The Story of the Dominican High Schools Preaching Conference

The first Dominican High Schools Preaching Conference was held at Queen of Peace High School in Burbank, IL (Chicago) from June 13-18, 1999. Thirty-nine students from 17 Dominican high schools participated in this ground-breaking event. Women and men representing many Dominican congregations/provinces participated in the conference as planners, presenters, prayer leaders, and mentors for the student group.

The following summer (2000), the conference was moved to Dominican University in River Forest, IL to accommodate an increased number of participants (74). Dominican University remained the host site for the 2001-2003 conferences. In 2004, the conference moved to Siena Heights University in Adrian, MI, where it continues to be hosted. At this point in time, several hundred young people have participated in these annual gatherings.

The theme of the conference has remained the same: each of us is called to preach the Gospel in our own unique way.  During the six-day conference, Dominicans (members of the Order of Preachers) highlight the charism of preaching as it has been practiced from the earliest days of the Order to the present. Participants meet many Dominicans who preach the Gospel in a variety of settings. Participants also have the opportunity to visit service sites where they can "put their preaching into action."

Each day begins and ends with a prayer/ritual prepared by the participants with the assistance of Dominican liturgists. At the closing Eucharistic celebration, school teams share ways that they can take the message of the conference back to their school communities.

Sr. Mary Soher, OP, (Adrian) is the director of the conference.

2015 Presenters

Preaching in the Dominican Tradition

Keynote Presentation
Mr. Michael Petro, Cardinal Stritch High School & Kateri Catholic Academy, Toledo, OH

St. Dominic
Mr. Patrick Spedale, St. Pius X High School, Houston, TX

St. Catherine of Siena
Sister Nancy Murray, OP, Dominican Sister of Adrian

St. Martin de Porres
Brother Herman Johnson, OP, Province of St. Martin de Porres

The Preaching of Antonio Montesinos
Sr. Pat Harvat, OP, Dominican Sister of Adrian, and Mrs. Marcia Peyton, St. Mary’s Dominican High School, New Orleans, LA

Interfaith Dances of Inclusion
Brother Joseph Kilikevice, OP, Province of St. Albert the Great

Connecting with the Dominican Family

Dominican Associates
Dominican Colleges and University
Dominican Friars
Dominican Laity
Dominican Nuns
Dominican Sisters
Dominican Volunteers USA
Dominican Young Adults USA

Preaching the Signs of the Times

Isolated Elderly: The Forgotten People
Philip Catalanotto, Dominican Volunteer USA

The Movement of Peoples: Exploring Immigration and Migration
Kelly Litt and Juan Miguel Alvarez, Dominican Volunteers USA

The Refugees’ Experience
Chris Bargeron, Dominican Volunteer USA

Ending Slavery is Everyone’s Work
Carol Davis, OP, Dominican Sister of Peace

The Power You Hold
MP Bausch, Dominican Volunteer USA

Preaching Through the Arts
Taize
Sister Joyce LaVoy, OP, and Sister Mary Jones, OP, Dominican Sisters of Adrian

Morovian Stars
Sister Maria Browne, OP, Dominican Sisters of Adrian

Rosary Making
Sister Jean Patrick Ehrhardt, OP, Dominican Sisters of Springfield

Liturgical Preaching
Sister Sara Fairbanks, OP, Dominican Sisters of Adrian

Pieces of Art
Brianna Frazer, Dominican Young Adult USA

Moving in the Spirit
Sister Nancy Murray, OP, Dominican Sisters of Adrian

Preaching through Water Color
Sister Sue Schreiber, OP, Dominican Sisters of Adrian

Mandalas
Sister Barbara Schwarz, OP, Dominican Sisters of Amityville

Liturgical Movement
Sister Lucy Sori, OP, Dominican Sisters of Adrian

T’ai Chi Chih
Carletta LaCour, OP, Dominican Sisters of Houston