September 11
Observances of 10th anniversary; prayers for peace

The Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters (Wisconsin) invite the public to join them in praying for peace at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9. Dominican congregations around the world are participating by joining together in prayer for peace. Sister Joan McGuire, OP (Peace), director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the Archdiocese of Chicago, has written a blog with information about events in the Chicago, Illinois, area that will commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The Dominican Sisters of Caldwell (New Jersey) have announced that there will be a 24-hour vigil of remembrance on Sunday, Sept. 11 at Notre Dame Church (beginning at midnight Sept. 10), sponsored by the West Essex Ministerial Association.

UN Briefing
Somalia: Statistics are sons and daughters, boys and girls

The Horn of Africa is in the grip of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. We are witnessing the most serious food insecurity situation in the world today, exacerbated by the worst drought to hit the region in over 60 years. At least 12.4 million people are affected. More than half a million children are dangerously malnourished… Every day, thousands of desperate Somalis flee to Ethiopia, Yemen and Kenya. One quarter of Somalia’s 7.5 million people is displaced. Read more

News from Mission San Jose
Sister named Vicar for Women Religious in Los Angeles

The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose announce the appointment of Sister Cecilia Canales as the Vicar for Women Religious by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In this new ministry, Sister Cecilia serves the general population of women religious, chairing the Sisters’ Council. In other news from the congregation, Sister Wanda Szymanko, OP, made her perpetual profession of vows, and sisters in initial formation from the United States and Mexico celebrated St. Dominic’s Day in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, as the beginning of an eight-day experience together. Read more

Partnership for Global Justice
Webcast workshops on global economics, ethics

Webcast workshops Sept. 10 and Oct. 8 will address the current economic crisis through the lens of Christian ethics and principles. These principles will then be applied to issues that are being discussed as part of the economic agenda, including trade, debt, multinational corporations, development and subsidies. This program is sponsored by the Partnership for Global Justice and hosted by the Martin de Porres Center, a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Read more

International News
Dominican sisters make connections in South Africa

Sisters Honora Nolty, OP (Amityville) and Honora Werner, OP (Caldwell) spent two weeks this summer with the Dominican Sisters of Montebello, South Africa. Despite the challenges of language (the Montebello sisters speak Zulu as a first language and English as a second or third, while the Americans spoke only English) laughter and hospitality are universal for Dominicans! Read more

McGreal Center
Dominican Archives for the 21st Century: A Family Conversation

This summer, 35 members of the Dominican Family attended “Dominican Archives for the 21st Century: A Family Conversation” at the Mary Nona McGreal Center for Dominican Historical Studies, Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois. Diane Kennedy, OP (Sinsinawa), vice president for mission and ministry at Dominican University, welcomed leadership and archivists representing three Lay Dominican provinces, the friars of the Central Province, the Nuns Conference and 14 congregations of sisters. Read more

Sisters in the News
Football fans: Dominican sisters root for their team

On Sept. 3, opening day of the Ohio State Buckeyes football season, Dominican Sisters of Peace in Akron, Ohio, made the front page of the Columbus Dispatch in an article highlighting their loyalty to their team. Read story in Columbus Dispatch

Softball Story
Dominican friars enjoy annual Labor Day game

From Dominican Daily (Dominican Province of St. Joseph): "The sons of St. Dominic overcame a five-run deficit to win the annual Labor Day Softball classic against the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. A 3-for-3, three RBI performance from Br. Jordan Schmidt, as well as a home run from Br. Leo Checkai and two late inning RBIs from Br. Raymund Snyder helped propel the Friars to victory." Brother Innocent Smith, OP tells the story in true sportswriting style. Read more

Faith and Film
Rise of the Planet of the Apes

I still remember seeing the original “Planet of the Apes” with Charlton Heston on a summer day many years ago when I was young. I haven’t seen any of the sequels, or the Tim Burton remake. However, I had heard good things about this “prequel,” and thought it might be a good way to spend a couple of hours on a hot summer afternoon. I’m glad I did. “Rise of the Planet of the Apes is great fun.” Read review by Tom Condon, OP.

Previous updates:

The next Dominican Life | USA update will be published on Wednesday, September 21. Deadline for submission of articles/photos is Friday, September 16.