In 1986, Sister Hopkins worked at New Covenant Justice and Peace Center in Omaha, an inter-congregational organization that provided community outreach with programs on justice and peace issues. She would continue this focus of working for justice for the rest of her life. She was the researcher and author of two corporate stances by the former United States Province, the first on opposition to the death penalty, the second on the opposition to the war in Iraq. She became an ardent peace activist, protesting or participating in actions or prayer vigils against U.S. intervention in Central America, the death penalty and the wars in Iraq. She was arrested twice for her part in peaceful protests.
While living in San Francisco’s Mission District, Sister Hopkins began Programa de Ingles, an ESL program for refugees from various Central American countries. With the help of volunteer teachers, the program educated several hundred local residents, teaching them how to read and speak English, and she wrote grants to support the work of this program.
