Thousands of Christian pilgrims have taken part in Palm Sunday celebrations in Jerusalem at the start of the Holy Week.

Pope Francis is drawing attention to a problem that the Vatican has long sought to downplay: the abuses of power by mother superiors against nuns who have little recourse but to obey.

ADRIAN, Mich. – The head of the Adrian Dominican Sisters said the rise in vaccinations is bringing hope to the convent. The results were startling and the community had to say goodbye to nine retired Sisters over a period of just a few days. “A total of 14 Sisters that have died due to COVID,” Siemen recalled. Some of them had symptoms.”AdREAD: Adrian Dominican Sisters report deadly COVID-19 outbreak at Michigan motherhouseDespite the devastating loss, the Adrian Dominican Sisters remain optimistic. READ: Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations: How to find appointments, info on phases

ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian Dominican Sisters, headquartered in Adrian, Michigan, reported that nine sisters have died due to COVID-19 in the month of January. READ: Adrian Dominican Sisters report deadly COVID-19 outbreak at Michigan motherhouse“It’s numbing,” Siemen said. As of Thursday, 12 sisters on campus have tested positive for the virus and 25 have recovered. A statement from the General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters reads:“After more than nine months of no cases of COVID-19 among resident Sisters, we are now experiencing an outbreak among both Sisters and Co-workers at the Dominican Life Center. MORE: Michigan nuns call for immediate removal of Trump from office

As Christians around the world celebrate Christmas, many have had to adapt as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forces churches to close or implement measures such as social distancing and reduced services. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian Dominican Sisters are experiencing a deadly COVID-19 outbreak at their Motherhouse campus in Adrian, Mich. Here’s the message from the general counsel:“After more than nine months of no cases of COVID-19 among resident Sisters, we are now experiencing an outbreak among both Sisters and Co-workers at the Dominican Life Center. Please join us in this prayer.” Adrian Dominican SistersThe Adrian Dominican Sisters founded and sponsor Siena Heights University in Michigan. They are a Roman Catholic congregation of more than 500 Dominican Sisters with leaders operating out of Adrian.

The women lived at the campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters in Adrian, 75 miles (120 kilometers) southwest of Detroit. Eight nuns in suburban Milwaukee died of virus complications in one week in December, including four in one day. AdNine of the 12 deaths of Adrian Dominican sisters this month were linked to COVID-19, Siemen said. After more than nine months without a COVID-19 case among residents, the Adrian Dominican Sisters announced an outbreak on Jan. 14. That's the heartache of this virus,” Siemen said.

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)Michigan members of a Catholic religious institute are calling on lawmakers to immediately remove President Donald Trump from office following the deadly riot that shook the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. The Adrian Dominican Sisters -- who founded and sponsor Siena Heights University in Michigan -- specifically singled out senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Tim Walberg on Friday to take action to remove President Trump from office. Several Cabinet members and White House employees have resigned from their posts following the deadly siege of the U.S. Capitol. President Trump has since publicly condemned the violence in Washington, and even conceded to President-elect Biden for the first time on Thursday evening. Pelosi told Democrats that the top military official assured her steps are in place to prevent a Trump nuclear launch.

DETROIT – The pandemic changed the course of ministry for a Detroit convent in spring when more than a dozen nuns lost their lives in about a month. The nuns found a way to protect themselves from COVID-19 while still serving their community, but they’re now asking for help for a special project. For a growing number of people, coronavirus has been a humbler -- those who’ve never needed help before have found courage to ask for it. The nuns aren’t asking restaurants for food donations but instead are raising funds to actually pay for the meals to help keep area eateries open. Because the nuns are paying the restaurants, it helps them stay afloat because the restaurants can pay to bring back some of their workers.

LIVONIA, Mich. – The Felician Sisters convent in Livonia has lost 13 nuns to COVID-19 since the pandemic hit the region in March. The Global Sisters Report says 12 of the nuns died between April 10 and May 10. One of those 18 sisters who first survived the disease died from its effects June 27, making her the 13th victim in the Livonia convent, according to the Global Sisters Report. “We couldn’t contain the grief and the sorrow and the emotional impact,” said Sr. Noel Marie Gabriel, director of clinical health services for the Felician Sisters of North America. As of this report, the city of Livonia has confirmed 997 cases of COVID-19 and 166 deaths related to the illness.