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Herald Malaysia
a day ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Catholic Sister brings synodal approach to prison through restorative justice
Sr. Janet Ryan, OSF, facilitates restorative 'justice circle keeper' trainings for staff and incarcerated individuals inside prisons in the US state of Illinois, as part of her ministry with Mobilizing Network. Jun 28, 2025 Sr. Janet, OSF leads a circle training with Catholic Mobilizing Network at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation in Chicago, Illinois By Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, Catholic Mobilizing Network*When thinking of the American penal system, we might recall the harsh conditions depicted in popular movies and television shows. And when one hears about justice being pursued or carried out in these environments, the first words that come to mind might be punishment and retribution. Of course, our Catholic understanding of justice extends beyond this narrow definition to include concepts and goals like rehabilitation and restoration. True justice—Gospel-inspired justice—is oriented toward genuine peace, flourishing, and even communion. This vision of justice is truly a synodal way of proceeding. It is rooted in the dignity of each person, something that is innate and cannot be forfeited. But does that vision of justice and the recognition of each person's dignity, even when they have committed grave crimes, seem like a mere fantasy, given the nature of incarceration and capital punishment in the United States? Sr. Janet Ryan, OSF, does not think so. That's why she is leading restorative justice trainings inside prisons throughout Illinois. Sowing Seeds of Hope in Prison Sr. Janet is a Fransiscan sister from Clinton, Iowa. For more than a decade, she has served at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR), an organization located in the Back of the Yards neighborhood in Chicago, IL, which exists to restore human dignity through hospitality, hope, and healing. It feels especially fitting to share the story of her hope-filled work in prison as we continue to celebrate this special Jubilee Year dedicated to hope. Founded by the Catholic religious order, the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, PBMR serves community members who are impacted by violence and the criminal justice system, including men and women who are currently incarcerated. Sr. Janet's particular role within PBMR is to lead the peace circle prison ministry. A peace circle, also known as the restorative practice of circle process, invites participants to sit in a circle and pass a talking piece, which signals the speaking order. Facilitators, like Sr. Janet, guide the dialogue using a series of prompts to which every person has the chance to provide a response. Recently, Sr. Janet has initiated a new circle process training program inside prisons to equip incarcerated individuals and prison staff to use the restorative practice of circle process themselves. Offering this program not only to those who are incarcerated, but to the correctional staff at these prison facilities as well, Sr. Janet transcends this common divide in a highly uncommon way. Sr. Janet says each time she gathers in a circle is an opportunity to meet 'beautiful, loving, funny, gifted people.' There is a lot of laughter and a lot of tears. Through authentic dialogue, the circle process creates space to recognize the humanity in every person, which Sr. Janet says 'has the potential to have long-term impact and bring about real transformation'—even if that takes time. Each training is conducted over the course of four days and takes roughly 28 hours to complete. In that time, Sr. Janet shares that she hopes to reflect the goodness, beauty, and dignity of those who are incarcerated and those who work in corrections, creating a space where each person feels safe enough to share honestly and vulnerably without judgment. By the end of this experience, Sr. Janet says the participants—whether incarcerated individuals or prison staff—walk away with the skills and tools needed to facilitate these kinds of authentic dialogues in prison or in their community. Catholic Mobilizing Network's facilitator guide, Conversations in Communion: Parish Dialogues for Connection and Understanding, serves as a companion to Sr. Janet's trainings. She said that one inmate was particularly passionate about the potential impact of this model. He made a striking observation, suggesting that you could change parish to prison, and parishioner to inmate, and distribute copies throughout prisons across the country. Synodal Encounters Toward Healing and Communion A testament to the success of this approach is that Sr. Janet's co-trainer, Eric Anderson, is helping to facilitate circles in the very facility where he was incarcerated about five years ago. His story is a great inspiration to many of the men who know his history and desire a better way forward. The staff, meanwhile, have been polite and professional toward him, even those not yet ready to participate in a circle with him. Sr. Janet is aware that the circle process is deeply countercultural—particularly in the prison system. But this is why it can be so transformational. She believes we can do better—for the incarcerated individuals and the prison staff—to reduce trauma and stress and to create a more just and effective system. Hosting these trainings is one step in that direction. Amid fractured relationships and divided communities, we are all in need of dialogue like this that fosters deep listening, authentic encounter, and radical truth-telling that can build a path toward healing and communion. Whether behind prison bars or in the parish hall, this is the work of synodality that we as a Church are being called to. Both synodality and restorative justice encompass a vision and process for journeying together through woundedness and division, inside prison and here on the outside. Just how critical this work is can be best summed up here: When some of the incarcerated individuals found out that the Department of Corrections did not provide any funding for their trainings, they pooled their own resources and wrote Sr. Janet a check for more than $1,000. Sr. Janet's teaching of circle process—and the transformation made possible through the practices of restorative justice—is truly a tangible sign of hope today. * Are you interested in bringing the restorative process of circle process to your parish, ministry, or community? Explore Catholic Mobilizing Network's formation program Conversations in Communion: Parish Dialogues for Connection and Understanding. --Vatican News
