The planning committee for the first DSC Convocation takes time for a photo during a tour of the Westin Hotel in Wheeling, Illinois in October. Registration materials for the convocation will be mailed to congregations early next year. Look for more information in future DomLife updates.

Young Dominican Sisters
Sisters discuss hopes, dreams at gathering in California

On Oct. 7, the Feast of the Holy Rosary, more than 30 women from 13 congregations gathered at the motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose in Fremont, California. With the theme of “Walking Together with Realism, Daring and Hope, ” they spent the next three days sharing, praying, and learning more about their Dominican identity in a global context. They discussed their hopes and dreams for Dominican religious life and the unique challenges of being the younger members of their congregations. Read more

500th Anniversary
Nov. 21 webcast commemorates Montesinos preaching

“I am a voice crying in the wilderness…” Fr. Antonio Montesinos, OP, preached against the oppression and enslavement of the native peoples of Hispaniola. How many places around the world can hear this cry today? This Advent, Dominicans in North American will mark the 500th anniversary of this soul-stirring preaching with a call to remember its impact, and to recommit ourselves to the preaching mission of the Order. Join us for a webcast at 8 p.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 21. The program will focus on past and present issues challenging the Dominican Family in America. Visit http://www.sinsinawa.org/live/
or http://www.ustream.tv/user/sinsinawa to access the live webcast. The broadcast will also be archived. For more information about the ongoing celebration of the 500th anniversary of Dominicans in the Americas, click here.

Young Dominican Mission Team
Preaching at Ohio Dominican University centennial celebration

During the Columbus Day weekend, the Young Dominican
Mission Team (Michelle Schultz, Dan Cummings, and Sean Mundy) traveled to Columbus, Ohio to participate in Ohio Dominican University's centennial celebration. Michelle, Dan and Sean are members of Dominican Young Adults USA and participated in both the high school and college preaching conferences. With a mixture of personal witness talks, song, fun, and Dominican facts, they conveyed how important these experiences have been in forming their spirituality and their future connection to the Dominicans. Read more

UN Briefing
Extractive industries and sustainable development

A financial report of the UN Secretary General in 2009 stated that 80 percent of all Foreign Direct Investment invested in Africa is in resource-rich countries, and since then, these numbers have remained increasingly concentrated around these areas. While investment in a certain country (especially a lesser-developed one) is certainly to be commended, the manner in which this money is used should also be examined. Read article by Dominican volunteer Alexandra (Alex) Sajben.

Nun in the News
Dominican nun is also a medical doctor in Nashville

Sister Mary Diana Dreger, OP (Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia) earned a medical degree at Vanderbilt University in 2001. She ministers as a primary care physician at St. Thomas Family Health Center South in Nashville, Tennessee. Sister Mary Diana was recently featured in an article in the National Catholic Reporter: “Dominican nun, doctor strives to heal the whole person.” Read story

Justice Promoters
Meeting in Adrian deepens commitment, focus

The Dominican Justice Promoters of North America met in Adrian, Michigan Oct. 21–22. Thirty-one promoters gathered, arriving from California, Washington, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York and other parts of the United States. International Justice Promoters Toni Harris, OP and Carlos Rodriguez, OP, the two main speakers, invited the promoters to deepen their commitment to preaching justice through the Gospel and Dominican tradition. Read more

Book Review
Habits of Change: An Oral History of American Nuns

Sister Mary Hughes, OP, prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, New York, and a past president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, recently reviewed “Habits of Change: An Oral History of American Nuns” by Carol Garibaldi Rogers. She describes the book as “a fine companion piece” to the travelling exhibit “Women and Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America.” Read review

Faith and Film
Moneyball

Moneyball is a baseball movie with very few scenes of baseball. This may sound odd, even a turnoff. But it actually works very well. Read review by Tom Condon, OP

Photo of the Week
Sinsinawa Dominicans awarded $5,000 in fuel from CITGO

CITGO Petroleum Corporation and Saunders Oil named the Sinsinawa Dominicans as their Fueling Good 2011 winner. Sister Martha Mary Rohde holds some of the gas cards with Joey Low from Citgo and Brian Saunders from Saunders Oil. Read story

Previous updates:

The next Dominican Life | USA update will be published on Wednesday,November 23. Deadline for submission of articles/photos is Friday, November 18.