Dominican Life 
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A web crossroads for the Order of Preachers
In 2015, ATF Press, an independent publisher in Australia, translated to English and published Yves Congar, O.P.’s Journal of a Theologian: 1946-1956 and Diary of the 1914-1918 War; as well as Marie-Dominique Chenu, O.P.’s Vatican II Notebook.
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Caldwell University kicked off its celebration of the 800th Jubilee of the Order of Preachers on Nov. 11.
Students, staff, faculty, alumni, special guests and the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, the order that founded the university, gathered to mark the occasion with Mass and a luncheon.
Sister Patrice Werner, OP, prioress of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, greeted those in attendance and explained how the Jubilee Year opened formally on Nov. 7, the Feast of All Saints of the Dominican Order, and will end on Jan. 21, 2017, because the 21st was the day on which Dominic received official confirmation of the Order from Pope Honorius III.
“The Jubilee is a celebration of the entire Dominican Family—friars, nuns, sisters, lay members, laity,” she said.
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.”
By Gina Ciliberto
On a recent Saturday afternoon at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York, a group of students joined sisters, staff, and faculty to create a Jubilee quilt. The idea came about when the college’s Catholic and Dominican Institute began asking how the campus might celebrate the 800th Jubilee of the Dominican order. Together, they decided on a community arts project that would display the Dominican heritage while including aspects of the college. After toying with the idea of a tapestry, which was a typical art form during the time of Saint Dominic, they agreed on a quilt laden with symbolism. Read article by Gina Ciliberto
In September, the Planning Team of the Science in Seminaries initiative at John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio announced a $10,000 grant to the Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas, for a course titled “Catholicism in an Evolving World” to be taught by Dr. Linda Gibler, OP, PhD and Dr. Scott Woodward, D. Min. The grant is made possible through the Templeton Foundation. In response to papal and other Church documents to include scientific literacy in the formation of seminarians, Gibler and Woodward developed a course that would increase students’ scientific literacy, particularly in the area of cosmology and evolution.
The course is described as a “science and religion course that continues the conversation between Big Bang cosmology, evolutionary science, and Catholic thought. Since most of our Catholic theology and spirituality was formulated without knowledge of recent cosmology or evolution, this course highlights the change required by moving from a static worldview to an ever-emerging one. Throughout the course, students discuss how this new information about the creation and on-going emergence of the Universe, Earth, and themselves upholds, challenges, or changes their previous worldview and understanding of theology. The conversational tone of the course is designed to help students work through any cognitive dissonance they encounter and bring them to a deeper appreciation of the significance of integrating a dynamic worldview into their theology and pastoral practice.”
Dr. Gibler is a Dominican Sister of Houston and serves as the associate academic dean at Oblate School of Theology. She received her doctorate with a specialization in philosophy, cosmology, and consciousness in 2007 from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Dr. Woodward is the academic dean at Oblate School of Theology and received his Doctor of Ministry with a specialization in Supervision in Ministry from Oblate in 2004.
USA
A web crossroads for the Order of Preachers
