The Adrian Dominican Sisters and Siena Heights University hosted the 15th Annual Dominican High Schools Preaching Conference, held June 24–29. Students and mentors from 24 Dominican high schools attended the conference, which was directed by Adrian Dominican Sister Mary Soher, OP. nican Sister Mary Soher, OP. The conference focused on the various ways that Dominicans preach. In addition, different aspects of the conference helped to focus on one of the four pillars of Dominican life. Read more

Students from the four high schools sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Peace posed for a photo at the recent High Schools Preaching Conference in Adrian, Michigan. The students represented Dominican Academy, New York, New York; St. Mary’s Dominican High School, New Orleans, Louisiana; Our Lady of the Elms, Akron, Ohio; and St. Agnes Academy, Memphis, Tennessee.

By Gina Fleming, OP

Rejoice with me, my sisters and brothers, for 36 new college preachers have been added to our family! During the week of May 22nd, 36 students from Dominican universities/colleges, or colleges with a Dominican presence, gathered at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, New York, for the 11th National “Preaching in Action” Conference. Participating universities/colleges included Albertus Magnus College, Connecticut; Barry University, Florida; Dominican College, New York; Dominican University, California; Dominican University, Illinois; Edgewood College, Wisconsin; Furman College, South Carolina; Molloy College, New York; Ohio Dominican University, Ohio; Siena Heights University, Michigan; St. Thomas Aquinas College, New York; and the University Central de Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

These young people came together to learn about the Dominican charism of preaching and how that charism can be incorporated into their own lives and passed on to others. They were given the opportunity to experience themselves as preachers using the mediums of art, dance, drama, and music.

The conference began with a brief history of Dominic and the Order, complete with an array of Dominican songs. There was definitely a Dominican spirit in the air! A presentation depicting “Dominicans through the Ages” welcomed some of our Dominican Saints to the conference. Mary of Magadala, Dominic, Catherine of Siena, Rose of Lima, and Antonio de Montessino spoke about their lives and their own call to preach in the early years of the Order. Joe
Kilikevice, OP, highlighted the Interfaith Mission of the Order by introducing the students to dance and song from a variety of different faiths.

Flor de Maria Buruca, OP, a native of El Salvador, introduced a contemporary sister’s story. She spoke to the students about her difficult journey to America and to the Dominican Sisters of Amityville. And Cheryl Mrazik, from Catholic Relief Services, presented some thought-provoking information on “Preaching in a Globalized Culture.” The next day, Margaret Mayce, OP, UN-NGO representative for the Dominican Sisters Conference, introduced us to her work at the UN which was followed by a trip to the United Nations. A walking tour of New York City was next. Despite the pouring rain, the students and mentors enjoyed their time in our great city.

On the next day, the participants were ready to put their “preaching into action.” They spent the day in immersion sites ministering: to the poor at the Inn (a soup kitchen) in Hempstead, to at-risk students at the Christian Brothers elementary school; to the earth at Sophia Garden on the grounds of the Dominican Sisters of Amityville motherhouse, the poor immigrant at North Fork Spanish Apostolate in Riverhead, to the elderly at the Amityville Motherhouse., to immigrant women wanting to learn English at The Opening Word Program in Amityville.

Again this year, we added time for “Theological Reflection.” There was a wonderful sharing of stories, people, reactions, fears, attitudes, and underlying issues. Many of the students were so moved by their experiences that they made commitments to get more involved with their own communities back home.

Barbara Schwarz, OP concluded the week’s presentations by awakening the participants to “the Art of Preaching.” Her interactive and hands-on presentation was a great introduction to the “Preaching through the Arts” day. Dr. Maureen Carey, Nancy Murray, OP; Sara Fairbanks, OP; Ancilla Keinberger, OP; Cynthia Velasquez, Dominican Volunteer; and Sister Barbara presented additional breakout sessions for the students to use their creative energies.

Highlighting the conference are the morning and evening prayer services prepared by the student participants. Students use their creativity, musical talents and giftedness of voice to lead the entire group in prayer, which begins and ends each day. This is but one of the elements of the conference that students enjoy immensely and plan on recreating on their college campuses. At the closing liturgy, which was attended by many of our sisters, associates and parents, each college group presented an action step which will be initiated by those who attended; in addition, each student presented his or her individual action plan, which is a vehicle for incorporating what they learned at the conference into their own lives and the life of their campus. It was moving to witness each student making a commitment to continuing the “Holy Preaching.” Each then received the Dominican Cross and was commissioned to go forth and preach the “Good News” to their fellow students.

As you can see it was a jam-packed week, full of opportunities for study, community, prayer and mission/preaching. Upon leaving, these young people feel part of our Dominican Family and will forever be connected. Wherever they go, they will be preachers of God’s love, God’s peace and God’s justice for all!

Next year’s conference will be held May 19–25 at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, New York. More information will be posted on the College Preaching conference web site.

Sister Gina Fleming is director of the National College Preaching Conference and the Promoter of Youth for the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, New York.

By Michael Chapuran
Executive Director, Dominican Volunteers USA

Dominican Volunteers USA held its second annual Silent Auction at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, on April 20. The event raised more than $13,000 (and counting) for the post-graduate service program sponsored by 18 congregations and provinces in the U.S. Dominican Family.

