Update | May 26, 2021

Photo of the Week: Dominican Catholic Sisters Help Create Climate-Friendly Investment Funds

Many Catholic sisters live quiet lives, but some are wielding influence on Wall Street. Pat Daly is part of a group of Dominican Catholic sisters who set out to make sure their congregation’s investment funds reflect their Catholic values. They wanted to find a fund that supports climate-friendly projects that also help vulnerable communities.

Dominican Sisters of Peace Name New Director of Associates
When Dominican Sisters of Peace Associate Cecelia Amendolia retired in 2019, she dreamed of traveling the country to meet all the Congregation’s Associates. That dream will become a reality when Cecelia begins her newest ministry as the Director of Associates for the Dominican Sisters of Peace on June 1, 2021.

Celebrating Earth Day with Jubilee Farm
A peaceful destination, a place of integrity, a home to farm animals and wildlife, an educational resource, a demonstration of living in an ecologically responsible way, an oasis for spirituality, a special gift to those who seek solace and spiritual enrichment in nature. Sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, Jubilee Farm is a 164-acre center for ecology and spirituality located just west of Springfield, Illinois.

How Awareness Motivates Sr. Ceil Lavan
Sr. Ceil Lavan, OP, is one of the fiercest advocates that you will ever meet. In her ministry as Justice Promoter for the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, you can almost always find her on the frontlines of the congregation’s advocacy efforts. In a recent episode of the Hearts Afire Podcast, Sr. Ceil discussed her ministry and what is behind her motivation, and how that drives her activism.

A Bridge to a Call
Talk with Sister Francis Mary Philipp for any length of time and you are likely to learn three things: music is the heart of her relationships; she loves accompanying others to their full potential; her life-story is a master class in “bridging” — a musical technique that brings the listener full circle back to the heart of the song. Join the Dominican Sisters of Springfield for an inspiring journey with Sister Francis Mary as we share her story.

International Commission Statement on Holy Land
The International Dominican Commission for Justice and Peace (IDCJP) released a statement on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Read statement

Catholics Call for World Free of Nuclear Threat
The General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters endorses a statement by scientists and Catholic leaders, encouraging President Joseph Biden to work toward a world that is free of the nuclear threat.

Read statement

Finding God in the Everyday
In a world full of endless distractions such as addicting technology, social media, constant sensational news, it is sometimes difficult to find God in the everyday. These distractions often take up valuable time, leading to wasted days while the world goes on around us. In a recent episode of the Hearts Afire Podcast, Sr. Jo-Anne Faillace, OP, reflected on this topic and shared inspiring thoughts on how to create “focus moments” when dealing with distractions, as well as find “alleluia moments, thank you moments, and God moments.”

800th Jubilee Reflection
The Dominican Family is celebrating the 800th anniversary of the death of Our Holy Father St. Dominic during a jubilee year that began on the 6th of January 2021 through the 6th of January 2022.

We, the Dominican Sisters Conference/DomLife, are joining with OPWest Dominican Congregations in celebration by offering you monthly reflections on the Theme "At Table with St. Dominic," which is inspired by the Mascarella table, the table on which the first portrait of St. Dominic was painted shortly after his canonization. Fr. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner, OP, shared, “We will celebrate St. Dominic not as a saint alone on a pedestal, but a saint enjoying table fellowship with his brothers, gathered by the same vocation to preach God’s Word and sharing God’s gift of food and drink." The first of these reflections, entitled “At the Table with Dominic - Cultural Encounter through Art”, is shared by Sr. Joanne Cullimore, OP. In a brief video, Sr. Joanne walks viewers through her process of engaging with different cultures through her watercolor paintings.

Watch video

News From Las Casas
Did you Know? That to the best of our knowledge, there are currently twelve Dominican women ministering among Native/Indigenous People? They represent a total of 240 years of service and their commitment ranges from 3-44 years! Please keep them and the people they walk with daily in your prayers. They minister with the following Native/Indigenous Nations/Tribes: Chippewa-Cree, Choctaw, Confederated Salish & Kootenai, Dakota, Lakota, Menominee, Metis, Mohican, Navajo, Northern Cheyenne, Odawa, Oglala Sioux, Ojibwe, Tohono O’odham and Tzotzil speaking Mayas.

