Dominican Sister of Amityville Peggy McVetty, OP Returns from Puerto Rico

Sisters Peggy McVetty visits with the Sisters of Fatima

The Prioress of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville, Sister Peggy McVetty, returned from Puerto Rico on January 26th telling of the damage from the Earthquake that hit there on January 11th, 2020. She visited the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima in southern Puerto Rico. They sustained damage to their Motherhouse and General House in Guannica. Currently, seven sisters are living on the grounds in tents to help the people there recover. An expansive tent has been set up to distribute donated food and clothes to those in need. The Sisters also have a small “Capillo,” a makeshift chapel which contains the Blessed Sacrament. Please keep this community in your prayers. Along with recovering from the earthquake, it recently lost one their members, S. Magdalena, in a car accident.

February 2, 2020

Dominican Sisters of Houston: Human Trafficking Awareness Month

In commemorating National Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the Dominican Sisters of Houston, along with other members of Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition, participated in activities during Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Houston. On January 11, Human Trafficking Awareness Day, we hosted, in collaboration with St. Luke’s Health, a Prayer and Labyrinth Walk in memory of St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of Sudan and human trafficking survivors. In a contemplative setting, participants were asked to walk the labyrinth and engage in other activities quietly.

February 2, 2020

Dominican Sisters of Springfield – ‘Racial Justice: Claiming Our Oneness in Christ’

Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma, OP, prioress general of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, preached at the first of a series of Evening Prayer & Preaching events scheduled at Sacred Heart Convent for 2020. “Race and racial injustice are not just in the bones of our nation. They are in our cities, towns, and outlying areas. In large and small cities, we see neighborhoods designed to keep safe the privileged and keep out the marginalized […]” Read article

February 2, 2020

Dominican Sisters of Amityville: ‘Former Member Anna Mary O’Rourke Norton Still Lives Out Her Preacher Calling’

Although Anna Mary O’Rourke left the community of Amityville Dominicans in 1970, she has been living out her call as a Dominican Preacher!

“I believe my calling as a Dominican Sister in 1953 continues as a Dominican Associate today…only the setting has changed,” Anna said.

After leaving the order, she got a job at the New York Telephone as a School Consultant and later as a manager of corporate contributions. She had the responsibility to donate to grassroot causes such as Noah’s Ark – a non-profit run by the Dominican Sisters. She was later invited by S. Dolores Gartanutti to join their Board. “How happy I was to be working with my Dominican family again,” she said.

February 2, 2020

Dominican Sisters of Amityville: ‘Women with OPening Word Perform Epiphany Presentation’

On Friday, January 10, a beautiful celebration of Three Kings Day took place at the OPening Word Program in Wyandanch, NY. The OPening Word program is a literacy program which teaches English and job readiness to immigrant women on Long Island, a population which is often underserved. It is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville.

That day, the women participated in song and storytelling of the birth of Jesus and the arrival of the Magi. They were accompanied by Elaine Jahrsdoerfer, OP on the piano. In addition, several students related how Christmas is celebrated in their countries of origin.