Photo of the Week

August 15, 2023

Dominican Women Explore Future Together

About 130 Dominican Sisters from 17 different U.S.-based congregations gathered in Columbus at Ohio Dominican University from July 27-30, 2023, to explore new ways of engaging their future together. Eleven participants attended virtually.

The group included women from the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. Sisters, all under 70 years of age, ranged from those beginning their novitiate to those who have been members for decades. Clearly evident among all was a passion to preach the Gospel message that brings life to the world through their lives and actions.

“Together, the Sisters created a brave space nurtured by their rich diversity. As Dominican Women, they dared to speak the truth that was burning in their hearts and minds. Dreaming and finding pathways to “Creating our Future Today” in concrete ways and with radical hope,” said DSC Director Xiomara Méndez Hernández, OP.

Sisters attending the encuentro, “Creating our Future Today,” explored ways to support vowed Dominican life into the future with new ways of collaborating and relating. Participants have been preparing for this gathering for the past year through regular virtual gatherings.

Throughout the year, Sisters have been engaged in a process of Contemplative Inquiry facilitated by Sherryl White, CSJ. Drawing upon the strengths of communal dialogue, Sisters have been taking the time to examine foundational Dominican values, consider their existing realities, and risk the challenge of imagining preferred futures. Grounded in these shared conversations, they came prepared to define more clearly their role in advancing the Dominican mission into the future.

The foundational questions that guided their deliberations were: (a) What role can we play in evolving Dominican life/mission to meet the needs of the future? and (b) What can we do better together than alone?

As a result of communal discernment that included prayer, discussion, and personal reflection on the two foundational questions, Sisters surfaced the following areas of engagement and worked to identify beginning courses of action:

Dominican Spirituality and Theological Formation: update for 21st century
Creation/Climate Change: see with the eyes of Earth
Cross Cultural Competency Skills / Interculturality: address conflict through the Pascal Mystery
Unifying Models of Organization: form a task force to study and lead DSC into discernment
Vocations: collaborate more and share the workload and presence for greater witness
Youth: make a preferential option for the young and build on existing efforts for outreach
Bridging Polarization: work on a process with restorative practice

Next steps include calling on volunteers to plan and implement actions, establishing a timeline for unifying models of organization, refining the recommendations with sub-committees, sharing them with the whole cohort in the fall zoom session and presenting progress in motion to the Dominican Sisters Conference Annual Leaders Meeting in October.

Click here to view photos from the Gathering.

July 18, 2023

Angela Thanh Tran Begins Her Novitiate as a Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose

*Angela receives her habit from Sister Celeste Marie Botello, Congregational Prioress*

Fremont, CA, July 1, 2023 –. Angela Thanh Tran began her novitiate as a Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose with the Rite of Initiation into Religious Life celebrated at Evening Prayer on July 1.

At the Motherhouse Chapel in Mission San Jose, Angela received the Dominican habit from Sister Celeste Marie Botello, Congregational Prioress.

Present were her parents and her younger brother as well as the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose as they gathered for their US Assembly at the Motherhouse.

As a candidate, Angela took courses in Sacred Scripture and formation classes. In addition, she ministered at St. Dorothy Catholic Church in Glendora, CA and volunteered at Partnership for Re-Entry Program (PREP) in Los Angeles, CA.

Angela was born in Vietnam and learned about the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose through online searches of religious congregations. In August, she will begin her canonical novitiate at the Collaborative Dominican Novitiate in Chicago, IL.

*Angela stands with her sisters from the Welcoming Community*

May 9, 2023

Immersion: A Visit to the Indigenous Mayan Culture of Chiapas, Mexico

Catholic and Mayan altars in the Vina Cantan Catholic church.

