Maryknoll Centennial

Thanksgiving to Maryknoll Sisters for the school they founded 85 years ago in Manila was telltale in their young voices, as women from Miriam College High School in the Philippines serenaded the sisters in celebration of the congregation’s centennial July 2 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center near Ossining, New York.

Titled “In Praise of Mission,” the concert featured a two-hour medley of timeless international and ethnic compositions. The concert officially concluded with a tribute to the Maryknoll Sisters and their contributions to Miriam College, with the Glee Club performing a song titled, “Para Sa ‘Yo Bayani,” which translates to “For Our Heroes.”

After the concert, the Glee Club travelled to Cincinnati, Ohio to compete in the seventh World Choir Games, dubbed as the Olympics of choral music. Held every two years, it is the world’s largest international choral competition, gathering 360 choirs from 48 countries competing in 23 musical categories. Among the nine Filipino choirs in attendance, the Miriam College High School Glee Club is the lone all-female group from a secondary school. They will compete in the Sacred Music and Youth Choirs of Equal Voices Categories.

During the sixth World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China, the MCHS Glee Club won two silver diplomas. They have also won several awards in various other choral singing competitions.

Story and photo submitted by Maryknoll Sisters

by Sean Mundy, DYA Communications Chair and Dominican Volunteer

On a beautiful Saturday morning (June 9), a wonderful thing happened. Local chapters of the Dominican Young Adults (DYA) met in New York at Molloy College, in Puerto Rico at University of P.R. Aguadilla, in Wisconsin at Edgewood College, in Chicago, in Kentucky at St. Catharine’s College and in Indiana. Thanks to technology, over 20 young adults were able to connect in ways they never thought possible. The best part—it didn’t cost any money!

Five years ago, DYA-USA began. A nation of college students who had attended the College Preaching in Action Conference had met in Columbus, OH to plant the seed of a national group of young Dominicans. They met again in 2008 in Madison, WI, and DYA-USA officially formed and launched a web site. In 2009, DYA was officially recognized by the International Dominican Youth Movement (IDYM).

Some DYA-USA members were able to attend the International Gathering in Fatima, Portugal in 2009, and IDYM held its International Gathering in Bogota, Columbia in 2013. Many members and future members have been getting excited about the possibility of representing DYA-USA at the next IDYM venture abroad. The DYA Executive Board felt that it was necessary to find a way to meet nationally, yet allow for young adults to attend without incurring travel expenses.

Kevin Sullivan, the Formations Chair of the DYA Executive Board, had a brilliant idea: “Why not use Google+, Google’s newest foray into the social networking sphere.” Google+ has designed a way for people in different locations to “hangout” in a video chat room (with numerous other features, including chat, Google Docs integration, screen sharing capabilities, the ability to watch a common YouTube video right in the chat room, and more). With much tech preparation by Sean Mundy, the DYA Executive Board Communications Chair, each local chapter or region was able to connect. Michelle Schultz of the Chicago Chapter said, “It was so amazing to connect with other Dominican young adults like myself using the Internet, it was a great way to build community and pray together despite the distance between us!”

The Google+ Hangout allowed the DYA members to do just that. The National (Digital) Gathering began with Andrew Vivian, the DYA Executive Board National Coordinator, sharing the history of DYA and the structure of the national organization. Kevin, who also happens to be on IDYM leadership, gave a brief overview of IDYM and the International Gatherings, which segued nicely into a presentation of materials submitted by Andres Riveira, a Mexican young adult who is also on the IDYM leadership team.

Unfortunately, Sean was unable to present his video of Fr. Andrew Carl Wisdom, Director of Vocations for the Central Province of Dominican Friars, due to technical difficulties, but the material was shared with the group the next day via the DYA YouTube page. We were then lead in a discussion by Allie Jeffs, the DYA Executive Board Social Justice Chair, about what service the local chapters have done so far, what they are embarking upon in the future, and ideas for other chapters that may be struggling to find service ideas.

After this, the voting for the 2012-2014 board was held via an online form on Google Docs. Applicants sent in a short video introducing themselves and why they want to be on the Executive Board. These were posted on the YouTube page and the DYA-USA blog so the local chapter members could learn about each candidate. The members elected two existing members and two new members onto the new Executive Board: Andrew Vivian of Wisconsin (outgoing DYA National Coordinator), Sean Mundy of NY (currently a Dominican Volunteer at St. Pius V School in Chicago and outgoing DYA Communications Chair), Katy Somerfield of Illinois (will be a Dominican Volunteer at Immaculate Conception Academy in San Francisco), and Lyamar Rodriguez of Puerto Rico. The four elected officials will meet soon to mutually decide which of the four positions to assume: National Coordinator, Communications Chair, Social Justice Chair, and Formation/Membership Chair.

Most importantly, the DYA members then celebrated the everlasting presence of God among them. They joined together for a prayer service, featuring prayers, a reading from the Gospel of Matthew, a reading of Psalm 103, petitions from the board and the national group, and a unique variation of the “Our Father.”

Tina Cruz of the Puerto Rico Guatibirí Chapter said, “Knowing that our group isn’t alone and being able to communicate with people from different places is extraordinary. Even on a national level, each group has its own culture that’s unique to its location, whether the chapters are separated by a 15-minute drive or by a 15-hour flight. Can we do this every month?!”

Overall, the event was a huge success, and we are so excited to venture on to greater things in the future!

For more information about Dominican Young Adults USA, visit their web site at www.dya-usa.org.

