Update | September 1, 2021

Photo of the Week: Sister Kelly Moline Professes Perpetual Vows with Dominican Sisters of Springfield

By mid-day on Sunday, August 8, 2021, a defining moment of Sister Kelly Moline’s life had come and gone. Beyond that moment, what follows is a lifelong commitment to her vows of consecration to God as a Dominican Sister of Springfield. That, of course, is not a small or simple thing. As our Dominican Brother Timothy Radcliffe said while he was Master General of the Order of Preachers, “What we profess in a moment we live in to for a lifetime.”

For the Life of The World
The new Springfield Dominican Sisters’ podcast series, F.L.O.W.cast, is streaming now at https://flowcastlisten.podbean.com/. F.L.O.W.cast is meant to be welcoming to a younger audience that appreciates intergenerational conversation and an eclectic mix of inspiring stories about the sisters’ lives and ministry. Each week, one-to-one conversations and roundtable discussions with Springfield Dominican Sisters, coworkers, and associates are meant to acquaint listeners with the lives and ministry of the sisters and share stories about how they are changing lives in hopeful ways. The inaugural episode is Sister Bernie has a Fan Club.

The Fight Against Hunger

September marks Hunger Action Month, a time to raise awareness regarding the heartbreaking statistics that 42 million in the United States, including over 13 million children, are currently facing hunger. This alarming number is one of the many reasons that the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, NY, and the team at Harmony Farm in Orange County, NY, a ministry site of the sisters, support several food pantries, including St. Margaret’s Guild in Middletown, NY, Newburgh Ministries in Newburgh, NY, and the Goshen Ecumenical Food Pantry in Goshen, NY.

Sr. Didi Madden, OP, shared, “I think of several places where we are involved in direct feeding of the hungry and places where we actively work to support those who feed the hungry. In all those places, we do it with a sense of community and relationship to the people being served and the people volunteering. I also think we help to expand people’s understanding of how much hunger is in this country and our obligation to help eliminate hunger.”

Five Women Welcomed as Adrian Dominican Associates
Five women were welcomed as Adrian Dominican Associates during Rituals of Acceptance via Zoom over two weekends in August.

Sister Nancyann Turner, OP, Participates in Detroit Healing Memorial
Sister Nancyann Turner, OP, felt inspired to participate in Detroit’s Healing Memorial, a large-scale participatory public art installation that recognizes the depth of loss in Detroit and all Southeast Michigan during the COVID-19 pandemic. A collaboration between the City of Detroit Office of Arts, Cranbrook Art Museum and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, this memorial will offer support and healing for residents of southeast Michigan who experienced all forms of loss, including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, occupational, and environmental.

Sr. Mary Doris, OP, a Sister of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, NY, is pictured here with Karen Schrage and Andrea Meyer, of the Dominican Volunteers USA. Karen and Andrea are ministering this year at Siena House in the Bronx, NY, a ministry site of the Sisters of Saint Dominic, as well as sharing Community with Blauvelt Dominican sisters at Our Lady of Assumption in the Bronx. Blessings on Karen and Andrea as they begin their ministry.

Sr. Jenn Schaaf, OP, a Sister of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, recently participated in a BBQ on the residence patio at St. Thomas More at Yale University. Sr. Jenn, along with her ministry colleagues, met lots of new students and welcomed back current students.

Top: Sr. Cathy Burns, OP, a Sister of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, was recently featured in the Summer/Fall 2021 Issue of the Marion Woods Digital Newsletter Wheel. She is pictured with fellow residents, Sisters Catherine Murphy and Cecilia Hall.

Bottom: Sisters Kathy O'Hanlon and Beverly Vetrano, of the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, recently participated in the "Ringing of the Bells" at Marion Woods in New York.

Read about both in the Summer/Fall 2021 Issue of the Marion Woods Digital Newsletter Wheel.

Read Newsletter

Sister Spotlight: Isabel Rafferty, OP

Appreciating fine art has always been important to our congregation. Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa Isabel Rafferty, OP, was featured in the Madison, Wisconsin, news recently when she and Michael Dix, owner of Michael’s Frozen Custard, had an idea to fill one of his vacant properties in the city with a pop-up art gallery. Isabel and others cleaned the space and prepared it for its inaugural opening July 23. “There’s so many artists who will benefit from having this opportunity of a space in which to show their work,” said Isabel. “Our world needs a lot more beauty and art, especially after this long time of confinement.”