“[Human beings] lack an awareness of our common origin, of our mutual belonging, and of a future to be shared with everyone. This basic awareness would enable the development of new convictions, attitudes, and forms of life. A great cultural, spiritual, and educational challenge stands before us, and it will demand that we set out on the long path of renewal.” (Pope Francis, 2015)

Taking this message from Laudato Si’ to heart, Sisters Regena Ross and Gloria Marie Jones of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose led seven students and members of the Catholic Community of Stanford University on an immersion experience to San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico. The home base for the experience was Comunidad de San Martin de Porres, where their Dominican Sisters have ministered for the past 50 years. The trip occurred March 25 – 31, 2023. Each day began and ended with reflection and prayer. It was important to prepare the group’s hearts and minds for the days’ experiences. Closing the day, they reflected on their encounters and shared their learnings, surprises, and heartfelt impressions.

Throughout the week the experience of Mayan spirituality stretched the Stanford team’s understanding of how Catholic faith can be expressed. This began on Sunday, March 26^th when the group joined the Mayan community for Mass in Zinacantan, the flower capital of the state of Chiapas. The people filled the church with flowers, incense, and candles. They created a colorful Mayan altar that was integrated into their worship. They prayed in the native Mayan language, Tzotzil. The team was moved by the sincerity of the peoples’ prayer and by the beauty that filled the Church.

After Mass, one of the Eucharistic Ministers invited the Stanford team for lunch. Both the simplicity of his home and the family’s incredible generosity deeply touched them. The family lovingly gave what they had. Their trade was weaving. They demonstrated and described their craft to the team. Their work takes skill and much time, but earns low wages. The students were quite moved when the family gave two of them a hand-woven blouse. Their generosity was received with immense gratitude.

Day three started with an economic exercise. The Stanford team went to the market. They were divided into small groups and each was given a short shopping list needed for the next few days. This provided an opportunity to explore food costs and interact with sellers. Everything in the market was local as there were no imports to the region. That afternoon the Stanford group met with two social activists and discussed how the land and the people are symbiotic and identified issues that impact that relationship, such as:

Environmental practices
Historical land rights
Privatization
Genetically modified seeds
Multinational corporations

The group discovered that the goal of Mayan life is about maintaining a state of equilibrium and harmony among family, others, God, and Mother Earth.

That evening the team visited Taniperla and connected with 21 local young adults and college students over pizza. This was an opportunity for fun and learning about their peers’ worlds. Everyone left enlightened from sharing the similarities and differences of their life experiences!

On day four, in Bayalermó, the Stanford team spent time contemplating God’s creation and experiencing a family’s interdependence with the land by creating a compost site for a family. They gathered large bags of leaves along with soil, sheep manure, and bamboo poles. They used a machete to cut down tall grass. Throughout the day the team developed a playful bond with the family’s children. It was a good day of being in nature and admiring its beauty. At the project’s end, the matriarch blessed the compost and “sprinkled” each team member with generous portions of water!

Later in the afternoon the team journeyed through the mountains to Talonhuitz to visit the Dominican Sisters’ health promoters’ ministry. The health promoters shared about their efforts to revive medical wisdom of the Mayan ancestors by creating natural ointments and powders to address modern health needs and forming local health centers run by trained volunteers. The Stanford team was inspired by their intelligent, systematic methods and passionate commitment!

For the final day, the Stanford group journeyed to Acteal, the site of a massacre in 1997 by a Right-wing paramilitary group called Máscara Rojaof. They killed 45 members of the indigenous pacifist community, Las Abejas (“The Bees”), while they were in prayer. Today, the local people continue the community at the site. They keep the memory of the fallen alive through painted murals, signs, and telling the story to visitors. They want to give witness to non-violence and recognize the wrong that happened in Acteal. A student of the Stanford team remarked about the experience: ” … it was hard to imagine how I could move on without craving violence or forgive the people whom I trusted… One thing I will carry with me forever…. I can always be more generous even in the face of the most difficult things…”

As was their habit, at the end of the last day, the Stanford team reflected. Some members shared the following. “In my experience of Catholicism, people use religion to make judgements and create division. They say that there is just one right way to express devotion and to be a true Catholic! Witnessing the faith here has taught me this isn’t true… there isn’t a right way to have a personal relationship with God… being open to ways people are in relationship with God is a beautiful and real gift.