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
‘It makes my heart happy': OSF doctor stresses importance of diapers ahead of donation event
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Diapers are critical to the health of newborn babies. Data shows, though, half of families with young kids in the U.S. can't afford enough to keep their children clean and healthy. WCIA and United Way of Champaign County want to reverse the statistics and are hosting a Diaper Drive on Friday, June 20th. Dr. Awad Alyami, a pediatrician at OSF, knows donations can make a big difference. Watch his interview above as he breaks down 'why.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Champaign Refugee Center reacts to sweeping travel bans and restrictions
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — President Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday that bans visitors and immigrants from 12 countries and restricts the entry of people from another seven. This has some in Central Illinois, including those at the Refugee Center in Champaign scared, but Trump said it's necessary for the security of the country. Champaign Co. energy program receiving $1M through grant 'It can't come fast enough, we don't want other bad people coming into our country,' Trump said. The countries facing full bans include: Afghanistan Myanmar Chad Republic of Congo Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Haiti Iran Libya Somalia Sudan Yemen The countries facing restrictions include: Burundi Cuba Laos Sierra Leone Togo Turkmenistan Venezuela Long called the melting pot, Refugee Center Director Lisa Wilson said Trump's proclamation goes directly against what the country represents. She and her team work daily helping immigrants immerse themselves into their new homes. 'It flies in the face of what America stands for,' Wilson said. 'Unless you were a Native American, at some point in our history, somebody in your family decided they were in a situation where they could not stay in their home country, and they had no choice but to leave.' Wednesday's proclamation doesn't take effect until Monday, but Trump said this continuation of his first term actions will protect Americans from countries that lack vetting and screening. OSF's Urbana, Danville medical centers merging to meet 'critical needs' 'It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws,' Trump said in the proclamation. Wilson said if Trump is so concerned about security, he should have never suspended the country's Refugee Admissions Program in January. 'The refugee resettlement system has multiple checks and balances, multiple security steps that the Department of State is in control of,' Wilson said. 'This isn't dependent on a country of origin.' She said Champaign County has large populations of people from Afghanistan, the Republic of Congo and Venezuela. She said this ban, although it has exceptions, could keep families apart indefinitely. 'I do think there is a tendency of this administration to demonize immigrants, especially non-Christian immigrants,' Wilson said. There are several exceptions, however. Those include: U.S. permanent residents and the spouses and children of U.S. citizens who have 'clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship' Afghans who assisted American forces and have special visas Diplomats Athletes coming to the U.S. for the World Cup, the Olympics and other major sporting events Dual nationals with a passport from a country not listed in the President's decree Adoptions Ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran with immigrant visas Exceptions made by the attorney general or secretary of state for travel deemed as advancing 'United States national interest' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OSF Healthcare offers up new opportunities for nursing students
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — During the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals and healthcare systems struggled due to a surge of patients and a shortage of nurses. OSF Healthcare is aiming to help bolster their ranks with their College of Nursing in Peoria. Austin Blair, the school's dean of admissions and marketing, visited WMBD This Morning to talk about the college. He said they've been making major strides in recent years. 'This fall, we're projected to be over 700 students, which is our largest enrollment,' he said. The college is also introducing a new program to help licensed practical nurses become a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Blair explained this will help open more opportunities for professionals. 'We offer a transitional course as well with that,' he said. 'So they get some of their current experience utilized to be able to go back to school and jump right in to our BSN curriculum. OSF Healthcare is also working to build relationships with central Illinois high schools. According to Blair, any high school senior can reserve a spot at the college for up to two years. And with dual credit opportunities, students can graduate with a their BSN in less than four years. Blair also said they offer many resources for scholarships and student aid. Any OSF employee can get their entire tuition covered. 'We offer a lot of endowed scholarships, we offer a lot of tuition assistance, as well as opportunities to work within the college,' he said. For more details on the College of Nursing, you can visit their website at Love WMBD This Morning? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our Daily Newsletter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
