Sisterly Love in Tompkins Square Park

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Billed as Sisterly Love, a "ritual to promote community, togetherness, and self-love" to "fight the isolation and bitterness of winter" and "rekindle the flames of love, self-worth, belonging and inner warmth," the NYC (dis)Order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence hosted a gathering this past Sunday in Tompkins Square Park. 

Abbess Sister Jewdi Clench officiated at the ceremony that ordained a novice Sister, welcomed spring and sprinkled glitter in an aspersion blessing.

I spoke with organizer Sister Gladiola Gladrags (top photo) who said, "Our mission as Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is to promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt. We spread that message by 'manifesting' (appearing in habit) in our community, and holding various kinds of events, fundraisers, protests, rituals, etc. to raise awareness and help where it’s needed."

And why Tompkins Square Park as the site for this ritual event?

We have a long "sistory" with the community, especially the annual Drag March that begins in Tompkins. Along with the Church Ladies for Choice, we have been organizing, facilitating, and participating in the march since its inception during Stonewall 25 in 1994. So, it's natural that we would hold this ritual here. Many people in our community have been suffering so much pain and strife in the last year, we feel that by bringing people together, even if at a social distance, it will help and give hope to those needing it.