Associate Spotlight: Mary Goonan

For Mary, being a Dominican Associate, is of importance for both her ministry and her life. She values study and the search for truth. In Associate relationship Mary finds mutual support in being a co-minister and for the “holy preaching.” Mary has had a lengthy relationship with the Sinsinawa Dominicans, as her aunt was a vowed member, and Mary was one of the early “Apostolic Volunteers” – the program that eventually became Dominican Volunteers USA. Mary has both attended and been a teacher in Sinsinawa Dominican schools. She is retired from teaching middle grades in the Madison Metro School District and is now engaged in pastoral work at her local parish as well as Immigration ministry. She is committed to eco-justice, working in community gardens and as a beekeeper. Mary is an active leader in the Sinsinawa Associate program, serving as an Area Promoter, co-facilitating an anti-racism Study Group, and serving as a member of the Community Immigration and Refugee Committee.

What is the UN International Day of Peace?
The International Day of Peace or Peace Day was established in 1981 by a unanimous United Nations resolution to be observed around the world each year on September 21st.It is a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to peace above our differences and to inspire us to contribute building a Culture of Peace. This year, we are particularly focused on an equitable and sustainable world. Part of our task is to make peace with nature.

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

Sacred Lands Tour Focuses on Indigenous History

September 23-27

Join Eric Anglada and Brenna Cussan Anglada for a tour that will take participants on guided visits to Indigenous sacred sites of Effigy Mounds National Monument at Harper’s Ferry, IA, and other sites in Minneapolis.

Coddiwomple: Bringing Curiosity and Joy to Our Journey
Saturday, September 25 and Wednesday, October 6

Sinsinawa Mound Center is sponsoring a workshop to expand curiosity and joy in people’s lives. Participants will approach their spiritual deepening with no idea what to expect. When we relinquish our “formula” for spiritual exploration, we suddenly go beyond and embrace a great wisdom that brings a greater joy and freedom to our lives.

Workshop Focuses on Healing of Earth
Saturday, September 18

“Can the Earth heal?” That is the question posed and explored by U.S. theologian, author, and speaker Sister Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD, during hervirtual presentation, “Can the Earth Heal? Insights from Teilhard de Chardin”.

Yoga Retreat Finds Connectors to Divine Power
October 2-3

Denise Edenhofer, a certified personal fitness trainer and yoga teacher, will lead us in exploring the four types of claires — clairvoyance (pictures), clairaudience (hearing), clairsentience (feelings), and claircognizance (knowing) — trying to discover one that resonates with you to help you better connect with the divine power and bring awareness to where you are spiritually during a yoga retreat, Finding New Connectors to God.

Days of Mindfulness Return to Weber Center
Saturdays

Mindfulness is a practice in living honestly with oneself. Join the mindfulness community that meets monthly to deepen our understanding and commitment to the daily practice of meditation.

Workshop Series Explores Connections Between Food, Faith, Farming
Tuesdays, October-November

Sinsinawa Mound Center is sponsoring an online, eight-week program, JustFaith Series — Sacred Land: Food and Farming. Participants will explore our connection with and our responsibility for the land.

Celebrate Fall Equinox with Natura Divina-Wild Church
Tuesday, September 21

Join Sinsinawa Mound Center for Natura Divina-Wild Church for fire and song, ritual and community, prayer and quiet. This outdoor, ecumenical gathering is centered on honoring the sacred time of the fall equinox – a day of equal light and dark – and situating ourselves within the wider community of creation.

INAI Hosts Exhibit of Photography and Poetry
Tuesday, September 7 - Sunday, October 31

Photography as “visual poetry” and seeing with the “eyes of the heart” are two themes in the artistic works of Sister Suzanne Schreiber, OP, and Rev. Cathy Johnson. These works will be shown at INAI Gallery.

Painting Class
Tuesday, October 5

Sarah Barnes, artist and owner of Create It Art Studio in Dubuque, IA, will guide participants in painting pumpkins on canvas. People of all skill levels are welcome to attend, and painters can add their own personal touches.

Autumn Equinox Ritual Marks Harvesting of Life
Sunday, September 19

All are invited to celebrate the change of seasons and of life with a ritual facilitated by Adrian Dominican Sister Esther Kennedy, OP, on the grounds of Weber Retreat and Conference Center. In word, song, and dance, we welcome Autumn.

Dine and Discuss Book Club Focuses on Story of Doctor Curing Infectious Diseases
Thursday, November 11

Join local book lovers in reading and discussing an inspiring book about one doctor’s amazing efforts to alleviate suffering in the world. The Dine and Discuss Book Club focuses on Tracy Kidder’s book, Mountains Beyond Mountains, at Weber Center.

Forest Therapy Walk
Sunday, October 3

Begun in Japan and now spreading globally, Forest Bathing is a practice that combines a slow walk in a natural area with a clearly defined sequence of guided events that provide structure to the experience. Facilitator Rich Collins will open with a guided meditation that helps participants to enter an embodied state in which they engage with nature through the senses rather than the intellect.