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Monthly Archives: January 2016
Faith and Film – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Movie
Review by Fr. Tom Condon, O.P.
No doubt you have heard about the much-anticipated new movie in the Star Wars franchise. In its first three weeks at the box office, it has shattered records everywhere, and been a hit with audiences and critics alike. As he has done with the most recent films in the Star Trek franchise, director J. J. Abrams has gone back to the source, and revived what made the original Star Wars movies such a sensation.
The Force Awakens begins rather slowly. It is 30 years after the original Star Wars. The Empire has been defeated, but now a new evil empire, called The First Order, is in control of much of the universe. Luke Skywalker has gone into self-imposed exile, after the last Jedi Warrior he trained, Kylo Ren, son of Han Solo, has gone to the Dark Side. With Luke, the last Jedi Warrior, still around, there is always the possibility that he will come out of exile and train more warriors. Therefore, the First Order is out to capture Luke, so there will be no threat to their power.
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Father Timothy Radcliffe, O.P. to Speak at Sinsinawa
SINSINAWA, Wis.—The Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters will host Father Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., for a lecture, “Acting and Reflecting: A Dominican Pattern for the 21st Century,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 4, at Sinsinawa Mound. Radcliffe, a friar of the Dominican English province, is an internationally renowned author, lecturer and preacher, as well as former Master of the Order. He was recently appointed by Pope Francis to be a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The lecture is part of the ongoing celebration of the 800th Jubilee of the Order of Preachers. All are welcome to this free event.
For more information, contact Sister Priscilla Wood, OP, at 608-748-4411 or visit our website at www.sinsinawa.org. Sinsinawa Mound, the Motherhouse for the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, is located in southwest Wisconsin on County Road Z, off Highway 11, about five miles northeast of Dubuque.
The Sinsinawa Dominicans invite you to learn more about our worldwide Dominican family, the Order of Preachers. For over 800 years, Dominicans have continued to preach the Gospel in word and deed. Today, thousands of sisters, nuns, priests, brothers, associates, and laity minister in more than 100 countries around the world. Visit our website at www.sinsinawa.org.
Catholic Sisters to Promote Care of the Earth through Billboards
DUBUQUE, Ia.—Catholic Sisters based in the Upper Mississippi River Valley are calling for care of the environment through urging others to support legislation to reduce carbon emissions, develop clean energy policies, and provide financial assistance to developing countries. To promote their points, Catholic Sisters are placing more than 20 billboards in Iowa in January through early February in advance of the caucuses to make sure delegates, potential presidential candidates, and voters remember this critical issue. Billboards with the message “Standing with Pope Francis; Caring for our Common Home” will also be placed in Illinois and Wisconsin. Catholic Sisters will hold a prayer service calling all to work together for the good of Earth, our “Common Home,” near the billboard site at the intersection of 8th and White in Dubuque at 12:30 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 27.
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Dominican Young Adults Help Rebuild in Freeport
By Gina Fleming, O.P.
(Ex-Director Dominican Youth Movement)
During the week of January 3rd-7th, six young adults, who are members of the Dominican Young Adults Chapter at Molloy College, came together to participate in a service project in Freeport. This year’s build was a collaboration with the Methodist Disaster Relief Services and ourselves.
The week began with arrival on Sunday evening, settling into bedrooms, a short tour of the house, dinner, and an overview of the plan for the week. This was followed by an opening prayer service.
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