Monthly Archives: October 2015

Dominican life and mission: Ever ancient, ever new

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By Sister Margaret Mayce, OP

Saturday, Sept. 19, was an extraordinary day in the soon-to-be 800-year history of Dominican Life and Mission. A group of 100+, men, women and children, including Catholic Workers, Jesuit Scholastics, Passionists, Sisters of St. Joseph, Dominican Sisters and Brothers from the Northeast and Dominican Sisters from the Midwest gathered to celebrate the Eucharist and offer prayers of blessing for the newly established Benincasa Community. We listened to the Gospel story of Mary and Martha, who lovingly extended their warm hospitality to Jesus and his companions. Our Preacher, Pat Daly, OP (Caldwell), invited us to see the integration of the active and the contemplative in our lives as disciples; of service rooted in prayer. It could not have been a finer message for this fledgling community, whose enthusiasm for life rooted in the Gospel is palpable. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Sisters representing the five Northeast Congregations (Amityville, Blauvelt, Caldwell, Hope and Sparkill), processed through the house, blessing each room:

May this good house be blessed with the rich heritage of Dominic and Catherine; may it be Truth, may it be Love for all, near and far, and may it awaken a new hope for the future of our life together on our blessed and broken planet.

mayce_benincasa_03Housed in the former Blessed Sacrament Parish Convent on West 71st Street in Manhattan, Benincasa is the fruit of the vision and persistence of Karen Gargamelli. Karen, a former Dominican Volunteer, lived with Amityville Sisters Pat DeMarco, Connie Kavanagh and Janetta McAlevey while she taught at Most Holy Trinity School in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. Upon completing her year’s commitment, Karen studied law at City University of New York., and is now a public interest attorney, specializing in housing law. Though she never felt quite called to the religious life, her experience of Dominican life and mission captivated her heart and spirit. She feels strongly that we need to acknowledge and cultivate the seeds of new expressions of Dominican life already implanted in the laity. Thus, her great desire to establish a lay community, which would live in the spirit of Dominic and Catherine, guided by the four pillars of our Dominican life – prayer, study, community and mission. In Karen’s words, “Benincasa Community seeks to break and share bread with those hungry for integration between their job and their spiritual life. We hope—through study and prayer and sharing resources—to cultivate a contemplative life and a community life that will support our active life of ministry.”
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Dominican Sisters of Peace work with CHI’s Community-Based Violence Prevention Initiative

Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) recognizes that violence is a key public health concern. For the past five years, CHI has reached outside the walls of its member hospitals and other health care facilities to support violence-prevention efforts in the broader community.

Through its program of violence-prevention grants, CHI is currently working with partners in 43 communities. The Dominican Sisters of Peace was one of the first groups to partner with CHI in this initiative five years ago. The grant enabled the congregation to seek ways to actively address the pervasive violence and create community empowerment in a trailer park not far from the Columbus motherhouse. After two years of pre-planning, the congregation moved to the implementation phase, where they continue to work with about 250 primarily immigrant Latino families, 90 percent of whom have experienced some form of violence. For each area of violence (domestic violence, youth bullying, adult family-to-family violence, etc.) the group set goals for reduction and has met, exceeded or is on track to meet each goal—all within just three years of the implementation process for the grant.

Sisters Shawn Fitzpatrick, Robin Richard, Roberta Miller and employees Lisset Mendoza, Donna Vroom and Alice Black have been working on this project. They formed a coalition which focuses on activities to build leadership skills, increase health and wellness, provide a safe physical environment and empower trailer park residents to become individual, family and community advocates. Meetings and workshops have addressed topics such as police-community relationships and immigrant rights.

Residents are reclaiming their community from gang and drug activity and building positive social relationships that will support the long-term health of their community. Children have been able to attend summer camp at Shepherd’s Corner, and youth of all ages are experiencing more hope for
their future. Women are becoming empowered and positive outcomes are being achieved for those
who are marginalized by society. In this ongoing process, much has been learned about serving those
who are most in need. Please continue to keep this community in prayer.

Read the full CHI report: United Against Violence Catholic Health Initiatives Five Year Progress Report: Community-Based Violence Prevention Initiatives 2010—2015

News from Dominican Institute for the Arts

“Load-shedding” by Sister Sheila Flynn, OP
“Load-shedding” by Sister Sheila Flynn, OP

Dominican Insitute for the Arts (DIA) member Sheila Flynn, OP recently exhibited at the Gretchen International Print Exhibition in Switzerland and was a participant in the GIF Book (31 South African artists contributing 101 prints) which has been purchased by the Smithsonian.

“The print’s title is ‘Load-shedding.’ I drew from a real snake skin, using it as a metaphor for transformation. We have to ‘let go’ to be transformed,” said Sister Sheila. “The central symbol is an ancient symbol for power—we are empowered by grace when we open ourselves to God’s work in us on behalf of others. The smaller symbol in the left hand corner is the ‘on-off’ button—the power to change and be transformed is in our hands, with grace.”

Sister Barbara Schwarz, OP recently published a DVD and calendar celebrating Dominicans living 800 years of the Charism.

MSJ Dominicans: Thomas Merton book club

What: Thomas Merton: Spiritual Master, 4-part Book Club series. The book, “The Intimate Merton” by Thomas Merton, can be purchased on Amazon.com.

Facilitators: Sister Ingrid Clemmensen, OP, Sister Ramona Bascom, OP and Mary Ellen Parker.

When: Oct. 22, Oct. 29, Nov. 12, Nov. 19, 2015 (Thursdays 3 to 4:30 p.m.)

Where: Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, Fremont, California

Cost: $10 Donation per session

More information: www.msjdominicans.org

 

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