USA
Dominican Sister of Peace Helen Cahill, OP Honored for Formation Work
Louisville, KY – Dominican Sister of Peace Helen Cahill, OP, was honored with the Mary Emil Penet, IHM Award at a gala dinner during the 2019 Religious Formation Conference (RFC) National Congress on October 25, 2019. This award recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to formation ministry, honoring one who demonstrates a substantial commitment to and investment of energy and insight into the formative journey of religious sisters and brothers.
Sister Helen has been engaged in formation ministry for many years. She has shown a particular interest in the professional preparation and supervision of formators and in the area of ongoing formation, offering the RFC’s Orientation to Formation workshop at a number of times.
Fr. Anthony Gittins, CSSp, from Catholic Theological Union set the tone in his presentation “Evangelization in the Mission of Jesus and in Our Mission as Church” by outlining the core of evangelization in how Jesus lived the mission: through proclamation, witness, dialogue, liberation, encounter, table-fellowship, foot-washing, and crossing boundaries. It is our responsibility, Fr. Gittins said, to participate in the mission of God.
“While campaigns intensified leading up to the United States off-year election on November 5, lawn signs for and against public office candidates proliferated across the country. Rockland county was no exception, displaying a wide array of political endorsements that seemed to sprinkle nearly every household in sight. Dominican Convent in Sparkill placed its own lawn sign, albeit one that neither supports nor disparages any candidates.” 
The International Dominican Commission for Justice and Peace (IDCJP) recently held its annual meeting at the Casa per Ferie Enrico de Osso in Rome, 12-17 October. Comprising the friar and sister international and regional/continental J&P promoters, representatives of the Dominican nuns, laity, youth and UN delegations, the Commission was blessed to have a long conversation with the new Master of the Order, Fr. Gerard Timoner. Building on the decisions of the recent General Chapter in Vietnam, he affirmed the promotion of justice and peace, not as a specialized work, but as the work of all Christians and therefore of all Dominicans. He highlighted the importance of also promoting it ad intra – within the Order, to restore our relationships as brothers and sisters, and to proclaim it with joy. The lack of justice and peace in our communities obstructs vocation. 
