Dominican Life 
USA
A web crossroads for the Order of Preachers
The Commission on the Status of Women is probably the busiest time here at the United Nations. Women from all over the world converge upon New York to explore the critical issues facing women and girls worldwide. Sisters representing each of the five continental areas of Dominican Sisters International are also present this year, along with a group of students from Yale University. Read article by Margaret Mayce, OP (Amityville)
Grand Rapids Dominicans
To celebrate both achieving their Phase I goal of raising $4 million for the Marywood Legacy Campaign and St. Catherine of Siena’s Feast Day, the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids hosted a special Mass, celebrated by Bishop Emeritus Walter A. Hurley, on April 29 at at Dominican Chapel/Marywood located on the Marywood Campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“The Marywood Campus has been a work in progress since our arrival to Grand Rapids in 1889,” said Sister Maureen Geary, OP, prioress of the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids. “We are blessed with a campus that is alive and responsive to the changing needs of our sisters and the community around us. We welcome that change, and embrace the possibilities it holds. The faithful support of our donors allows us to remain good stewards of this 34-acre campus and sustainably offer ministries that respond to the spiritual and life journeys of people of all faiths.”
Phase I of the Marywood Legacy Campaign included support for the renovation of Aquinata Hall and Marywood Health Center, and the start-up of Marywood Home Health. “Through this generous campaign initiative and the formation of community partnerships, we have developed new and expanded health care ministries on the Marywood Campus providing spiritual companionship, senior living, rehabilitation and home health services,” said Sister Maureen.
Phase II of the campaign will focus on the future vision for the Marywood Campus and outline the process for the congregation’s next steps in planning for future campus needs and uses.
Additionally, the date for this special Mass was chosen for its significance to the Dominican Sisters. April 29 is the Feast Day of Saint Catherine of Siena, a Dominican mystic and Doctor of the Church. “Catherine of Siena is an important historical figure who worked indefatigably for the renewal of the church and of the world in which she lived,” says “Catherine of Siena” biographer Mary O’Driscoll, OP.
“We are cognizant of the ministry of presence parallels that exist between Catherine’s life and legacy, and the life and legacy of Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids,” said Sister Mary Ann Barrett, OP, member of the Sisters’ Leadership Team. “Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Dominic, and St. Thomas Aquinas continue to accompany us in our faith-filled living of vowed religious life in the 21st century, 800 years after the founding of the Order.”
For more information about the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids, visit their web site.
Two months ago, in my review of “Frozen,” I bemoaned the lack of imagination and cutting-edge animation in recent movies. I am surprised as anyone to find that the cleverest, funniest, animated movie in years has arrived with the most unlikely title of “The Lego Movie.” It sounds like a feature-length commercial for those building blocks we all used to enjoy playing with as kids. But it’s much more than that. “The Lego Movie” is a clever satire of modern culture, while at the same time an old-fashioned appeal for teamwork, imagination, and belief in oneself. The movie reminds us that what we learned in kindergarten is still relevant in the adult world.
The basic story of “The Lego Movie” is deceptively simple: Emmett, a contented construction worker, is chosen by a group of superheroes (including everyone from Batman to Wonder Woman to Shaquille O’Neal to Abraham Lincoln) to lead the people against the tyranny of Lord Business along with his henchmen, Bad Cop and the Micromanagers. As in “The Matrix,” Emmett cannot understand why he is chosen by a bearded, monkish figure named Vitruvius (voiced by Morgan Freeman) to be “The One.” He has neither special powers, nor evident leadership skills. Still the Superheroes believe in Emmett until he begins to believe in himself. Even Emmet’s invention of a double-decker couch finds a use.
“The Lego Movie” is fast paced, with never a dull moment, and visually complex (I recommend seeing it in 3-D.) Like a Lego model, it is constantly changing, morphing into something new. Anything can be built. The mild PG-rated zingers come so fast that I missed many of them. One of my favorite ongoing jokes included the most popular TV shows of the day, called “Where Are My Pants?” Every episode is about a man who wakes up in the morning and can’t find his pants. It’s a huge hit; everyone thinks this search for pants is outrageously funny. In the best tradition of animation, back to “Road Runner” and “Bugs Bunny,” there’s something for everyone, regardless of age. How often do you see that in a movie these days?
