Photos of the Week

Mission San Jose Dominicans Cardinal Marx visits sisters The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose welcomed Cardinal Reinhard Marx for a visit Jan. 19. Sister Gloria Marie Jones met Cardinal Marx during her visits to the sisters’ German community in Altenhohenau. Cardinal Marx led a Eucharistic celebration along with Oakland Bishop Michael Barber, Oakland Bishop Emeritus John Cummins, Divine Word Fr. Carl Seewald, and Msgr. Manuel Simas, followed by dinner and a tour of the motherhouse and grounds. Read Feb. 4 article (“Cardinal who is papal insider visits Dominican Sisters”) in Catholic San Francisco	Top from left: Bishop John Cummins, Sister Gloria Marie Jones, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Sister Margarita Sondorfer, Sister Pia Jobst, and Bishop Barber. Above: Cardinal Reinhard Marx, and Sister Margarita Sondorfer. Left: Cardinal Reinhard Marx greeting (from left) Sisters Mary Albert Walsh, Dolores Renkel (Oakford), and Mary Jarleth McGrath. View more photos on Facebook
Dominican Volunteers USA Volunteers recharge at mid-year retreat From Jan. 28–Feb. 1, the Dominican Volunteers reunited in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, for their midyear retreat. Hosted by the Dominican Sisters of Peace at their Rosaryville Spirit Life Center, the current volunteers joined to reflect, re-center, refocus, and reignite their spark for the remainder of their volunteer year. Read article by Dominican Volunteer Kelly Litt
Dominican Institute for the Arts Making preaching through the arts a reality The Dominican Institute for the Arts is a grassroots organization of Dominican sisters, friars, associates and laity with a commitment to furthering the arts as preaching. DIA members are artists and appreciators of the arts in any and all forms, including poetry, writing, visual and graphic arts, film, pottery, weaving, and more. New members are welcome! For more information, read their latest newsletter and visit their web site (www.diartsop.org). Ready to join DIA on their creative adventure? Download membership form (PDF). Also, mark your calendar for the 2015 Gathering July 22–26 at Heartland Spirituality Center in Great Bend, Kansas. Above: Sister Elaine DesRosiers, OP, in her studio

We have family in Iraq
Delegations witness ‘profound sadness,’ hope

Three U.S. Dominican sisters and two priests, in separate delegations, visited northern Iraq in January, where the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena are ministering to displaced Christians. Sisters Marcelline Koch, OP (Springfield); Durstyne Farnan, OP (Adrian); and Arlene Flaherty, OP (Blauvelt) made up the delegation of sisters. A Feb. 5 article in Global Sisters Report, “Bearing witness, being church: Dominican sisters in Iraq,” a direct result of this visit, was also picked up by the Huffington Post. The sisters will give a livestreamed presentation about their experience on Sunday, March 8 at 4 p.m. EST. Brian Pierce, OP, and Timothy Radcliffe, OP, spent nine days in Iraq, staying with Iraqi Dominican brothers in Baghdad and sisters in Erbil. Their trip overlapped for a day with the delegation of three Dominican sisters. “They were beautiful days, and at the same time they were days filled with stories of tragedy, loss, and uncertainty. The faith of the Iraqi people is simply unbelievable, their resilience a sign of their deep faith, hope and love for their homeland…” wrote Fr. Brian, in a message sharing a written report on their visit.

Oakford Dominicans
Sister Lynn helps bring church, dignity to detainees

Sister Lynn Allvin ministers as a chaplain at Florence Federal Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. She was recently featured in an article in America magazine (“Mass at a federal detention facility”). Read article

Dominican Association of Secondary Schools
DASS offers resources, support for Dominican educators

The Dominican Association of Secondary Schools was formally founded in 2002. Its mission is to nurture and sustain the legacy of Dominican Catholic secondary education in the United States. Through the years DASS has nurtured leaders in the tradition of preaching, prayer, study and community and has fostered collaboration with others in carrying out the preaching mission. In the early days, most administrators were vowed Dominican religious men and women. Today, there is a greater need for DASS to offer resources about the Dominican charism and for mission integration as our lay colleagues step forward to embrace leadership in Dominican schools. Equally important is a growing need to support efforts of religious congregations in seeking new and effective sponsorship models and in maintaining strong relationships with their schools. All secondary schools within the Dominican tradition are welcomed and encouraged to participate in DASS and to benefit from the resources provided. Learn more about DASS at www.dominicanschools.org.

Dominican Sisters’ Conference
Convocation registration, ‘Paris 2015 and Counting’

The Dominican Sisters’ Conference is counting down to the 2015 Climate Summit in Paris, France. The DSC’s Paris 2015 Sub-Committee encourages sisters and others to participate in the “Paris 2015 and Counting” initiative to help raise awareness of justice issues impacted by climate change. More information and resources, including study guides, action items, and prayer service materials, are available online. The DSC is also planning for its second convocation Oct. 1–4 in Wheeling, Illinois. Registration materials for attendees and market place vendors are available on the DSC web site.

Ministry Opportunities
Sinsinawa Mound, Molloy College

The Sinsinawa Dominicans are seeking a Music and Liturgy Minister for Sinsinawa Mound and St. Dominic Villa in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. This full-time position will facilitate the worship life of the Dominican Sisters at the motherhouse and St. Dominic Villa by coordinating and providing quality liturgy and music. Contact Ray Hess, Human Resource Director, at 608-748-4411. Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York, is accepting applications for Vice President for Mission and Ministry. Read full text of position description

Faith and Film
Wild, Into the Woods

“Wild” is based on the real-life experiences of Cheryl Strayed, who travels from Minnesota to Southern California to hike the 1,100 mile Pacific Coast Trail. This film is about the redemptive power of life, nature, and community. I loved “Into the Woods” on stage, with its wonderful score and story line. I don’t think it works as well on film, but there is enough good to make it still worth seeing. Reviews by Tom Condon, OP.

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