Photos of the Week

Lent 2015 Season of penitence, grace, renewal Lent began on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18 this year, and ends on Holy Thursday, April 2. Catholics around the world observe this liturgical season of prayer, fasting, and giving alms. “Lent is a time of renewal for the whole Church, for each community and every believer. Above all it is a ‘time of grace’ ”(Pope Francis). Sister Lucianne Siers, OP (Grand Rapids) shares a reflection titled “Lent is the Church’s Springtime.” The Dominican Province of St. Martin de Porres offers daily reflections on its web site. The Dominican Sisters of Peace share a video reflection by Sister Margaret Ormond, OP. The Tacoma Dominicans offer a booklet of Lenten reflections by members of the Dominican Family. Above: Grand Rapids Dominican Associate Sue Ann Jabin and Sister Janet Brown, OP (Grand Rapids)

Sinsinawa Dominicans Celebrating the Lunar New Year Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters and associates celebrating the Lunar New Year in Madison, Wisconsin.

Grand Rapids Dominicans Sisters, students enjoy opportunity to interact Aquinas College Professor Julie Schatz-Stevens, PhD, arranged for her students to have an “intergenerational conversation” with Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters at their Marywood campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Some of the thought-starter questions included: What's something that you have done that surprised even you? How do you distinguish God's voice from your own thoughts? What was the most significant day of your life, and why? Participants ranged in age from 19 to 99 years, and the responses varied as widely as the ages. In this Year of Consecrated Life, this dynamic exchange was especially meaningful. Aquinas College was founded by the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids. In addition to teaching and attending Aquinas College, the Grand Rapids Dominicans helped launch intergenerational programming 40 years ago, and sisters continue to attend courses at the college’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Top (from left): Aquinas Student Cayleigh Bucyk, Sister Marlene Edwards and Sister Donna Brown. Middle: Aquinas Student Mackenzie Glaros and Sister Ottilia Schaub. Below (from left) Aquinas Professor Julie Schatz-Stevens, student Emily Stark, and Sister Michael Ellen Carling.

Houston Dominicans Sisters host Pax Christi workshop This month, Pax Christi-Houston and the Dominican Sisters of Houston hosted “We Grow Together—Catholic Communities of Color and Pax Christi USA” at the Dominican Center for Spirituality in Houston, Texas. Read article by Sister Ceil Roeger, OP (Houston) Above: Presenter Sister Jamie Phelps, OP (Adrian), center, speaks with workshop participants.

UN Briefing
20 years after Beijing: Where are women now?

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in September 1995. At that time, representatives of 189 governments set forth a series of commitments enshrined in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This document is considered to be the most progressive articulation for the advancement of women’s rights. The main focus of the 59th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (March 9–20, New York City) will be a review of the progress, or lack thereof, of the Beijing Platform for Action. Read article by Sister Margaret Mayce, OP

Sisters in the News
Tucson sisters leave ‘profound legacy’

Peace Dominican Sisters Corina Padilla and Esther Calderon were among 23 nuns, brothers and priests who were honored for years of service at a Jubilee Mass on Feb. 1 at St. Augustine Cathedral in Tucson, Arizona. From the Feb. 21 article in the Arizona Daily Star: “I think their legacy has been a profound legacy,” says Guadalupe Castillo. “It is unsung in many ways, because their work was to be deeply rooted in our community… and to lead us in understanding how to join in issues and what that really meant. It didn’t just mean praying. It meant doing.” Read article

Maryknoll Sisters
Congregation celebrates Jubilees

On Sunday, Feb. 15, The Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic honored members of the congregation celebrating their 75th, 70th and 60th anniversaries of religious life with a special Mass at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, New York. Read more

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.

800th Anniversary of Dominican Order
Brochures on Dominican values, foundations, charism

The Sinsinawa Dominicans are honoring the 800th anniversary of the Dominican Order in 2016 by making available brochures that describe Dominican values, foundations, and charisms as well as ways to practice Dominic’s way. Each set of brochures offers in-depth information about the practices of the Dominican Order. The brochures were written and edited by Sister Ruth Poochigian, OP, with support from Sister Barbara Dannhausen, OP. The Sinsinawa Dominicans are happy to share this resource with the Dominican Family and those who want to learn more about the Dominican Order. View brochures

Faith and Film
American Sniper, Sill Alice

Clint Eastwood brings the tragic, true story of Chris Kyle, Navy SEAL and much decorated sniper in Iraq, to the screen in “American Sniper,” one of this year’s nominees for Best Picture (“Birdman” received the Oscar).“Still Alice” is well done, with a good cast. Yet the movie belongs to Julianne Moore. I can’t imagine anyone else playing the part of Alice, and making her so real. Moore earned the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in this movie. Read reviews by Tom Condon, OP

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