In the final live action scenes of “The Lego Movie,” we realize what it has done so well: transport the viewer into the mind of an imaginative child. Elements of pop culture, history, and imagination come together as a team to defeat a tyrant who wants everyone to conform. All elements of the movie are neatly tied together in surprising ways by the end of the movie. We even learn what that odd thing Emmet has on his back is.
So many contemporary big-budget movies focus on superheroes with super-human powers saving the day for us mere mortals. “The Lego Movie’s” Emmet reminds us that ordinary men and woman have what they need to live good lives and overcome evil. All they need is a community of faith, a little imagination, and good common sense. Even Batman and Superman are impressed.
Like me, you might be a little embarrassed to tell your friends that you’re going to see a movie targeted to 10-year-olds. However, word-of-mouth from adults who took their kids and were won over is already spreading. “The Lego Movie” is pretty cool, no matter how old you are.
Tom Condon, OP
The Circle of Economic Justice of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, hosted a meeting of 25 sisters and associates to discuss the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and FAST TRACK. Participants watched a video interview with Lori Wallach of Trade Watch and listened to presentations by Sisters Cely Byrnes and Ceil Lavan. Read article, view photos from the meeting on the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt web site
Sister Kathleen “Kaye” Ashe, OP (Sinsinawa), died Feb. 15, 2014, at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, La Grange, Illinois. Her religious name was Sister Keverne.
Sister Kaye was a respected writer, lecturer, leader, and researcher whose work led to greater awareness of women in the Church and society. She made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 5, 1950, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1953. Sister Kaye taught elementary school for seven years and ministered in various higher education positions for 28 years. The majority of those years, she ministered at Rosary College/Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois, in the following roles: director of Junior Year Abroad program; associate professor of history; director of continuing education; director of the Rosary-in-London semester, London, England; associate academic dean; dean of the Graduate School of Art, Florence, Italy; assistant to the president; and trustee, serving three separate terms.
Sister Kaye was elected to two terms as prioress of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation, a position she held for eight years. She later served the congregation in development for four years. Sister Kaye has lectured widely and is the author of “Today’s Woman, Tomorrow’s Church” and “The Feminization of the Church?” plus many individual chapters in other books, articles and book reviews. She worked in copy editing for three years, and ministered as a spiritual director for four years. Sister Kaye served in Maryland, Wisconsin, Illinois and California as well as Fribourg, Switzerland; London, England; and Florence, Italy. She also served as the president of the Dominican Leadership Conference.
Sister Kaye was a leader in justice activities and organizations, such as Mary’s Pence, a fund providing money to grassroots women’s projects, where she served as the first board president. Sister Kaye spoke out forcefully and frequently about injustice, especially about issues of sexism and racism, and was at the forefront of those working for structural and societal change. She challenged those in the Congregation and beyond to stretch past differences, to dialogue openly and respectfully as members and persons of faith striving for common ground. She wrote, “The search—for self, for wisdom, for love, for truth, for justice, for God—is strenuous and unending. We need good companions in order to persevere in it. In good company, in a community of conviction, the quest never loses its relevance, its urgency, or its savor.”
Sister Kaye was born Jan. 29, 1930, in Chicago, the daughter of Henry and Julia (Fitzgerald) Ashe. Her parents; two sisters, Mary Ellen Waldron and Marcella Savant; and three brothers, Thomas Ashe, Gerald Ashe, and Harold Ashe, preceded her in death. She is survived by nieces, nephews, and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared life for 63 years.
Broadcasts of the wake and funeral for Sister Kaye are available online at www.sinsinawa.org/live.
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or online at www.sinsinawa.org.
USA
A web crossroads for the Order of Preachers
