Dominican Sisters of Caldwell Elect New Congregational Leadership Team

The Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell, New Jersey, Elect New Congregational Leadership Team 

The Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell, New Jersey, joyfully announce the election of their new Congregational Leadership Team. Guided by the Spirit and rooted in the preaching mission of the Order of Preachers, the newly elected team will lead the congregation into the next chapter of its shared life and ministry.

Elected during the 2025 Chapter held at the congregation’s Motherhouse in Caldwell, the team brings together gifts of wisdom, experience, and a deep commitment to Gospel values. Their leadership will support the congregation’s ongoing mission of prayer, community, study, and service.

Sister Luella Ramm, OP, re-elected as prioress, has served the Caldwell Dominican mission with dedication for 51 years, combining a prayerful spirit with strong financial and administrative leadership. Her ministry has spanned education, healthcare, and congregational governance, including roles as prioress, vicaress, councilor, treasurer, and board member. With a gift for managing complex building projects, she was part of the team tasked with the Saint Catherine of Siena Chapel renovations before overseeing the environmentally-conscious construction of Sacred Heart Convent. She holds degrees in education, administration, and finance, and is a licensed long-term care administrator. Sister Luella’s life of service is marked by a deep love for her community, a steady vision for the future, and a joyful commitment that continues to shine.

Sister Kathleen Tuite, OP, elected as vicaress, has been a member of the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell, NJ, since 1989, dedicating over 36 years to Dominican life and Catholic education. She has served in key leadership roles at Caldwell University and contributed to national and international Dominican initiatives, including Giving Voice and Dominican Women Afire. In 2024, she was elected president of the Dominican Sisters Conference Executive Committee. Her vocation was nurtured through active parish involvement and a deepening sense of God’s call during her young adult years. With a joyful spirit and steadfast faith, she continues to shape and strengthen the future of Dominican life and mission.  

Sister Marie Mueller, OP, was re-elected as councilor. A Caldwell Dominican for 53 years, she brings together a deep spirituality, intellectual strength, and a warm, generous heart in all of her ministries. She has served in congregational leadership as councilor and as vocation and candidate director, and in education through roles at Caldwell University, Lacordaire Academy, and Saint Dominic Academy. With degrees in mathematics, religious studies, and pastoral counseling, she blends academic rigor with creativity and compassionate presence. Loved by colleagues, students, and community members alike, she is known for her calming spirit, sage advice, and quiet joy. Sister Marie’s faithful and wholehearted commitment to God, community, and others continues to bless all those around her.

Sister Deborah Lynch, OP, was also elected as councilor. Having grown up in Lordship, Connecticut, sheentered the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell in 1965 and, since then, has served in both elementary and secondary education, parish ministry, and counseling at Caldwell University. The opportunity to serve people in a variety of ways and situations has enhanced and blessed Sister Deborah’s life. Now embarking on this new ministry as councilor to her own sisters, she prays to be both blessed and a blessing.

Please join us in prayer and gratitude for these women who have said “yes” to serving the congregation and the Church in this sacred way. The transition of leadership will be held on Friday, June 27, 2025, the Feast of the Sacred Heart.

Image, left to right: Sister Marie Mueller, councilor; Sister Kathleen Tuite, vicaress; Sister Luella Ramm, prioress; Sister Deborah Lynch, councilor

Dominican Sisters of Caldwell Elect New Congregational Leadership Team

The Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell, New Jersey, Elect New Congregational Leadership Team 

The Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell, New Jersey, joyfully announce the election of their new Congregational Leadership Team. Guided by the Spirit and rooted in the preaching mission of the Order of Preachers, the newly elected team will lead the congregation into the next chapter of its shared life and ministry.

Elected during the 2025 Chapter held at the congregation’s Motherhouse in Caldwell, the team brings together gifts of wisdom, experience, and a deep commitment to Gospel values. Their leadership will support the congregation’s ongoing mission of prayer, community, study, and service.

Sister Luella Ramm, OP, re-elected as prioress, has served the Caldwell Dominican mission with dedication for 51 years, combining a prayerful spirit with strong financial and administrative leadership. Her ministry has spanned education, healthcare, and congregational governance, including roles as prioress, vicaress, councilor, treasurer, and board member. With a gift for managing complex building projects, she was part of the team tasked with the Saint Catherine of Siena Chapel renovations before overseeing the environmentally-conscious construction of Sacred Heart Convent. She holds degrees in education, administration, and finance, and is a licensed long-term care administrator. Sister Luella’s life of service is marked by a deep love for her community, a steady vision for the future, and a joyful commitment that continues to shine.

Sister Kathleen Tuite, OP, elected as vicaress, has been a member of the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell, NJ, since 1989, dedicating over 36 years to Dominican life and Catholic education. She has served in key leadership roles at Caldwell University and contributed to national and international Dominican initiatives, including Giving Voice and Dominican Women Afire. In 2024, she was elected president of the Dominican Sisters Conference Executive Committee. Her vocation was nurtured through active parish involvement and a deepening sense of God’s call during her young adult years. With a joyful spirit and steadfast faith, she continues to shape and strengthen the future of Dominican life and mission.  

Sister Marie Mueller, OP, was re-elected as councilor. A Caldwell Dominican for 53 years, she brings together a deep spirituality, intellectual strength, and a warm, generous heart in all of her ministries. She has served in congregational leadership as councilor and as vocation and candidate director, and in education through roles at Caldwell University, Lacordaire Academy, and Saint Dominic Academy. With degrees in mathematics, religious studies, and pastoral counseling, she blends academic rigor with creativity and compassionate presence. Loved by colleagues, students, and community members alike, she is known for her calming spirit, sage advice, and quiet joy. Sister Marie’s faithful and wholehearted commitment to God, community, and others continues to bless all those around her.

