September 3, 2024

Open to ALL Dominicans & Candidates Held on 2^nd Tuesday of the month in the evening, 7-8:30 PM ET, 6-7:30 CT, 5-6:30 MT, 4-5:30 PT, along with two special Saturday dates, 11 AM-1 PM ET, 10 AM-noon CT, 9-11 AM MT, 8 -10 AM PT.

September 10, 2024, Introduction & Discernment. Facilitated by Associate Mare Wheeler (Racine). Tech Support: Lisa Mitchell (Grand Rapids)

September 28, 2024, “A Dominican Charism Retreat.” A Saturday AM Retreat led by S. Marilyn Jean Runkel, OP (Springfield). Tech Support: Cecelia Amendolia (Peace)

October 8, 2024, The Life, Spirit & Mission of St. Dominic – DCI (Sister & Associate’s Reflection). Facilitated by Joan Sorge OP (Springfield). Tech Support: Mare Wheeler (Racine)

November 12, 2024, 4 Pillars: Dominican Spirituality – (Sister’s & Associate’s Reflection). Facilitated by Associate Lisa Mitchell (Grand Rapids). Tech Support: Cecelia Amendolia (Peace)

December 10, 2024, The Call to Truth, Catherine of Siena – DCI. Facilitated by Diana Owens (Tacoma). Tech Support: Lisa Mitchell (Grand Rapids)

January 14, 2025, 4 Pillars: the Role of Study in Dominican Life? Facilitated by Associate Sue Smith (Hope). Tech Support: Nancy Brennan (Hope).

February 11, 2025, The Call to Preach-DCI. Facilitated by Associate Carolyn Blasdel (Tacoma).Tech Support: Cecelia Amendolia (Peace)

March 11, 2025, 4 Pillars: The Call to Action – DCI. (Sister & Associate Reflection on Laudato ‘Si, Care of the Earth, Collaboration, Anti-Racism)Facilitated by Associate Judi Engel (Adrian). Tech Support: Sue Smith (Hope)

April 8, 2025, 4 Pillars: Who is My Community? Global Dominican Family facilitated by S. Dusty Farnan (Adrian).Tech Support: Mare Wheeler (Racine)

April 26, 2025,Final Reflection Retreat: How will you live out our Dominican Charism & mission in these changing times? A Saturday AM Retreat, facilitated by Associate Trudy McSorley (Adrian). Tech Support: S. Joan Sorge (Springfield)

Zoom links, readings & follow-up activities will be sent before all sessions.

All OP Sisters, Associates, candidates, inquirers, mentors, guides & sponsors are encouraged to join us, as is anyone who is interested in Dominican life.

September 3, 2024

What might St. Dominic say to us?

Nancy wrote the below article just before the LCWR Assembly where Sr. Mareen Geary, OP also used the metaphor: Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Zeus. The Spirit is definitely whispering in a special way to us Dominican, at the same time!

In the early church, monastic orders isolated themselves from laycommunities and established their own Christ-centric communities. But in Dominic’s time, heresies were spreading rapidly in lay communities. To combat heresy, Dominic founded a new order of itinerant preachers who would travel into lay communities. When I think of what Dominic would say in sending out his newly trained preachers, I think of a book by Dr. Seuss.

Just before his death, Dr. Seuss wrote a commencement address to college students,called Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose.
You’ll look up and down streets. Look ’em over
with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go
there!” With your head full of brains and your shoes full
of feet, you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good
street.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ’em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there!”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

Oh the places you will go!
© Dr. Seuss Enterprises, 1990

Dr. Seuss wanted the young graduates, equipped with intelligence, learning, and skills, to know that great things awaited them as they went forth to experience life! “Oh, the places you will go!” he told them. In our faith stories, Jesus reminds his disciples, as he reminds us disciples today, that those who follow him to new places will also accomplish great things in this life.