When 2-year-old goes into cardiac arrest, parents take life-saving action
Most parents of toddlers worry about sleep habits and sniffles, but heart failure isn't usually a concern. It certainly wasn't on the Thomases' radar when their 2-year-old son went into sudden cardiac arrest in the middle of the night at their Illinois home. When the child woke up screaming, his parents ran into the room. (See the video at the top of this article.) Hoda Kotb Reveals Daughter's Concerning Diagnosis Influenced Her Exit From 'Today' "Hearing him scream out was alarming, as he usually slept soundly, and it was a horrible cry," Stephanie Thomas told Fox News Digital. "When I went into his room, he continued to scream out and then face-plant into his crib." Read On The Fox News App At first, the couple thought their son was just having a night terror, so Stephanie Thomas — a clinical dietitian at OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois — sat next to her son's crib with her hand on his back, trying to calm him down. "When he finally settled, I could feel his breathing slowly come to a stop," she recalled. "I picked him up out of his crib and placed him on the floor. With him being unresponsive, I felt for a pulse and started CPR." She added, "I was petrified and confused about how my seemingly healthy 2-year-old was in this situation." As she performed CPR, her husband, Kris Thomas, called 911. Emergency responders rushed the boy to OSF HealthCare. After 11 days of testing, he was diagnosed with Brugada syndrome, a very rare heart condition that can cause sudden cardiac arrest and death. Though there can be some signs of Brugada syndrome, such as fainting or passing out, the condition is often not discovered until cardiac arrest occurs. The Thomases' son had a similar incident about a month before the cardiac arrest, which they now believe may have been his first episode. Ai Breakthrough Allows Doctors To 'See' Dangerous Blood Clots Forming "He woke up in the middle of the night with a horrible scream, had some gasping and was hard to calm," Stephanie recalled. "It was only a short period, and once he calmed, he seemed 'normal.' We assumed it was a night terror." As Brugada syndrome is often inherited, both parents were tested for genetic abnormalities, but it was determined their son's syndrome is a "mosaic defect," which is when there are two or more genetically different sets of cells in the body. The OSF team implanted the young boy with an EV-ICD (extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator), which is positioned outside the heart's blood vessels. It's designed to detect and correct any abnormal heart rhythms. This was the first time the device was implanted in a child at such a young age, the hospital noted in a press release. Since the first episode, the child has been hospitalized six more times. Each time an abnormal heart rhythm is detected, the EV-ICD delivers a "life-saving shock" to the boy's heart. "Our son acts and appears healthy more than 99% of the time, until his heart gets into an arrhythmia that his body and medication cannot manage on their own," Stephanie Thomas told Fox News Digital. "In these cases, he receives a shock from his ICD." Cdc Removes Covid Vaccine Recommendation For Healthy Children And Pregnant Women The boy has been readmitted to the hospital due to arrhythmias and medication titration seven times since his initial discharge, his mother added. Sunita Ferns, M.D., a pediatric electrophysiologist at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center who is treating the Thomases' son, noted that her young patient is now "married to cardiology." "We monitor these devices constantly. If we see any arrhythmia in the background, despite the medication he's on, we can offer him other technologies," Dr. Ferns said in the OSF press release. Baby With Fatal Brain Disorder 'Saved' By Anonymous $47K Donation "Ablative technologies can help modify the substrate, which is the tissue that's responsible for the bad rhythm." To help control his arrhythmias, the boy also takes a compounded oral medication every six hours, which he will take for the rest of his life. For more Health articles, visit The parents said it can be challenging to navigate the episodes with a 2-year-old who can't understand what's happening. "The hardest part is when he says things like, 'I can't use the elephant blankie because it shocked me,'" said Stephanie Thomas. "He makes these associations between being shocked and the objects or places around him." There are specific triggers for the boy's arrhythmias, the family has learned, such as low-grade fevers and even slight illnesses, like a cold. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "It is vital that we keep him as healthy as we can — which can be challenging with an active 2-year-old and [also] having a 4-year-old," the mom said. "We make sure that he stays up to date on his and our whole family's vaccines. We do our best to tightly regulate any temperatures." The Thomases now aim to raise awareness of the importance of having CPR training, being alert to warning signs and putting an emergency plan in place. As a healthcare employee, Stephanie Thomas has maintained her Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for over 10 years. "I have always said that I work with doctors and nurses, so I felt this was something I would never use — but the doctors and nurses were not in my house the night my son went into cardiac arrest, so it was left to me."Original article source: When 2-year-old goes into cardiac arrest, parents take life-saving action
