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

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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!