Photo of the Week

Dominican Volunteers USA Volunteers gather for mid-year retreat in Springfield The Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, welcomed the Dominican Volunteers USA for their mid-year retreat Jan. 30–Feb. 3. Seventeen volunteers re-united from across the country to share reflections on their first half of their year of service and to learn of each other’s experiences. Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma, OP, directed the retreat. Read more, view photos from the retreat on the Springfield Dominicans web site For more information about Dominican Volunteers USA, visit their web site at www.dvusa.org

Collaborative Dominican Novitiate
CDN celebrates 25th anniversary

Over the weekend of Jan. 31–Feb. 3, the Board of Directors of the Collaborative Dominican Novitiate (CDN) and the Congregation Formation Representatives (CFRs) came together for their annual meeting. On Friday evening, a celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the CDN was held at Aquinas Institute. Board members and CFRs were joined by members of the Dominican Family, the Inter-Community Novitiate, the Aquinas Community and others who have been affiliated with the novitiate in Saint Louis. Read more

Sisters in the News
Sinsinawa Dominican teacher a ‘real hero’

During Super Bowl week, Paul McMullen, managing editor of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Catholic Review newspaper, reflected on teachers, rather than athletes, as role models. In an article titled, “The real heroes are in the classroom,” he expressed gratitude and admiration for his former seventh-grade teacher, Sister Mary Margaret Pazdan, OP (Sinsinawa). Sister Mary Margaret is professor emerita of biblical studies at the Aquinas Institute of Theology. Read article

Province of St. Albert the Great
A new vision, a New Priory Press

The former Priory Press has been given new life under the imprint New Priory Press. The friars of St. Albert the Great Province have announced the recent release of three new books. Read article by Andy McAlpin, OP

International Dominican Youth Movement
Next gathering set for July in Bogota, Columbia

Have you heard the news? The International Dominican Youth Movement is having its gathering in Bogota, Columbia July 7–15. This is the Dominican version of “World Youth Day.” Every three or four years, Dominican Youth Groups (ages range from 16 to 20+) from around the world meet. During this week they have opportunity to pray together, study and learn with and from one other, converse with one other, and to simply have fun. They are accompanied by vowed Dominicans, women and men, who have mentored them in their parishes. Read article by Sister Gina Fleming, OP

Dominican Nuns
Friars to post series of articles on history of Dominican nuns

The Dominicana blog of the student brothers of the Province of St. Joseph has launched a new series of articles on the history of the Dominican nuns in the United States. The first article, written by Br. John Maria Devaney, OP, tells the story of the Monastery of St. Dominic in Newark, New Jersey, the first American monastery of Dominican cloistered nuns. Read more

UN Briefing
We are all responsible for the common good

For the past week, the United Nations Commission for Social Development has been addressing the priority theme of promoting the empowerment of people in eradicating poverty, social integration and full and decent employment for all… What is needed above all to make the empowerment of people a reality is a renewed commitment to the common good, as opposed to narrow national self-interest. Read article by Sister Margaret Mayce, OP

Dominican Sisters of Peace
Congregation adopts corporate stance on human trafficking

The Dominican Sisters of Peace have approved a corporate stance to end human trafficking according to Sister Judy Morris, OP, justice promoter for the congregation. In the effort to end human trafficking, the Dominican Sisters of Peace join with many groups, including social service agencies, peace and justice organizations, other Dominican congregations, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Read more

Springfield Dominicans
Sister Kathleen appointed principal of St. Peter in Aurora

Sister Kathleen Gallagher, OP of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois has been appointed principal of St. Peter Catholic School in Aurora, Illinois, effective July 1. Sister Kathleen was the principal at St. Peter’s from 1981–1991. During some of those years she also taught primary grades. She has been teaching second grade and also junior high religion at St. Peter’s since 2008. Read more

Previous updates:

The next Dominican Life | USA update will be published on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Deadline for submission of articles/photos is Friday, Feb. 22.