Sister Deborah Lynch, OP, was also elected as councilor. Having grown up in Lordship, Connecticut, sheentered the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell in 1965 and, since then, has served in both elementary and secondary education, parish ministry, and counseling at Caldwell University. The opportunity to serve people in a variety of ways and situations has enhanced and blessed Sister Deborah’s life. Now embarking on this new ministry as councilor to her own sisters, she prays to be both blessed and a blessing.

Please join us in prayer and gratitude for these women who have said “yes” to serving the congregation and the Church in this sacred way. The transition of leadership will be held on Friday, June 27, 2025, the Feast of the Sacred Heart.

Image, left to right: Sister Marie Mueller, councilor; Sister Kathleen Tuite, vicaress; Sister Luella Ramm, prioress; Sister Deborah Lynch, councilor

Faith and Film

BECOMING DOMINIC — Set in Edinburgh, this documentary follows bronze sculptor Kenny Hunter as he makes a life-size statue of St. Dominic for a local priory of Dominican friars. As we follow the lives of the friars, we discover a parallel between priest and artist.
(featuring the now Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe)

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1023914092
The virtual screenings are available online NOW and for this week only (April 21-27)
https://riverrunfilm.com/events/becomingdominic/

Associate Dominican Sister of Hope Nancy Brennan Spearheads Support Network for Migrants

When Nancy Brennan was asked through her parish to help support local undocumented migrants, she jumped at the opportunity. She had followed news about ICE being active in her county and was perturbed at the civil rights violations of human beings around her. 

Nancy said that immigrants in her neighborhood are scared to let their children walk to school, or to show up to court for parking and traffic violations for fear of being deported. For one mother with a young child and baby on the way, her husband was already deported. And, in some cases, ICE is targeting legal U.S. citizens erroneously.

“How do we support people?” Nancy asks. She joined the coalition of churches, temples, libraries, schools, and organizations and is helping to spearhead “a support system” for undocumented migrants. This includes everything from providing shelter, legal counsel, care, and transportation to training on how to film and document ICE interactions.

Although this is a new ministry for Nancy, she says it’s “where [her] heart is.”

“I got involved because of God’s message of love,” Nancy said. “In the climate we live in, it’s always about if you’re not white and blue eyed and blonde haired, you’re nothing. I just have this feeling that people believe in Jesus but they don’t believe what he said, and I’m trying to live that.”

“It’s unfathomable to me,” Nancy continued. “We’re going to try to step in and save as many people as we can.”

National Day of Awareness for Missing and  Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls – May 5

he day is recognized nationally in the United States and Canada as the National Awareness Day for Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The day was inspired by the Red Dress Project, which began in Canada and has spread across the US. The day is dedicated to raising awareness and acknowledging the violence and injustice faced by Indigenous People, particularly the high rates of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The day serves as a call to action to address the crisis and ensure justice and safety for Indigenous People. 

The day honors the memory of Hanna Harris, a Northern Cheyenne tribal member who went missing and was later found murdered in 2013. Jean Glach, OP (Peace) shared Hanna’s story in the Fall 2024 issue of the Las Casas newsletter on pages 2 and 3 (domlife.org/lascasas – select the NEWSLETTER tab and then the Fall 2024 issue). 

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Hanna’s now 11-year-old son (10 months old when Hanna went missing) helps place the crown on the head of the Blessed Mother in preparation for the May 5 remembrance in 2024. The quilt features the red handprint, the symbol of the MMIW movement.

People often wear red clothing on the day or clothing with the image of a red hand print. A red handprint over the mouth has become the symbol of the movement. It stands for all the missing sisters whose voices are not heard. It stands for the silence of the media and law enforcement in the midst of this crisis.

This day is an opportunity to learn about the issue, support advocacy efforts, and take action to end violence and ensure justice for Indigenous communities. Organizations like Native Hope and the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) are working to raise awareness and advocate for the safety and justice of Indigenous communities. 

President Biden proclaimed May 5, 2022, as Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calling on all Americans and asking “all levels of government to support Tribal governments and Tribal communities’ efforts to increase awareness of the issue of missing or murdered Indigenous persons through appropriate programs and activities” and to “commit to working with tribal Nations and communities to achieve justice and healing.” The Indian Law Resource Center joins others across the United States in remembering Indigenous victims and their families. Read the full Presidential Proclamation at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/05/04/a-proclamation-on-missing-or-murdered-indigenous-persons-awareness-day-2022/.

Check out these websites for more information and consider wearing RED on May 5 to support the MMIP movement. Thanks to Jean Glach, OP (Peace) for sharing Hanna’s story and helping to educate the Dominican family as she ministers among the Northern Cheyenne in Lame Deer, Montana. Your generous support for Las Casas: Dominicans in Ministry with Native Americans, Inc. help support Jean and Dominicans who minister with Native/Indigenous People.

For further reading and resources:

https://www.justice.gov/tribal/mmip
https://www.nativehope.org/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-mmiw
https://www.indianlaw.org
https://www.niwrc.org
https://indianlaw.org/news/proclamation-missing-or-murdered-indigenous-persons-awareness-day
https://www.bia.gov/service/mmu/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-people-crisis

Search: No More Stolen Sisters and The REDress Project | National Museum of the American Indian


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