“The season of autumn has manifested itself in the northern hemisphere with obvious changes in weather and the harvest for many crops. This time also leads us to the realization that the Year of Faith will soon come to a close at the end of November. This year has been a ‘summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world’ (Porta Fidei 6). It has been a time of pilgrimage for us as Catholics and as a Family of Saint Dominic to reflect on what our Faith means to us and how we live it through the sacramental life of the Church and the four pillars of ministry, community, study, and prayer.” Read article by Gerard Elizondo, OP

Hope Dominicans

Twenty-four-year-old Neil Burke, an associate of the Dominican Sisters of Hope in Ossining, New York, was interviewed for a story, “Young man with disabilities shares his gifts, hope with others” in the Catholic New York. Neil has cerebral palsy and is legally blind. He feels a strong need to be of service to others, and volunteers three times a week with the sisters. Read story in Catholic New York

In a Eucharistic celebration on Sunday, May 19 at Sacred Heart Chapel in Springfield, Illinois, 17 candidates formalized their relationship with the Dominican Family by making a public commitment to witness Gospel values as Springfield Dominican Associates. In doing so, they join more than 300 women and men in the United States and Peru who accompany the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois on a life-long journey of prayer, study and preaching. This year’s class included candidates from Springfield, Dunlap, Evergreen Park, Lafayette, Indiana, Gridley, Palos Heights, Jacksonville, Carlinville, Charleston and Decatur.

The Springfield Dominicans have been welcoming Dominican Associates into their family since 1990. Candidates engage in a nine-month formation program in which they learn about and discuss such topics as Catholic Social Teaching, a Call to Prayer and Preaching, Living the Liturgy, St. Dominic and St. Catherine, Mission and Ministry, Living a Balanced Life and the History of the Springfield Dominicans. Associate candidates also discern how they will use their talents, abilities and circumstances to serve God in the best way possible.

Dominican Associates, graced by their membership in the Dominican Family, witness the Gospel daily in their workplaces and relationships. Many say their prayer life has deepened as a result of the formation process and they flourish when surrounded by the love and support of fellow Christians. The Dominican Associate program enhances relationships, not just with the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, but also with God and God’s people.

For more information about the Dominican Associate program, contact Sister Paul Mary Janssens, OP at 217-787-0481. Learn more about the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois by visiting their web site at www.springfieldop.org.

For many, becoming an Adrian Dominican Associate is a spiritual journey, but two women recently also took a geographical journey when they traveled from Anchorage, Alaska, to Adrian, Michigan for the Ritual of Acceptance into Associate Life. Barbara Block and Susan Jayich became Associates during Vespers on April 24 in St. Catherine Chapel. Read more