This journey is a reminder that “As part of the universe, called into being by one Father, all of us are linked by unseen bonds and together form a kind of universal family, a sublime communion which fills us with a sacred, affectionate, and humble respect.” (Francis, 2015) The participants’ stories call us to be open to people from all walks of life and to celebrate and care for our common home.

Francis, 2015. Encyclical letter Laudato si’ of the Holy Father Francis. 1st ed. [Vatican City]: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html.

December 20, 2022

Dominican Sisters Conference Names New Executive Director

December 6, 2022 — The Executive Committee of the Dominican Sisters Conference (DSC) is pleased to announce its selection of Xiomara Mendez Hernandez, OP, as it’s new Executive Director. She will take the place of Mary Ellen O’Grady, OP (Sinsinawa) who completes just under 3 years of excellent service to the DSC.

A Dominican Sister of Adrian for 14 years, Xiomara has extensive experience with the first core team of the 55 and under cohort Dominican Women Afire! And she served two years as board President of Giving Voice, a peer led organization that creates spaces for younger women religious to give voice to their hopes, dreams and challenges in religious life.

“I am delighted that the DSC will be led by such a passionate and committed Dominican woman as Xiomara, who brings a younger new perspective to our conference ,” said Anne Lythgoe, OP (Peace), President of the DSC. “Xiomara possesses a deeply reflective spirit, intelligence and most importantly, the collaborative style of relating that draws out the best in others. I sense we are about to move into a transformative time in the history of the DSC.”

Xiomara currently serves as the Interim Manager of the Spiritual Care Department of Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale FL. She has held similar chaplaincy positions since 2015. She has participated in the Collaborative Leadership Development Program and the Gamaliel National Leadership program on community organizing, among other similar programs. She holds a masters degree from CTU in pastoral studies.

Xiomara comes to the role of Executive Director with cultural and international sensitivity, and a faith in the transformational power of inclusion and diversity. We welcome Xiomara to this position and we hold her in our prayers for success at this very exciting time for the Dominican Sisters Conference.

October 26, 2022

Dominican Sisters Conference Elected Leaders’ Meeting

Milwaukee October 14, 2022—— Meeting in-person for the first time in several years, the elected leaders of the Dominican Sisters Conference (DSC) gathered here with a number of associates and partners in mission. The DSC includes 19 member congregations around the US, about 80 people attended the October 12-14 meeting.

The Racine Dominicans welcomed everyone to the meeting by hosting the opening prayer at their motherhouse along with a cookout with the flavors of Wisconsin: brats, beans, potato salad, and beer. Not to mention spectacular views of Lake Michigan.”

The meeting’s theme: “Truth” was a connecting thread for all the presentations, reports, and conversation throughout the days as a response to the social and political polarization we experience.

Sr. Anne Lythgoe, OP (Peace) President of the DSC, opened the annual meeting by suggesting that the organization of the DSC is not really a “container” as we have described it in the past. Rather, she offered a more enriching and imaginative way to think of DSC as a kind of ecosystem, with intersecting root systems.

“We are a complex, organic, ever changing, rising and falling, expanding and contracting collection of organizations in diverse relationships –with shared roots, exchanges of energies, interests, shared passions and frailties,” Anne said. “A dense and beautiful forest.”

A major focus of the meeting was a presentation given by the Futuring Leadership Team (FLT) which represents the under 70 cohort of Dominican sisters in the United States. The team reported on preparatory work for a 2023 in-person meeting of sisters under 70 to be held at Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, Ohio. The FLT has been developing affinity groups among the cohort on such topics as care for creation, immigration, science and theology, unlearning racism, founding charism, and

welcoming new members. They have also created an online platform called Dominican Explorations for shared reflection and information along with tools to draw together younger Dominicans. They also developed a cohort database which will help support building relationships with one another.

