Photos of the Week

National Vocation Awareness Week Springfield Dominican Sister talks about her choice Sister M. Dominica Brennan, OP tells the story about the day she told her parents that she wanted to become a Dominican sister.

Hope Dominicans Celebrating Founders Day at Mount Saint Mary College On Oct. 7, the Aquinas Atrium at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York, was filled with faculty, students and sisters in celebration of Founders Day. The history of the Dominican Sisters of Hope in Newburgh dates back to the 1800s. “Our mission of education began here in Newburgh when four [sisters] traveled from New York City in 1883 to establish Mount Saint Mary Academy,” recalled Sister Lorelle Elcock, prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Hope. “Mount Saint Mary College was later founded by the sisters as a natural extension of its mission.” Read story, view photos Above: Sister Mary Ann Mary Ann Clausson, OP (left) and Lorelle Elcock, OP (prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Hope) reminisce at the event. Above right: Sister Celestina Veloso Freitas, OP, representing Dominican Sisters International, spoke about Dominicans in the world today, and the impact of a Dominican education: "If our students receive this kind of formation, they can change our reality," she said. "[These students can] change not only the United States, but the whole world."

Caldwell Dominicans Sisters celebrate first liturgy in new chapel After two years of planning and construction, the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, New Jersey, celebrated the opening of the new Sacred Heart Convent last spring. Upon completion of the chapel just a few weeks ago, the first liturgy for the sister residents took place on Oct. 14. Sister Arlene Antzcak, prioress, blessed the new space and acknowledged the beautiful Dominican symbolism of the four pillars created by Sister Gerardine Mueller.

Dominican Sisters in Iraq
Displaced Christians face challenge of winter

Sister Habiba, one of four Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena ministering to displaced Christians in Iraq, was interviewed for a recent article in the National Catholic Reporter’s Global Sisters Report. Displaced themselves, the sister are now facing the grave challenge of winter weather as they struggle to provide shelter and sustenance to Christian families in Ainkawa. Read article Sister Attracta Kelly, OP, prioress of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, received a letter of gratitude from the Iraqi Dominican Sisters for generous support from the Dominican Family. But the needs are still great as the cold weather sets in. Read Nov. 5 letter from Sister Attracta

Adrian Dominicans
Sister Maureen helps women rebuild lives after prison

Sister Maureen O’Connell, OP (Adrian), gave a keynote address Oct. 14 on childhood trauma and the need for access to trauma-informed care at a national conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Sister Maureen is the founder and executive director of Angela House, a transitional, residential facility in Houston, Texas, for women upon their immediate release from incarceration. She is also a former police officer and chaplain for the Chicago Police Department. Read more

Western Province
Five days at St. Albert's Priory

What do an oceanographer, a geophysicist, a microbiologist, a scholar, and a chemist have in common? They are all Dominican Friars of the Western Province at St. Albert’s Priory in Oakland, California. Anthony Clark spent five days visiting St. Albert’s Priory. He writes about his experience in a recent article in the Catholic World Report: “One cannot help but feel optimistic about the future of the Church in the hands of such holy and intellectually vibrant men. Saint Thomas Aquinas, OP, famously wrote that, ‘it is better to enlighten than merely to shine, so is it better to give to others the fruits of one’s contemplation than merely to contemplate.’ This describes well the attitude of the priests and brothers I met during my stay at St. Albert’s Priory.” Read article, view photos

Sparkill Dominicans
St. John Chrysostum School celebrates 100 years

A recent article in the New York Daily News featured St. John Chrysostum School in the Bronx, New York. The school, founded in 1914 by the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, New York, is celebrating 100 years of Catholic education to pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students in the Bronx. Sister Mary Elizabeth Mooney, OP, has served as the school’s principal for the last 40 years. Read article, view photos

Faith and Film
Gone Girl

David Fincher is a talented director who has made good movies about unlikable people (“The Social Network”). He also directed some episodes of a good TV series about unlikable people (“House of Cards”). Now Fincher directs another story about unlikable people, “Gone Girl.” These may be the worst yet. You wouldn’t want this couple moving into your neighborhood! Read review by Tom Condon, OP

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