Submitted by Mary Ellen Green, OP

According to traditions held sacred by both the members of the Franciscan Order and the Dominican Order, Francesco Bernadone and Domingo de Guzman met during their lifetimes. According to Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, these are the details of that meeting:

In the summer of 1215 St. Francis had a vision of two men who would labor for the conversion of the world. Francis recognized himself as one of these apostles. He did not recognize the other one, however. 

The following day, he was in one of the churches of Rome when suddenly an unknown person came up to him, embraced him, and said: “You are my companion, we will work together, supporting one another toward the same end and no one will prevail against us.” Francis recognized him as the other man in the vision. It was St. Dominic, who had also received a similar vision.

Together they worked to evangelize 13th Century Europe. Today their followers continue to preach the Good News of Christ.

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January 24, 2020, Washington, D.C. – Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) joined a coalition of organizations involved in the Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign, focused on making affordable housing a national priority. Leaders of these organizations participated in a panel discussion during a special event, “Broadening the Movement: Housing as a National Priority in 2020,” held January 16, 2020, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, President and CEO of CCUSA, spoke of her agency’s involvement in meeting the critical needs that are facing people today – including housing. CCUSA is charged with the domestic humanitarian work of the Catholic Church in the United States and its territories, serving 12.5 million people in need each year.

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The Prioress of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville, Sister Peggy McVetty, returned from Puerto Rico on January 26th telling of the damage from the Earthquake that hit there on January 11th, 2020. She visited the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima in southern Puerto Rico. Read article 

In commemorating National Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the Dominican Sisters of Houston, along with other members of Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition, participated in activities during Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Houston. On January 11, Human Trafficking Awareness Day, we hosted, in collaboration with St. Luke’s Health, a Prayer and Labyrinth Walk in memory of St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of Sudan and human trafficking survivors. In a contemplative setting, participants were asked to walk the labyrinth and engage in other activities quietly.

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