International

December 20, 2024

Farewell Address Reflections and Gratitude: Five Transformative Years at the United Nations From UN NGO Representative Dusty Farnan, OP

2019 – 2024 have been impactful years for me as the UN NGO Representative for the Dominican Leadership Conference. I’m in awe that my ministry of Justice and Peace has brought me to the United Nations in New York City.

It has been a time of deep learning and increased collaboration with other NGO’s here in New York as well as interaction with Dominican Sisters across the globe. Through the help of the Dominican Sisters International Confederation Coordinators and the International Dominican Justice Promoters I was able to reach out far into the Dominican World. They assisted with the Dominican Webinars that we put together over the years as well as helped me to search out speakers.

One of the benefits of COVID 19 was zoom. Zoom enabled us at the UN to be in collaboration with Indigenous in Ecuador and other Amazon areas. It also assisted us in locating Dominicans and inviting them to participate in various consultations on subjects such as migration, refugees, human trafficking, victims of violence and poverty. I could never have done this work with so many Dominicans without zoom.

As the UN NGO becomes part of the Dominican Sisters International Confederation in Rome in 2025 I say thank you for all the incredible support you have given me over these five years.

I have a new email. Please contact me with ideas and suggestions for topics that we ought to explore at the UN. My email is dsic.ngo@curia.op.org

I so look forward to continuing our work together to promote justice, peace and truth as we move into 2025. May the Spirit of Christmas bless each of us with generous hearts and ongoing commitment to the Dominican Charism and to one another around the world.

Merry Christmas and Blessings for a fruitful and hope filled future.

Sister Dusty Farnan, OP
UN Ngo Dominican Leadership Conference
December 2024

December 6, 2024

Celebrating Half a Century of Hope: DSC Joins CODALC’s 50th Anniversary in Mexico

From November 15-20, 2024, the Dominican Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean (CODALC) marked a significant milestone—its 50th Anniversary. The theme of the celebration, “Half a Century Sowing Hope,” reflected the enduring impact and mission of the conference. The event brought together Dominican Sisters and associates from across the region, offering a unique opportunity to reflect on the past and look toward the future.

Earlier in the year, Sister Izide Vecchi, OP, the coordinator of CODALC from Brazil, extended an invitation to the Dominican Sisters Conference (DSC) to join in the 50th-anniversary celebrations in Mexico. This invitation was particularly meaningful, as it gave DSC a chance to reconnect with CODALC, an organization with which we share a rich history. Our Executive Director, Sr. Xiomara Méndez Hernández, OP, was honored to represent the DSC at this historic event.

Justice Promoters’ Pre-Celebration Gathering

Before the anniversary celebration officially began, from November 14-18, a group of Justice Promoters from Latin America and the Caribbean gathered for a series of critical discussions. These sessions focused on two central themes: the effects of climate change and violence in all its forms. The group’s conversations centered on how best to respond to the environmental crisis, with a particular emphasis on mitigating climate change and defending our common home. There were also deep reflections on the ongoing violence that plagues the region, including its effects on marginalized communities.

Each day, the group committed to addressing the topics discussed through their shared Dominican values of justice and care for creation. Sr. Xiomara joined the group on November 18, and she was immediately struck by the energy and Dominican joy that filled the space. She was also deeply inspired by the commitment of the sisters and promoters to the poor, the marginalized, those trafficked, and the urgent call to care for creation.

A Time for Prayer and Reflection

Throughout the gathering, participants experienced powerful and diverse prayer experiences. Many of these prayers were focused on lamenting the countless victims of human trafficking, organized crime in Chiapas, feminicides, narcotrafficking, and the displacement of people. Special prayers were offered for those suffering from hunger, political oppression, and senseless violence. The collective mourning also extended to the perpetrators and the systems that enable these injustices to continue.

Honoring CODALC’s History

On November 19, the event turned to the historical legacy of CODALC. Participants learned about CODALC’s significant role in 1995, when it traveled to Rome with a proposal to establish the Dominican Sisters International, now known as DSIC. The conference also highlighted the shared organizational experiences between CODALC and DSC. Many of our own sisters, such as Luisa Campos (Adrian) and Susan Lesley (Peace), served as Justice Promoters in Latin America and the Caribbean, shaping the direction of both organizations.

The day culminated in a special Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, presided over by Fr. Luis Javier Rubio Guerrero, OP, Dominican Provincial Prior in Mexico. This Mass was a poignant reminder of the Dominican family’s deep commitment to faith, justice, and solidarity.

A Closing Celebration of Unity and Gratitude

The event concluded on November 20 with a tour of Mexico City, followed by a closing ritual filled with thanksgiving. Participants enjoyed a delicious Mexican banquet and a live Mariachi performance, celebrating the joy of community and shared mission. Sr. Xiomara expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to represent DSC and strengthen relationships of support and collaboration with other Dominican groups across the region.

In the end, Sr. Xiomara left Mexico deeply inspired by the shared commitment to justice, peace, and solidarity, and with a renewed sense of hope for the future. As we move forward, the 50th anniversary of CODALC serves as a powerful reminder of our collective mission to sow hope in the world, rooted in Dominican values of compassion, justice, and care for creation.

April 23, 2024

Lay Catholic Preaching at the Eucharist

A Proposal to the Synod on Synodality Ministries Study Group

St. Louis – Twenty-seven preachers and theologians from North America, Europe, and Asia met at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis this March 11–14 for a synodal symposium on “The Pastoral Charge for Lay Catholic Eucharistic Preaching.” The group has formally submitted its recommendations about lay preaching at Mass to the US Bishops and to the Synod on Synodality in Rome and its recently formed study group on “theological and canonical questions concerning specific forms of ministries.”

