Associates and Laity

March Youth Preaching Weekend

Submitted by Gina Fleming, OP

This past weekend seven students from St. Agnes Academic HS came to St. John the Baptist HS to begin a weekend of prayer, study, and the forming of community. These students were the latest group who attended one of our youth preaching workshops. They learned how to bring to life their baptismal call to “preach the Good News” by using the gifts and talents that have been given to them by our loving God.

One of the highlights is when the students visit the Motherhouse on Saturday and join the retired sisters for an ice cream social. This is a fun event for all who participate. This years ice cream social was special indeed as it was part of the National celebration of Catholic Sisters Week.
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Molloy College – Kellenberg Art Gallery to Exhibit ‘Dominican Artists: Contemporary Expressions of Faith’

From March 3 – April 29, 2016, Molloy College will exhibit “Dominican Artists:  Contemporary Expressions of Faith” at the Kellenberg Art Gallery. The opening reception is Thursday, March 3, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Read flyer listing Dominican artists.

For more information, contact curator:

Larissa Woo, MS, MSLIS Director
artgallery@molloy.edu

Molloy College Art Galleries
1000 Hempstead Avenue
Rockville Centre, NY 11571
P 516.323.3196 | F 516.323.4897

Dominicans and Associates attend annual SOA vigil at Fort Benning

Dominicans and Associates from Adrian, Peace, Sinsinawa, Springfield, and the Central Province traveled to Columbus, GA, for the annual SOA (School of Americas) vigil at Fort Benning November 21 and 22, 2015.

Saturday morning found the vigilers driving the 40 miles to Lumpkin, GA, for the rally and 1.7 mile march tomarch the Stewart Detention Center, one of the largest for-profit immigrant prisons in the country (1,752 beds). There are more people inside the prison than in the small, remote rural town. The march was led by those whose lives are
directly impacted by our country’s unjust, inhumane and racist immigration policies. More than 1,000 marchers joined in to raise their voices. They couldn’t see what the site looked like as large buses were parked to block any view of the building.

The Sunday morning funeral procession continues to be a powerful remembrance of those who have died at the hands of military violence. Crosses with the
names of those who have been killed or disappeared due to state violence are raised as the crowd responds with Presente.

After the procession, SOAWatch leaders announced that SOAW is planning to change its focus from Ft. Benning to the U.S.-Mexican border to address the plight of Latin Americans refugees who are fleeing increasingly dangerous conditions, especially those escaping violence in the “northern triangle” of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

Christina spent 4 years in a Salvadoran prison after suffering a miscarriage.
Christina spent 4 years in a Salvadoran prison after suffering a miscarriage.

One of the workshops on Saturday afternoon was about the Las 17 (the 17). In El Salvador, abortion is illegal even in cases of rape, incest, and maternal danger. Because of the strictness of the law, women who miscarry are arrested and tried for aggravated homicide, receiving up to a 30-or-40-year prison sentence. Activist groups have identified at least 17 women who have been jailed after losing their babies to medical emergencies. As one would expect, these are poor, rural women.

We carried you with us in prayer and spirit throughout the weekend.

 

DYA Molloy Chapter presides at Vespers

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By Sister Gina Fleming, OP (Amityville)

As part of our celebration of the 800th Anniversary of the Order, this past Sunday our Dominican Young Adult chapter from Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York, presided over our Sunday vespers service.

There was a great deal of energy in the chapel as well as anticipation as these young people began the service. As the entrance antiphon was being sung and the presider and person giving the reflection were processing into the chapel it was clear that this was going to be something special, and indeed it was.

The voices of the young women who were leaders of song were beautiful as they led us reverently in all of the songs as well as the chanting of the psalms. As I looked around the chapel at the sisters and associates as well as the parents of the student participants who were in attendance, I could see how moved they were by these young people.

“This service reminded me of the days when we were the people leading the vespers services. It was very touching to see how these young people reverenced the service and their parts in it,” one sister said.

After one of the young adults read the scripture, Andrew Abberton, president of Dominican Young Adults USA, gave a reflection. “It was powerful, and challenging as well. He spoke as if “Dominican” were part of him,” said another sister.

As part of the service, the young people who were to become new members of Dominican Young Adults, Molloy Chapter as well as those who were renewing their commitment to the organization stood up and professed their allegiance to the organization. At that point the entire congregation responded by resoundingly accepting their commitment and encouraged them to “stay the course.” Twenty-five young people attended the service all either committing or recommitting to membership in the organization.

I can probably say with some certainty that there were few dry eyes in the chapel. It was so moving to see how these young people have embodied the Dominican spirit. They have claimed their place in the Dominican Family and they are very proud of it. Oh yes, my sisters, the Dominican Charism is alive and well in our young people and they will pass it on long after we are gone! That is a great sign of HOPE for our future! Our beloved charism is in “Good Hands.”

Dominican life and mission: Ever ancient, ever new

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By Sister Margaret Mayce, OP

Saturday, Sept. 19, was an extraordinary day in the soon-to-be 800-year history of Dominican Life and Mission. A group of 100+, men, women and children, including Catholic Workers, Jesuit Scholastics, Passionists, Sisters of St. Joseph, Dominican Sisters and Brothers from the Northeast and Dominican Sisters from the Midwest gathered to celebrate the Eucharist and offer prayers of blessing for the newly established Benincasa Community. We listened to the Gospel story of Mary and Martha, who lovingly extended their warm hospitality to Jesus and his companions. Our Preacher, Pat Daly, OP (Caldwell), invited us to see the integration of the active and the contemplative in our lives as disciples; of service rooted in prayer. It could not have been a finer message for this fledgling community, whose enthusiasm for life rooted in the Gospel is palpable. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Sisters representing the five Northeast Congregations (Amityville, Blauvelt, Caldwell, Hope and Sparkill), processed through the house, blessing each room:

May this good house be blessed with the rich heritage of Dominic and Catherine; may it be Truth, may it be Love for all, near and far, and may it awaken a new hope for the future of our life together on our blessed and broken planet.

mayce_benincasa_03Housed in the former Blessed Sacrament Parish Convent on West 71st Street in Manhattan, Benincasa is the fruit of the vision and persistence of Karen Gargamelli. Karen, a former Dominican Volunteer, lived with Amityville Sisters Pat DeMarco, Connie Kavanagh and Janetta McAlevey while she taught at Most Holy Trinity School in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. Upon completing her year’s commitment, Karen studied law at City University of New York., and is now a public interest attorney, specializing in housing law. Though she never felt quite called to the religious life, her experience of Dominican life and mission captivated her heart and spirit. She feels strongly that we need to acknowledge and cultivate the seeds of new expressions of Dominican life already implanted in the laity. Thus, her great desire to establish a lay community, which would live in the spirit of Dominic and Catherine, guided by the four pillars of our Dominican life – prayer, study, community and mission. In Karen’s words, “Benincasa Community seeks to break and share bread with those hungry for integration between their job and their spiritual life. We hope—through study and prayer and sharing resources—to cultivate a contemplative life and a community life that will support our active life of ministry.”
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