Dominican Life 
USA
A web crossroads for the Order of Preachers
Here is DVUSA’s first blog post for the 2018-2019 volunteer year… “Our first blog post from our 2018-19 Dominican Volunteers comes from second year volunteer Sean Puzzo. Sean serves at the St. Francis Center of Redwood City, a center for low-income families in Redwood City California. He reflects on the importance of mutual relationship in ministry. Thank you for your service, Sean!”
“The Dominican Volunteers began their volunteer year at Mariandale Retreat Center on August 3 – August 9th. On retreat they learned about each other, the life of St. Dominic, the Dominican charism, and community life.”
As the Education Support Staff at Saint Francis Center in Redwood City, Elizabeth Broussard and Sean Puzzo are serving immigrant children and their parents as they help SFC provide provides the local community with essential services such as housing, food, clothing and education. Elizabeth Broussard joined DVUSA to learn more about herself while being of service to others. Sean is a second year Dominican Volunteer. Sean chose to do a second year to continue to grow deeper in the Dominican pillars in a new ministry and community context.
As the Domestic Violence Advocate at Sarah’s Inn in Chicago, Jake Moran is serving primarily women and children and their abusers and will live in the House of Connections community. Jake is hopeful that this year of service will help direct his future career path and is eager to give back to others.
As the Volunteer Coordinator at the UIC Pilsen Food Pantry in Chicago, Lacey Green is serving people in the community who are facing food scarcity or who are unable to access affordable food options. She will live in the House of Connections community. Lacey joined DVUSA to serve people like herself.
As the Guidance Counselor at Immaculate Conception Academy in San Francisco, Rosie Fiasche is serving high school girls and sharing community at Immaculate Conception Priory. Rosie joined DVUSA to continue to grow in the Dominican charism. She attended Dominican University in River Forest, IL, double majoring in Sociology and the Study of Women and Gender with a minor in Criminology. Rosie says she is excited about this year with DVUSA because of “working with the young women and just trying to live my best life. I’m ready for this next adventure.”
“Be of service wherever you are!”
-St. Catherine of Siena
“Dominican Volunteers make a difference in our organization by helping us expand our services, deepen services to families and to help lessen the load on overworked staff.” -DVUSA Partner Ministry Site
“The Volunteers I have known are invested in Dominican spirituality and ministry. Whatever the Dominican family can do to support them in their journey, I would want to do. This is a growthful experience and a blessed one for all.” -Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa, DVUSA Host Community
Submitted by Patty Dougherty, OP (San Rafael)
Faculty, staff, and students from eight Dominican colleges met at the Toulouse airport the end of May for the Twenty-second annual Fanjeaux seminar. The community of 30 studied, reflected, dined, discussed, and walked together during the 12-day experience in Carcassonne (and 4 days in Paris). Faculty and staff explored issues concerning Dominican colleges today (e.g., St. Dominic’s life, Dominican values, justice and diversity issues, Dominican spirituality) with Renaud Silly, O.P. (Ecole biblique, Jerusalem) and Colleen Mallon,O.P. (Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis). Students studied the Middle Ages under the guidance of Mary Haymann. All participated in the nearly daily field trips to places associated with the Middle Ages or with Dominican history (e.g., the small town of Fanjeaux). The coordinating team was led by Trudi Goggin of Dominican University, River Forest, IL, and included Francois Haymann, Sue Kaszynski, and Patricia Dougherty, O.P. Next year, Catherine Muscente (Molloy College) will take the lead for this Fanjeaux seminar to be held from May 28 to June 13, 2019.
Volunteer, Maria Bohan, for the Communications and Development Office at the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York recently wrote an article about her time spent with the sisters this summer. Read article
From May 22-27, 2018, Dominican Youth Movement, USA, gathered for is 16th National “Preaching in Action” Conference at Caldwell University, Caldwell, NJ. “Almost 40 students from Dominican-affiliated colleges were introduced to the tenants of Dominican Preaching.” Students were encouraged “to pray, serve, study, support community efforts and most importantly ‘preach’ in their daily lives using their God-given talents.”
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A web crossroads for the Order of Preachers
