schohl 920-517-1387 with any questions.

New volunteers

Please watch the WI DOT safety video: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/doing-bus/real-estate/roadsides/adopt-hwy/safety.aspx