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April 9, 2014

Photo of the Week

Caldwell College
Celebrating Founder's Day

Caldwell College celebrated Founder's Day on March 26. Caldwell Dominican Sister Elizabeth Michael Boyle, OP shared a reflection on the influence of Mother Joseph Dunn, OP, who began Caldwell College in 1939 and served as its first president of the Board of Trustees. Right: Sister Patricia Stringer, OP presented Dr. Nancy Blattner, president of Caldwell College, with her five-year recognition plaque. Above: Sisters Deborah Lynch, OP and Barbara Moore, OP were honored for 10 years of service, and Sister Catherine Waters, OP was recognized for 25 years of employment at Caldwell College. The college is a sponsored ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, New Jersey.

Dominican Sisters’ Conference
Get your tickets now for Win/Win OPportunity fundraiser

This year’s Win/Win OPportunity will be a cash raffle. There will be four drawings on four feasts: St. Catherine of Siena (April 29), Our Lady of Fatima (May 13), the Translation of St. Dominic (May 24), and Pentecost (June 8). Your ticket will be in all four drawings. The prize for the first three drawings will be $100; the last will be $200. Tickets are $10 each or three for $25, and are available online. Proceeds from the raffle benefit the Dominican Sisters’ Conference.

UN Briefing
Gender equality: He for She Campaign

Last month, on International Women’s Day, UN Women released a campaign entitled “He for She.” The premise of the campaign is men speaking out against the violence and discrimination faced by women. As Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon states, “Violence against women is a global problem. It harms women, families, communities, and societies. We can only stop it by working together. Women and men.” Conversation and emphasis have been building on the indispensable role and potential of women in the international development sphere, seen clearly in the dynamic discussions that took place at this year’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Read article by Dominican Volunteer Abby McCrary

Sinsinawa Dominicans
Sisters offer free reflection booklet for Earth Day, every day

The Catholic Sisters for a Healthy Earth, a coalition of women’s religious communities in Southwestern Wisconsin and Eastern Iowa, including the Sinsinawa Dominicans, have prepared a free 16-page booklet suggesting simple actions to help families reach the goal of sustainable living. “We are excited to make this publication available in time for Earth Day on April 22,” says the group’s coordinator, Joy Peterson, PBVM. “Our intention is to take a new look at how everything we do, no matter where we are, is interconnected and tied to the well-being of all living things.” Download booklet (PDF)

Dominican Institute for the Arts
Sister Alyce Van Acker’s work on display at Fine Line

Sister Alyce Van Acker, OP (Adrian), a longtime member of the Dominican Institute for the Arts, is having a 40-year retrospective show of her paintings titled “Sharing Color” April 17–May 23 in the Kavanagh Gallery at The Fine Line Creative Arts Center, 37W570 Bolcum Road, St. Charles, Illinois. An artist’s reception is scheduled for 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 2. Van Acker was the first painting teacher at The Fine Line. “Color—for me—is the most avidly enjoyed and magnetizing element to utilize in painting. Through it, I believe my paintings evoke a tranquil luminosity as they speak of land and atmosphere: air, space, sunlight, water and fog. At the same time, each painting is a metaphor of inner and outer experience.” View Sister Alyce’s work online.

Racine Dominicans
Sister volunteers recognized for service

A recent article in the Racine, Wisconsin, Journal Times (“Volunteers: Racine Dominicans carry on their mission of helping others”), featured three Racine Dominican Sisters who are among those to be recognized by the Volunteer Center of Racine County at a ceremony April 11. “Sister Rose Marie Dischler will receive the Agriculture Award, for her environmental education work at the Eco-Justice Center; Sister Barbara Kukla will receive the Arts & Culture Award, for her use of art therapy in ministering to victims of domestic violence; and Sister Linda McClenahan will receive the Veterans Award for the aid and support she provides to area veterans.” Read Journal Times article

Springfield Dominicans
Marian Catholic High School names first lay principal

Sister Judine Hilbing, OP (Springfield), president of Marian Catholic High School, a sponsored ministry of the Springfield Dominicans, has announced the selection of Steve Tortorello as the school’s new principal beginning July 1. Tortorello has been a member of the Marian Catholic family for more than 15 years, beginning with his earliest days as a student. A 2004 graduate of Marian Catholic., Tortorello will become the eighth principal of Marian Catholic and the first layperson to hold the position. Read more

Faith and Film
The Grand Budapest Hotel

American filmmaker Wes Anderson has successfully made a series of movies over the last two decades that bear his distinctive style, including “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “The Fantastic Mr. Fox,” and “Moonrise Kingdom.” Anderson’s films are quirky comedies filled with eccentric characters. His latest film, “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” contains many of the aspects of his style: It’s visually stunning, with lots of those odd characters, and a plot so complex it defies description. The cast includes many of his regulars, including Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Edward Norton. Read review by Tom Condon, OP

Previous updates:

    March 19, 2014
March 5, 2014 February 19, 2014 February 5, 2014
January 22, 2014 January 8, 2014 Nov 22, 2013
November 6, 2013 October 23, 2013 October 9, 2013
Sept 25, 2013 Sept 11, 2013 August 14, 2013
July 24, 2013 July 10, 2013 June 26, 2013
June 12, 2013 May 29, 2013 May 8, 2013
April 24, 2013 April 10, 2013 March 27, 2013
March 13, 2013 February 27, 2013 February 13, 2013
January 30, 2013 January 16, 2013 Dec 19, 2012
December 5, 2012 November 16, 2012 October 31, 2012
October 17, 2012 Sept 26, 2012 Sept 12, 2012
August 29, 2012 August 15, 2012 July 25, 2012
July 11, 2012 June 27, 2012 June 13, 2012
May 31, 2012 May 16, 2012 May 2, 2012
April 4, 2012 March 21, 2012 March 7, 2012
February 22, 2012 February 8, 2012 January 25, 2012
January 11, 2012 December 21, 2011 December 7, 2011
November 23, 2011 November 9, 2011 October 19, 2011
October 5, 2011 Sept 21, 2011 Sept 7, 2011
August 24, 2011 August 10, 2011 July 20, 2011

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

IN BRIEF

Springfield Dominicans appoint formation director

Sister Elyse Ramirez, OP (Springfield) has accepted the ministry of Formation Director for the Springfield Dominicans, effective Aug. 9. She will continue in her current position as the Coordinator of Religious Vocations Ministries in the Office for Religious at the Chicago Archdiocese through June.

Associate reflects on Church and immigration

Conni Dubick, an associate of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, recently attended a national conference, “The Church and Immigration,” at the University of Notre Dame, and wrote a reflection that is posted on the congregation's web site.

Read reflection

Oakford Dominican co-edits book on AIDS

Sister Alison Munro, OP (Oakford), director of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference AIDS Office, is the co-editor of a “Catholic Responses to AIDS in Southern Africa.” She is the author of two articles in the book, which looks at the response of the Church to AIDS over the past 30 years.

Read more

Mission San Jose Dominicans offer discernment event

The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, Fremont, California, are offering a discernment and mission immersion opportunity July 25–31. The experience is for women ages college to 35 who wish to learn more about MSJ Dominican life and charism, and increase their awareness of their baptismal call to mission.

Download flyer (PDF)

Dominican Family Build: The Rockaways

A “Dominican Family Build” in the Rockaways is being planned for the week of Aug. 17–21. Sisters, Associates, Dominican Volunteers, Dominican Young Adults and others are invited to come together to help rebuild homes in the Rockaways that are still devastated by Hurricane Sandy. All are welcome! For more information, contact Sister Gina Fleming, OP, domsis@aol.com.

Gender equality: He for She Campaign

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