The symposium participants propose a change in canon law to allow qualified lay preachers to preach the homily at Mass. The group also recommends that the Church expand the instituted ministries of Lector and Catechist or institute a new ministry of Lay Preacher to allow for lay preaching at Mass.

Two scholars presented major papers: Dr. Edward P. Hahnenberg from John Carroll University on the Theology of Ministry for Lay Eucharistic Preaching and Dr. Layla Karst from Loyola Marymount University on Eucharistic Preaching in a Synodal Church. Respondents included Dr. Nathan Chase from Aquinas Institute of Theology, Dr. Mary Erika Bolaños from the University of Santo Tomas, Dr. Martin Madar from Xavier University, and Dr. Maurice Nutt, CSsR, from Aquinas Institute of Theology. The group prayed together and engaged in listening sessions and panel discussions to contribute a synthesis of its insights to the work of the Synod on Synodality.

Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis hosted the event, sponsored by the three schools of preaching in the Dominican Preaching Network: Aquinas Institute of Theology in the United States, the Institute for Pastoral Homiletics in Germany, and the Institute of Preaching in the Philippines. Fr. Gregory Heille, OP, Professor of Preaching and Evangelization and Director of the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching at Aquinas Institute of Theology, convened the event with the support of a grant from the Lilly Endowment Initiative to Strengthen Preaching.

Synod-Proposal Download

Proposal in English

Propuesta-Sinodal-Predicacion-Laical-en-la-Eucaristia Download

Proposal in Spanish

October 24, 2023

Funds raised for Mission in El Salvador

It was a very rainy day and evening, but that did not stop more than 80 families and friends from gathering at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville to celebrate and support the amazing growth of the work for the mission in El Salvador. The Annual Fundraiser Netted $12,000. Amityville Dominican Sister Flor Buruca spearheads the mission work in the barrios of her homeland.

Like, St. Dominic, Amityville Dominican Sister Flor has actually walks from town to town, finding beautiful people in need of the basic necessities of life. So, from Sol Naciente to Colonia Once, to El Delirio to Intipuca, the word has been spreading: “Help is on the way”! The St. Catherine of Sienna After School Program has a second site and new classroom in Colonia Once. Money from this fundraiser was immediately sent to finance the cesspool and bathroom installation!

Life is very primitive in these small villages and Sister Flor has been assisting the people to build cinder block homes to replace the metal shacks they were given years ago by the government. It costs about $6,000 to build a home for one family and the waiting list for houses keeps growing! The foundation of a new chapel has been laid in Colonia Once to be named after St. Francis of Assisi. Like its brother chapel named after St. Dominic in Sol Naciente, it will serve the people as a place of prayer, community, and activities.

There is much gratitude for the donations throughout the year, for the following projects:

St. Catherine of Siena After School Program which provides a healthy meal, vitamins, and school assistance each day.
Building Projects which provide Cinder block homes for families as well as the Chapels for towns and space for the Women’s Cooperative.
Food, clothing, medical/dental care for families and elders

October 20, 2023

Meeting of the International Dominican Commission of Justice and Peace, Nairobi, Kenya

*Members of the International OP Commission gather at mass, Nairobi, Kenya*

The meeting of the International Commission of the Dominican Order for Justice and Peace (IDJPC) was held in Nairobi Kenya from 2 to 5 October 2023. Present were the General Promoter, Br Aniedi Okure, and Sr Durstyne Farnan, representative at the United Nations of the Dominican Sisters Conference, together with the regional promoters of the brothers and delegates of the sisters, lay people and the Dominican Youth Movement IDYM from the five continents. For the North American Region, Br Brendan Curran and Sr Reg McKillip were present.

On 2nd Oct., after greetings from the Dominican Family in Kenya, work began with an introduction by the General Promoter, Aniedi Okure, who spoke on some of the challenges of justice and peace on the African continent.

In the afternoon the regional delegates presented reports from the individual regions based on the reports received: Africa, Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe and Latin America.

The morning of 3rd Oct. was devoted to a discussion on wars and conflicts in our time, and the delegates of the Dominican Family of Latin America presented material for the month of prayer for peace on the Amazon – December 2023.

In the afternoon there was a discussion on the major challenges of justice and peace in the different regions and the ways in which the Dominican Family can respond.

On 4th Oct. a session was devoted to identifying some of the Commission’s work and commitment goals for the coming year, followed by a report on the Mosaiko project for the promotion of human rights in Angola.

*Commission members show their solidarity rings, gifts from the Brazil Dominicans from the wood of the Amazon rainforest*

On 5th Oct., the Commission participated in a working session at the UN headquarters in Nairobi dealing with environmental issues.

After a visit to the parish of the Dominican friars of St. Catherine, there was an evaluation of the work and the closure of the meeting.

The annual meeting of the IDJPC was a moment of exchange and knowledge of the commitment of the Order in its various entities around the world and offered opportunities to learn about situations of injustice and suffering together with the many actions and projects underway by the Dominican Family to promote justice, peace and care for creation.

This year, the month of prayer for peace will be dedicated to Amazonia and will be an opportunity to promote moments of prayer, knowledge and solidarity with the Dominican Family in Amazonia, and also to accept Pope Francis’ call for an ecological conversion and a commitment to integral ecology.

*Brendan Curran and Reg McKillip, North American delegates to the International Commission in front of the United Nations, Nairobi, Kenya*

Brendan Curran, OP
Reg McKillip, OP
Co-Promoters for North America