Another dimension of the conversation about the future of Dominican Life and Mission emerged when the Executive Committee’s Roadmap document was presented. This led to an energetic and thoughtful discussion among the members that shifted the focus of the Executive Committee’s work toward creating a full-time position for a person who will give the leadership needed to animate the futuring process. This leader will work with the FLT to actualize its vision. The members felt a great urgency around the challenges we face in preserving our charism and planning for the future. The group hopes that together with the under 70 cohort, we might uncover new, and yet, unidentified ways to enliven our Dominican life.

The need to identify a dynamic FLT leader, brought into sharper focus the current search process underway for a new DSC Executive Director. Members of the conference were urged to identify candidates for this position and encourage qualified candidates to discern this position as a possible call to service. Presently, Mary Ellen O’Grady, OP (Sinsinawa) serves in this role.

Reg McKillip, OP (Sinsinawa) updated the conference members on the work being done by the North American Justice Promoters within the Gospel Call to Action document. Reg serves as the North American Co-Promoter with Brendan Curran, OP (St Albert the Great Province). The justice promoters are exploring future ways to collaborate more closely on critical issues: climate justice, peace and security for all life, migration and immigration, human trafficking, and economic justice.

The meeting also featured input from Dusty Farnan, OP (Adrian), United Nations NGO Representative of the DSC and International Justice Co-Promoter. Dusty described a wide range of UN projects including a virtual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Students from Dominican Academy, NYC, and Mount St. Dominic Academy in Caldwell, NJ participated in the UN International Day of the Girl and Dusty will participate in the COP 27 UN conference on Climate Change in Sinai, Egypt. The members prayed the Dominican blessing with Dusty in support of her work and for a safe journey,

Margaret Mayce, OP (Amityville) the International Coordinator of Dominican Sisters International Confederation (DSIC) presented a report on the ways Dominican sisters around the world are responding to the war in Ukraine with direct support to refugees by providing housing and basic needs. She also described the work being done to solidify the DSIC’s standing as a civil and canonical organization in Rome, Italy, where the offices are located.

The North American DSIC Continental Coordinator, Gene Poore (Peace) followed Margaret’s presentation with an overview of the range of DSIC congregations around the world. She also shared the goals of the Coordinating Committee.

The Associates and Sisters Committee also made a presentation and invited table discussion about the diverse ways associates and sisters of different congregations are getting together for ongoing formation, and the value of it. The presentation also highlighted programs, retreats and other opportunities via Zoom available to all and the interest to develop suggested topics from the survey that was shared earlier in the year.

In between reports, discussions, and processes, the members prayed together, enjoyed sharing meals and memories with old and new friends.

There were complex changes to the Executive Committee this year. Two members: Corinne Sanders, OP (Adrian) and Janice Brown, OP (Adrian) are leaving to begin terms on their congregation’s Leadership Team. Maryann McMahon, OP (Racine) is completing her time on the committee. Terry Rickard, OP (Blauvelt) begins a second term. These sisters have served with generosity, dedication, creative problem-solving and good humor. The whole assembly broke into applause to express. their affection and gratitude.

We welcome new committee members: Pat Stringer, OP (Caldwell), Veronica Esparza Ramirez, OP (Mission San Jose), Lisa Kane, OP (Racine), who will join current members, Terry Rickard, OP (Blauvelt), Anne Lythgoe, OP (Peace), and Pam Mitchell, OP (Sinsinawa).

Finally, the members turned their attention to the extraordinary service of Mary Ellen O’Grady, OP (Sinsinawa), who is the Executive Director of DSC. On behalf of the group, Anne Lythgoe, OP (Peace) called Mary Ellen to the stage and said, “who ever the new Executive Director is, they cannot possibly replace you. They will be in your shoes but can’t really fill your shoes. We could not leave here without acknowledging all the ways you have nurtured and cultivated this forest: your generosity, your ability to think of possibilities, your agility when faced with challenges, your good humor and resourcefulness. We love you, and we are so grateful for your service.

On behalf of all of us. Thank you.”

The 2022 DSC Leaders Meeting will take place in Columbus, OH, October 11-13, 2023.