Photos of the Week

Hope Dominicans Sisters abuzz about new bee legislation The Ossining, New York, Village Board of Trustees voted on May 21 to override the long-standing ordinance against bee keeping in Ossining. The Dominican Sisters of Hope, centered at Mariandale in Ossining, have long been proponents of the bees. “We are planting for the pollinators here at Mariandale, and hope to attract monarch butterflies as well as bees. We plan to tend our own bees as part of creating a sustainable and hospitable environment,” said Sister Bette Ann Jaster, OP (Hope). Read more Read more about the importance of pollinators on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service web site. Also, June 16–22 is National Pollinator Week! Above from left: Sister Nancy Erts, OP; Mariandale physical plant manager Carlos Santiago, and Sister Bette Ann Jaster, OP, stand among the community garden beds holding a sample of a bit of hive. All three are looking forward to welcoming bees on the property.

Maryknoll Sisters Pax Christi honors Sister Jean with Peacemaker Award On Sunday, June 1, Maryknoll Sister Jean Fallon, MM, was honored for her more than 40 years of peacemaking efforts when she was awarded the Sister Christine Mulready Peacemaker Award from Pax Christi Metro New York at its Peacemaker Awards Reception at St. Joseph’s Greenwich Village Church. Also receiving awards that day were the Carmelite Commission for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation, and Sandy Hook Promise. Read more

Springfield Dominicans Marian Catholic High School students visit sisters Five students of Marian Catholic High School’s campus ministry program visited Sacred Heart Convent May 21 to become more acquainted with the Springfield Dominican motherhouse and visit with the sisters, particularly former instructors of Marian Catholic High School. Read more

Dominican Women Afire Visioning for the future in August in San Antonio More than 130 Dominican women ages 59 and younger or less than 10 years finally professed from the 19 member congregations of the Dominican Sisters Conference will engage in a multicultural, bilingual, four-day gathering at the Oblate Center for Renewal in San Antonio, Texas, Labor Day weekend (Aug. 28–31). Read more Above from left: The Dominican Women Afire Committee: Sisters Mary Ellen O’Grady, OP (Sinsinawa/Facilitator); Pat Connick, OP (Peace); Didi Madden, OP (Blauvelt); Gloria Marie Jones, OP (Mission San Jose), facilitator; Cyndie Cammack, OP (San Rafael); Mary Therese Perez, OP (Mission San Jose); and Xiomara Mendez-Hernandez, OP (Adrian). Not pictured: Sisters Linda Gibler, OP (Houston); Megan McElroy, OP (Grand Rapids); and Tanya Williams, OP (Sinsinawa).

College Preaching Conference
Students gather for 12th annual Preaching in Action event

During the week of May 20, 57 students from Dominican universities/colleges or colleges with a Dominican presence gathered at Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York, for the 12th National “Preaching in Action” Conference. These young people came together to learn about the Dominican charism of preaching, and how that charism can be incorporated into their own lives and passed on to others. Read article by Sister Gina Fleming, OP.

Jubilees in June
Sisters celebrate anniversaries of religious life

Dominican sisters across the United States are celebrating anniversaries of profession as vowed women religious this month. Many of the congregations feature stories and photos about their Jubilarians online. We’ve compiled a list of congregations celebrating Jubilees, and links to more information. Read more

UN Briefing
A report from the Indigenous Peoples Forum

The 13th Session of the Indigenous Peoples Forum took place at the UN Headquarters in New York last month with discussions and negotiations between stakeholders, governments and indigenous representatives from all over the world. Distinct challenges faced by these marginalized communities were highlighted, including unemployment, poor education, low access to services, and poverty. Read article by Dominican Volunteer Abby McCrary

Racine Dominicans
Sisters making headlines in local newspaper

On May 17, Racine Dominican Sister Pat Chaffee, OP, was featured in an article in the Racine (Wisconsin) Journal Times: “Speaking out: Sister Pat Chaffee works against injustice around the world.” Read article Sister Barbara Kukla, OP, was featured in another article in the same issue: “Art therapy helps victims of violence at Women’s Resource Center.” Read article

St. Martin de Porres Province
Fr. Tom Condon elected prior provincial

Fr. Tom Condon, OP, was elected as the prior provincial for the Province of St. Martin de Porres at the Eighth Provincial Chapter the last week in May. Fr. Tom is a regular contributor to DomLife, writing movie reviews for “Faith and Film.” Read more

Dominican Association of Secondary Schools
Sister Kathleen Anne Tait named director

Sister Kathleen Anne Tait, OP (Springfield), will become the new director of the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools (DASS) beginning in October 2014. Sister Kathleen will succeed Sister Pat Brady, OP, who is retiring after serving as DASS director since its incorporation in 2002. Sister Kathleen will be leaving her present position as principal of Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois, in July 2014. Read more

Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology
International Colloquium July 16–20

This unique event brings together top philosophers and theologians—representatives from over 40 academic institutions from the United States and eight other countries—including the Master of the Dominican Order, Fr. Bruno Cadore, OP. Presenters and participants will examine contemporary philosophical work and its implications for theology, and will look at philosophical questions that arise from theological inquiry. Read more

Previous updates:

The next Dominican Life | USA update will be published on Wednesday, June 18. Deadline for submission of articles/photos is Friday, June 13.