By Sister Gina Fleming, OP

During the week of May 22, 35 students from Dominican universities/colleges or colleges with a Dominican presence gathered at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, for the 10th national “Preaching in Action” conference.

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. Once again this year, we were also blessed with some new mentors, and two new schools who were experiencing the conference for the first time.

Participating universities/colleges included Albertus Magnus College, Connecticut; Caldwell College, New Jersey; Dominican College, New York; Dominican University, California; Dominican University, IllinoisL; Edgewood College, Wisconsin; Molloy College, New York; Mt. St. Mary’s College in New York; University of Missouri; Siena Heights University, Michigan; St. Catherine’s College, Louisville, Kentucky; St. Thomas Aquinas College, New York; and for the first time, the University Central de Bayamon from Puerto Rico.

The conference began with a brief history of St. Dominic and the Order of Preachers, 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.

Sister Luma Khudher, OP, from Iraq, introduced the students to her congregation while helping them visualize life in Iraq now. And Jessica Howell, from Catholic Relief Services, presented some thought-provoking information on “Preaching in a Globalized Culture.” The next day, Sister Margaret Mayce, OP, introduced us to her work at the United Nations as NGO representative for the Dominican Sisters Conference, followed by a trip to the Pilsen Neighborhood where Brother Brendon Curran, OP spoke to the students and sent us out on a walking tour of the neighborhood. After two days of studying these difficult topics, it was a welcomed respite to go to Navy Pier, where the students and mentors enjoyed the many shops and great company.

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 Pilsen Neighborhoods soup kitchen, the children of San Miguel School, caring for the earth at Urban Habitat, ministering to former incarcerated peoples at St. Leonard’s Ministries, helping the elderly at H.O.M.E., and working with immigrants wanting to learn English at Casa de Providencia. Once again 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. Doug Greer, OP; Nancy Murray, OP; Sara Fairbanks, OP; Sharon Bossler, OP; Ami Omi, MaDonna Thelen, OPA; 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 students. 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, 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 21–26 at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, New York. For more information, visit the Preaching in Action Conference web site.

By Michael Chapuran
Executive Director, Dominican Volunteers USA

The board and staff of Dominican Volunteers USA recognized Sister Pat Howell, OP (Blauvelt) at its first annual Benefit and Silent Auction with a presentation of the second annual DVUSA Mission Award. The event occurred April 21 at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois. Sister Pat Wormann, OP (Caldwell) presented the award, which was accepted by Sister Liz Dunn, OP (Sinsinawa) on behalf of Sister Pat.

Sister Pat was an instrumental part of the planning process that made Dominican Volunteers USA a national collaboration of the 18 congregations/provinces of the Dominican Family. And since it took off, so did her energy. She lived with volunteers for years in the South Bronx, even consoling them during the 9-11 tragedy in New York City. She made sure St. Luke’s School where she was principal always requested a volunteer to minister in its classrooms as teacher, assistant, even theater director. When she was elected to leadership of her congregation, the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, New York, she maintained a supportive presence as a member of the support team for the first Dominican Volunteer lay pilot community, including her coordination to find and furnish the residence.

Jeff Guhin, Dominican Volunteer (2003-04), who shared community with Sister Pat and published an article (“Living with My Sisters”) in America Magazine about his experience, wrote these remarks, which were read during the award’s presentation:

Sister Pat [Howell] was, more than anyone else, the person who taught me how to live with others. This took many different forms. Sister Pat, as some might already know, is a particularly particular person, and, well, I am not. I would leave the bathroom a mess, would come home late and tromp up the stairs, and would often laugh loudly on the phone well after Pat’s 9 p.m. bedtime. She let me know, in no uncertain terms, how my actions were affecting others (e.g. her) and I, the product of a very large and very loud family—and then four years of college that were no less large and loud—eventually learned what it means to be a responsible member of a community.

In the process, I got to know one of the most inspiring women I’ve ever met. When I told people I wanted to be a sister (but the church was just going to keep me down), I was really referring to Sister Pat, whose ability to plant herself into one community in the South Bronx and just stay was a constant source of amazement to me. I wanted nothing more than to see the world, to travel and adventure, to do more and more and more. And here was this woman, intelligent, ambitious, hard-working, who had settled into one community and one job and poured her heart into it.

I suddenly understood what the Catholic mystics were talking about when they said that the wonder of God can be found my sitting as much as by moving. This is not to say that Sister Pat was sitting; that is, she was and is a font of energy, constantly working at her school and as a member of her local and larger communities. In fact, even when she does sit—which is usually to watch a basketball game—she still does not really sit, per se: she moves with the game, leaning in, sitting straight, throwing her hands in the air. I’m so grateful to have known Sister Pat. I’m a better person and a more serious Catholic because I know her.

The Mission Award acknowledges an individual who supports and advances the DVUSA mission. By proclaiming the gospel through ministry, living common life within an intergenerational community, contributing to the development of the program, committing to a life of prayer and study, participating in DVUSA projects and events, and/or mentoring volunteers, DVUSA has been enriched by this individual’s dedication leadership, and example. It is determined by an open nomination process led by the Event Committee including board, staff, and former volunteers of DVUSA.

Sister Pat Howell has honored the DVUSA program and its shared Dominican mission through her dedication and passion the last 11 years. Thank you, Sister Pat, for the profound difference you have made.

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

Dominican Young Adults

A recent article in The Record, the newspaper for the Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky, featured a story on Kentucky’s first chapter of Dominican Young Adults at St. Catharine College (sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Peace). Mary Sue Barnett, St. Catharine College’s campus minister, also recently became an associate of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Read story