Sinsinawa Dominicans Profess Vows

Priscilla Torres

Christine Walcott

Anne Sur

SINSINAWA, WI - July 31, 2009 --The Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa are pleased to announce the profession of three women. Sisters Priscilla Torres and Christine Walcott will make their first religious professions and Sister Anne Sur, OP, will make her final religious profession at the 10:30 a.m. Eucharist on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, in Queen of the Rosary Chapel. All are welcome to join the Sisters during the service.

Sister Priscilla is answering what she believes is her "vocational call from God" and making a commitment with the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters because "this is the congregation of women with whom I feel called to share the rest of my life and vocation." During the past three years, Sister Priscilla has served in diverse ministries, including the St.Francis Center and Holy Family School, both Redwood City, Cal.; the Emergency Housing Consortium, San Jose, Cal.; Clayton County Jail and St. Vincent de Paul Parish, both St. Louis, Mo.; Guadalupe Center at Santo Rosario/Holy Rosary Parish, Minneapolis, Minn.; and the San Antonio Vocation Committee, San Antonio, Texas.

She has studied at the Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, since August 2008 and will continue there after her profession along with ministering part-time.
Sister Priscilla's childhood parishes are Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sacred Heart, both Big Spring, Texas. As an adult, Sister Priscilla was a member of St. Albert the Great Parish, Austin, Texas. Her parents are Alicia Ruiz Torres and Victor Padron Torres, Big Spring.

Sister Christine is answering the invitation to religious life and God's call, saying, "It is a deliberate response to be vulnerable for the sake of living out the gospel message of Jesus Christ to proclaim the good news. . . .  The witness of Sister Glenda [Rodriguez, OP (Maria Pilar, deceased)] and numerous other Sinsinawa Dominicans who I encountered on the discernment journey have empowered me to keep on focusing on God's call to religious life and God's willing to publicly profess to that commitment. . . . It is therefore my hope and desire to continue to preach God's word, not only with my lips but with my life."

Sister Christine has been involved in education for over 20 years. She taught elementary school at St. Xavier, St. Joseph, Trinidad, and ministered with children at Fernandina Beach, Fla., and St. Francis Center, Redwood City, Cal., where she also worked with men who were learning English as a second language. Sister Christine spent the last year ministering at St. Margaret Shelter, Spokane, Wash. Her home parishes are in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tabago, including St. Charles Borromeo, Tunapuna; St. John the Baptist, St.Augustine; St. Joseph, St. Joseph; and Santa Rosa, Arima. Her ministry after profession has not yet been determined.

Sister Anne said, "Through prayer, contemplation and reflecting upon living this life of vowed membership for the past six years in initial membership, I have come to realize this is indeed the path upon which God has led me. The reason for God calling me to this way of engaging in the Gospel message at this time in my life continues to be mystery for me." Before entering the Sinsinawa Dominicans, Sister Anne was an active member of St. Patrick Parish of Merna, Bloomington, Ill., and worked as a system analyst for an insurance company. During the past six years, she has ministered at the Mexican American Cultural Center, San Antonio, Texas; the Catholic Charities Consultation Center, San Antonio; Transitions, Spok ane, Wash.; Hosea House, St. Louis, Mo.; and with the General Finance Office at the Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, where she will continue to minister after profession.

She also assists with parish programs in communities near the Motherhouse and on committees for the Congregation. Reflecting on her discernment years, Sister Anne said, "Someone asked me what I learned from one of my mission experiences.  I heard the voice of God in my reply to her, 'I learned how much the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa loved me. And I learned that I loved them deeply.'”

"It is my hope and desire to continue to preach God's word, not only with my lips but with my life."

Watch live broadcast of the profession
at Sinsinawa TV at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, August 9

The broadcast will be archived for later viewing
at UStream. 

To learn more about the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, visit their website.