The event was attended by the joint boards of DVUSA, friends, family, sisters, friars, plus more than 30 alumni and current volunteers. Favorite items to bid on were a signed St. Catherine of Siena Anthology by Sister Suzanne Noffke, OP (Racine), a Sinsinawa breadbasket, and an Infallible Ale brewed by the Student Brothers of the Eastern Province in Washington, D.C. The Auction Committee also sold “Praedicare” T-shirts and signed up monthly donors to the Torchbearer Monthly Giving Club in exchange for a black DVUSA fleece.

The program of the evening began with humorous and gracious words of welcome from Sister Alice Byrnes, OP (Amityville), co-chair of the DVUSA Corporation Board. DVUSA Executive Director Michael Chapuran then recognized Erica Greil, assistant director of DVUSA, for two years of service and recruiting the largest recruiting class to begin this fall that the program has ever seen! The seven Dominican Volunteers serving in the Midwest were all present and introduced, and one of them, Erin Hallagan serving in Chicago, was the evening’s preacher.

Erin shared a letter that she had written at Midyear Retreat in Springfield, Illinois, to her “pre-volunteer self.” It talked honestly about what to expect as a volunteer—both blessings and challenges. It resonated with the alumni in pointing out that sisters in community are human, but in that humanity inspire the volunteers to grow in their love of God and love of neighbor. Erin ministers in a domestic violence agency called Sarah’s Inn, and she shared the horrible tragedies she heard recounted by the women she serves in a bilingual support group. She ended the letter by inspirationally also recounting the women’s hope, resilience, and strength to turn from victims of violence to survivors. After sharing how the program is changing her life, Erin received a standing ovation from all present.

Sister Mary Ellen O’Grady, OP (Sinsinawa), president of the DVUSA Board of Trustees, was introduced to present the third annual DVUSA Mission Award to alumni Claire Noonan and Anthony “Tony” Schmitz—both volunteers with DVUSA’s largest predecessor service program, the Apostolic Volunteers (AV). Sister Mary Ellen remarked on the couple’s exemplary witness to the motto of the AV program: “At the heart of ministry is relationship.”

Claire served in Atlanta, Georgia, at St. Vincent de Paul. Tony served in Chicago, Illinois, at Visitation Catholic School. Both maintained relationships with the AV program after completing their service, Claire even as a co-director of the program for many years. Claire and Tony were two of the first board members of DVUSA when it began in 2001. Claire is currently the director of the Siena Center at Dominican University, which sponsors lectures, classes, and more to bring faith and scholarship to the critical issues of church and society—lectures in which Claire regularly includes the current volunteer communities.

Tony went on to earn a law degree, and uses that experience to volunteer pro bono at the legal clinic of his former ministry site—Visitation Catholic School—in addition to supporting their Junior Scholars Program. Both Claire and Tony have served on many boards dedicated to faith and service, including Claire with Catholics on Call and Tony with the Blessed Sacrament Youth Center in Chicago (a ministry founded by former AVs).

The program concluded with a musical performance by recent and current Dominican Volunteers as a tribute to the sisters and friars around the nation. Inspired by their service, current DV Megan Rupp sang re-written words to a song from “The Lion King” on Broadway, while a slideshow showed pictures of sisters and friars in ministry from every sponsoring congregation and province. Between choruses, current volunteers and alumni took turns offering short reflections about how a sister or friar impacted their life. Each story showed what makes this service program truly unique: The relationships in community between the vowed religious and the lay volunteers. As the lyrics of the chorus said best, “I live in you; You live in me / In every prayer; In every deed / We’ll be preaching love; To everyone we meet / I live in you; You live in me.”

The boards and staff of DVUSA would like to sincerely thank everyone for their participation, their support, and their prayers that made this the most successful event to date for the program. The funds raised will support the $100/month stipends of 10 volunteers next year!

View more photos from the event on Facebook

Watch videos from the event on YouTube

For more information about Dominican Volunteers USA, visit www.dvusa.org.

Have you had a service experience or retreat that touched you deeply? Or have you always wanted one but haven’t had one? Are you asking probing questions about your spirituality? If so, spend a week immersed in service and reflection on your spiritual journey. This week is designed for adults in their 20s and 30s who have enjoyed—or are curious about—service opportunities and assembling meaning in their life. Service projects will be in the Racine area, within driving or walking distance from Siena Retreat Center. Spiritual reflection activities will be individual or with a group, with variety throughout the course of the week. More than a resume-builder, this week connects you with mentors, peers, those in need, and yourself.

Diane Poplawski, OP, a Racine Dominican, has been active in vocation ministry at national and community levels and has ministered with Native Americans. She has an MA in pastoral studies and is a graduate of the Spiritual Guidance Training Program at Siena Retreat Center. Diane resonates with Native American teachings and the prophet Micah’s invitation to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly…”

Mary Therese Johnson, OP, is a Sinsinawa Dominican who lives and ministers in the Chicago area. “Mary T” is engaged in spiritual companioning, retreat and group facilitation. She sees all of life as sacred. With the Holy Spirit she welcomes those seeking a deeper spiritual life. She believes every person has the inner wisdom needed for this sacred quest.

Cost: $350 (includes $50 non-refundable deposit, accommodations and meals). Some financial assistance available. For details and registration, contact Siena Retreat Center, 5635 Erie St., Racine, WI 53402, 262-639-4100 x1234, email retreats@racinedominicans.org, or visit www.SienaRetreatCenter.org.