Name: Sister Laurie Brink, O.P. Sister Laurie Brink, O.P. is a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa, and an Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Catholic Theological Union. Because of her interest in archaeology, she has traveled extensively and worked as a senior staff member on an archaeological site in Israel. Before her academic career in higher education, Sister Laurie taught high school students in Kingston, Jamaica, the South Bronx and rural New York.

1. How were you called to your current ministry/service? When I was a volunteer in Jamaica, I taught a young woman who had been raped by her older brother and his friends. She had to leave school until her mother came to meet with the principal. As I walked this 14-year-old girl to the bus stop, I realized that though I had taught her general science, it was of little comfort in this situation. As I watched her board the bus and drive away, I decided then to only speak of God and to God. I believe my desire to be a teacher of biblical studies has its origin in that moment of utter helplessness, when I wanted desperately to give this child comfort and I did not know how.
2. Who inspires you? Daily, I am inspired by the women whom I see drop their children off at the neighbor lady’s home daycare, then board to bus for the drive downtown to work. It’s 7:30 a.m. and they’re sitting on the bus, reading their tiny bibles, trying to find encouragement for the day ahead. Inspiration comes from ordinary folks living faithful, humble, holy lives.
3. What are the biggest obstacles to peace? I think the biggest obstacle to peace is my thought that I am right, no matter what. Unless I learn to compromise, accept the “other” and work toward personal and communal reconciliation, I will perpetuate violence, creed, and selfishness.
4. Describe for us a typical day. I have the absolute good fortune of teaching young men and women committed to service to our Church. On the days that I’m teaching, I find myself surrounded by these gifted people as we study the Scriptures together. If it’s summertime, I’m often leading an experiential learning program overseas, where my students not only read about the ancient world, they walk in it!
5. How do you get the news? I read the Chicago Tribune paper and the on-line edition of the BBC. The Chicago Tribune for the local, the BBC for the global perspective.
6. What are your favorite websites and why? The BBC website provides balanced international coverage. Other sites I visit because they pertain to my research in the ancient world.
7. How do you nurture your faith life? As a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa, I pray privately and with my local community. I read interesting and thoughtful books on spirituality and I participate in my local parish.
8. What advice would you give the next generation of church and civic leaders? Become an active member of your parish. Become involved in social outreach. There is saying, “Think Globally, Act Locally.” Belonging to a parish allows you to exercise your ministerial muscles, gaining experience and confidence.
9. Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t know. I’m crazy about archaeology and digging up evidence of ancient people. I like imagining how they lived and what they believed.
10. Last good book you read? Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
11. Last good movie you saw? Paradise Now, the story of two Palestinians and their struggle to be suicide bombers
12. What were you like in High School? I was an explorer scout with a Fire Rescue Post. I responded to a lot of fires and accidents, so I saw first hand the impact of tragedy. I was also the editor of my high school paper. I wasn’t one of the popular kids; more like Miss Dependable.
13. If you were a teenage Peacebuilder you would… Find a really good mentor to help me figure out how to negotiate peace-making and being a teenager at the same time!
14. What is your favorite comfort food? I don’t really eat for comfort. I’m a freak of nature. I like to iron!
15. Share a favorite quote that inspires you. Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer (Rainer Marie Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 4).