2024 DSC Elected Leaders Meeting   More than Ninety elected leaders and guests gathered in Columbus, Ohio to unpack the meaning behind the theme “Preachers for Times Such as These!”. 

There was a fruitful unfolding of conversation between all who attended, focusing on the question “what will it take to open ourselves to a new and deeper communion that God is calling us to co-create resulting in a flourishing Dominican life and mission? Our facilitator Sue Weber lead us in a process of Emergent Learning, which helped us to recognize how our past influences our future.  

In her address, our DSC Executive Director, Xiomara Méndez Hernández OP, urged our leaders to make a “Preferential option for Relationship… We are called to be “  Dominican Preachers for Times such as These.” To fail to act is to miss our historical cues and to fade away from our Dominican family and Charism.  At this critical moment in time, we are being invited to gather our strength to become what we are meant to be in God’s plan.” She continued, “As leaders, we are in a place of significant potential for the Church and our Dominican Family history. We are being called to move from a restricted view of possibilities to become women leaders testing the limits of what we can do and be. We are on a journey of deliverance with grit and decisiveness.” Her hope for us, Dominican Preachers, is to live hopeful and joy-full, wise and courageous for Times Such as These!

The movement of the Spirit among us was palpable resulting in breaking open conversations toward continuing to be agents of change and transformation for times such as these. The gathering helped sisters understand that we are each one small expression of a much larger charism.

We also celebrated the transition of leadership on the DSC Executive Committee. We are immensly grateful for the leadership of Anne Lythgoe and Terry Rickard. We welcomed Megan McElroy and Irene Ellis as new members to the Executive Committee. 

Each day was grounded in prayer and began with inspiring preaching, rich music and spirited joy. We concluded our time together with a celebratory liturgy and banquet.  

Thank you to the Visioning and Planning Committee, facilitator Sue Weber, and all who attended that made the event another great experience of Dominican collaboration.