Sister Spotlight: Lavergne Schwender, OP

At the end of May, Houston Dominican Lavergne Schwender, OP, will retire from her ministry in Houston as the Executive Director of the Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network, a position she has held for sixteen years. During her life as a Dominican Sister, Lavergne says she has been blessed with incredibly satisfying ministries.

Dominican Family Spotlight: Dominican Family Leadership Team Chairs

In 2008, the Dominican Sisters of Houston established the Houston Dominican Family for lay persons to help ensure the future of the Dominican mission and charism of prayer, study, community, and preaching. Much like Dominican Associates, the Dominican Family of Houston are men and women who walk alongside the Dominican Sisters of Houston, striving to carry forth the Dominican mission in their daily lives. The Dominican Family Leadership Team is led by three chairs, who each serve a three-year term (one year as “Future Chair,” the next as “Current Chair,” and the last as “Past Chair”). The Chairs for 2021-2022 are Mary Gangelhoff, Greg Schockling, and Anna Sklut.

From The UN
Many of us have been focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) through the lens of Laudato Si this past week. Now, Sr. Dusty Farnan, UN/NGO Representative to the UN, walks us through three additional Sustainable Development Goals that will be assessed during the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) that will take place from July 6-15, 2021.

Below are breif descriptions for upcoming events and retreats. For more information on all events, click here.

Schaeffer of Madison Plays First Organ Concert in Sinsinawa Series
Wednesday, June 23

Sinsinawa Mound Center welcomes Andrew Schaeffer of Madison, WI, to his first Summer Organ Concert of the series at 7pm CDT Wednesday, June 23.

Workshop Focuses on ‘Catholicity in an Evolving Global Church’
Thursday, June 10

Dr. Massimo Faggioli, a theology and religious studies professor at Villanova University in Philadelphia, offers a live stream presentation, Catholicity in an Evolving Global Church, through Weber Retreat and Conference Center.

2021 DIA Gathering
July 23 - 24

Br. Mickey McGrath, OSFS, will share his own paintings and stories of creative spirits whose timeless artwork and prophetic vision is more relevant than ever in today's troubled world and church. In his two presentations, Mickey will celebrate the artist as Prophet, Healer, Minister and friend.

Explore Your Creativity with Summer Art Class
Thursdays, June 3, 10, 17, 24

This summer, Weber Center invites you to get your creative juices flowing with a virtual Summer Art Class taught by Adrian Dominican Associate Sharon Foley Bock. Each two-hour session is designed to help participants explore, create, and enjoy methods for fashioning whimsical pieces of two-dimensional art.

Bring Best of Pandemic with You: Move Forward, Create Community
Tuesday, June 22

There is no better time than now to imagine what we want our lives to look like on the other side of this pandemic. Sinsinawa Mound Center is sponsoring a virtual workshop, From Me to We: Intentional Community and Our Great Realization, to discover ways to move forward and create community.

A Morning of Reflection on Re-Entry
Saturday, June 26

As the world continues to re-open, many of us are dealing with a swirl of thoughts and emotions about re-entry. During this morning of reflection, you will be invited to reflect on what you are experiencing and create a vision for your own continuing re-emergence.

Concert Organist Specializes in Baroque, 20th-century Music
Wednesday, June 16

Catherine Rodland, whose organ playing has been described as “transcendent”, will be the featured organist for the Wednesday, June 16, virtual Summer Organ Concert at 7pm.

Mornings of Mindfulness
June 5, July 10, August 7

Would you like to be more present to life around you this summer? Weber Retreat and Conference Center invites you to join a Zoom community gathering each month for Mornings of Mindfulness with facilitator, retreat leader and spiritual director Adrian Dominican Sister Esther Kennedy.