On Friday, September 5, 2025, forty-five Catholic Sisters and people of faith sailed the Hudson River aboard the Clearwater on a Pilgrimage of Hope for Creation to raise awareness about pollution in the river. Organized by Religious Organizations Along the River (ROAR) and the Metro New York Catholic Climate Movement, the event offered an opportunity to reflect on healing our relationship with the natural world while drawing attention to the serious threats facing the region’s waterways. Among the pilgrims were our own Sisters Eileen Gannon and Margo Saich, representing the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill.
According to Sr. Carol De Angelo, SC, ROAR member and Director of the Office of Peace, Justice, and the Integrity of Creation for the Sisters of Charity of New York, the pilgrims were called to “seek and see the holy in the river.” The well-being of all who live in the Hudson Valley bioregion—fish, mammals, and the nearly 400,000 people who rely on these sources for drinking water—remains threatened by millions of gallons of harmful wastewater. Gaps in current New York environmental regulations allow the Hudson and other New York rivers to be polluted by landfill leachate, the toxic liquid created as water percolates through landfills.
“A pilgrimage is a journey towards the sacred,” said De Angelo. “Humans are kin to creation…We need a new way of living and being, to recognize we’re all part of one single sacred community.”
The group gathered for a rally at 12:30 pm to raise awareness about the pollution threatening the River. They stood at the water’s edge with signs and prayed together. At 1 pm, they boarded the Clearwater Sloop and spent three hours on the River, learning about water quality and the health of marine life, praying, and speaking with environmental leaders such as John Lipscomb, retired Riverkeeper boat captain and technical advisor to the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers Leachate Collaborative.
Forty-five people participated in the pilgrimage, including Catholic sisters from 10 religious congregations: the Sisters of Charity of New York, the Dominican Sisters of Hope, Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt, Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Ursulines of the Eastern Province, Sisters of the Divine Compassion, and the Maryknoll Sisters. They were joined by an Episcopal monk from Holy Cross Monastery in Hyde Park and leaders from Catholic organizations, including the Metro New York Catholic Climate Movement and the Laudato Si’ Movement, as well as several environmental groups, including Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper, and the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Seminary in New York City.
There will be a Zoom debrief on Thursday, September 25, at 2 pm ET, during which the pilgrims will share their experiences with the public and invite all into prayer and action. We will distribute the Zoom link as soon as possible.
Sisters Eileen Gannon and Margo Saich deeply enjoyed the pilgrimage and were especially moved by the beauty of the Hudson. They also came away with a greater awareness of the threats to its health. At one point, they were invited to touch the water—a powerful gesture—but were quickly cautioned not to touch their faces afterward because of contaminants from untreated sewage flowing directly into the river. Reflecting on the experience, Sr. Eileen remarked, “The river has no voice of her own. We need to be her voice to keep her alive and vibrant.” Sr. Margo added, “Perhaps the river is speaking to us. We need to learn its language and communicate that. Riptides don’t come in the river, but maybe we can create some waves.” More information and action steps will follow. Together, let’s see what we can do—it’s up to all of us.
