This month, the Dominican Sisters of Peace opened a new “House of Welcome” on Eld Street, in the 18-bedroom former convent building of New Haven St. Stanlislaus Parish in New Haven, Connecticut. “The house gives us the opportunity to offer an immersion experience into being a Dominican Sister,” explains Sister Pat Twohill, one of three vocation ministers for the Dominican Sisters of Peace. “Most women who are considering a religious vocation do not have opportunities to spend much time with sisters beyond an evening or weekend, so the new House of Welcome offers a unique opportunity.” Read more, view photos

Adrian Dominican Sisters Patricia Siemen, OP, and Elise GarcÍa, OP, attended the first International Summit of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature movement, held in Quito, Ecuador, Jan. 13–17, 2014. The purpose of the summit is to analyze the experiences of communities in Ecuador, Bolivia, and the United States that have already implemented Rights of Nature laws and to create a global strategy to advance the movement throughout the world. Read more Sister Elise wrote three blogs from the summit that were published in the National Catholic Reporter’s Eco Catholic series. Read blogs

Ana Gonzalez began her formal journey as a candidate with the Dominican Sisters of Peace in a ceremony Jan. 18 that began at the new House of Welcome and continued in the sanctuary of St. Stanislaus Church. In welcoming Ana, Prioress Sister Margaret Ormond said, “Ana’s willingness to place her many gifts at the service of our Dominican mission at this time is a blessing to us and gives us hope and renews our call to be preachers with our younger generation.” Ana works in recruitment at Albertus Magnus College, a founded ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Read more, view photos