Wherever we go, we go with God. In God, we have been equipped with intelligence, learning, and skills, and from our baptism, we too, have been sent forth to experience life! Our God is a God of possibilities and potentials. Our God is a God of vision, imagination, and hope. And our faith is a faith that proclaims a wondrous story of how God takes us to places we never dreamed possible. It is as though God smiles upon each of us and says, “Oh faithful one, oh child of God, the places you’ll go!”

Our brother Dominic realized this call in his life. And indeed, he found God in the walking. We hear stories of him traveling down the dusty roads of Spain, France, and Italy barefoot, carrying only a few personal items: St. Matthew’stext and the letters of St. Paul – like him, another traveling preacher. He seemed to have done some of his best thinking while walking, resolving some of his biggest dilemmas. He exercised both the soles of his feet and the soul of his person. To those of us who have known disappointment, it’s good to remember that even Dominic wasn’t an instant public success. His first 10 years in Fanjeaux didn’t lead to a lot of converts. But these years were a time when he grew interiorly, just as Jesus spent 30 years growing interiorly, in private life, before beginning his own preaching. Sometimes it just takes time for us to learn about the world around us, as well as our inner talents, before we can discern what God is really calling us to.

After 10 years, Dominic understood his call to found an order of preachers that would, like him, be itinerant, holding itself to high moral standards, making decisions democratically – beginning with a small community of women as an integral part of the order. For his time, and even for our own time, Dominic’s vision was very innovative.

Today, because of his vision, the Dominican family is a global reality. Dominicans are in virtually every country of the world. And we, the heirs of Dominic’s vision, must likewise be on the road, not staying bound to particular places or traditions or ideas, but constantly on the journey, looking to the future.

For Dominic, being on a journey meant finding God in every moment of the walk, walking in the contemplative stance, and attending to the voice of God within. But it also meant constantly living in the Now, recognizing the new experiences and opportunities the journey brings to us. Being on the journey can be physically demanding – leading to sore feet, fallen arches, and blisters – but it can be even more demanding emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. How many of us have been grumpy and tired halfway through a long taxing trip, tired of dealing with obstinate people who just can’t understand what we’re saying, tired of the constant stress of new challenges? Yet Dominic was known as a joyful friar, an approachable person. He saw the truth of the other person even if he disagreed. He listened, questioned, and dialogued, but he didn’t belittle. He engaged and he accepted. That’s what made his preaching different.

While we may be at very different points in the journey, we, as Dominicans, are united in our commitment to walking and talking with and about God. Today, we ask, can it make our preaching different again too? What road are you on? Who are your companions? Can you discover God in the moment, and in the joy of living deeply our Dominican Charism? People will notice the preaching of our lives and our contemplative stance. Will they find joyful preachers? Will they find gospel people of prayer?

Good old Dr. Seuss concluded his book this way: On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed!

98 and ¾ percent guaranteed!Dominic knew that with God, he would be taken to places he would have never dreamed possible. And the preaching continues. Today, we ask God to strengthen our passion for the holy preaching in our time. With God’s Spirit as our guide, oh, the places we’ll go!

August 29, 2024

Season of Creation 2024

The Season of Creation is upon us September 1st. Please use this guide any way that works for you. This is a very good resource.We are grateful to Fr. Jim Hug, SJ for his commitment to this incredible project on behalf of all of us and especially our Mother Earth.

The annual celebration of the Season of Creation invites the world’s 2.6 billion Christians to prayer and action to protect Earth, our common home and to discern the guidance it offers us for bringing about the New Creation of which Jesus spoke. The Season of Creation takes place from September 1st, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. It is a liturgical season dedicated to prayer, reflection, and celebration of God as Creator. It invites all Christians and all people of faith and good will to reflect prayerfully on the gifts of Creation and the mission given us by God to care for Creation and respond to its needs and crises today.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD GUIDE

August 14, 2024

Caleruega 2024

Caleruega 2024

In Fall 2022, Dominican Prioresses from across the world set two priorities for Dominican Sisters International Confederation (DSIC): apostolic Dominican congregations that had 50 or fewer members and younger professed sisters. In response, Margaret Mayce, DSIC International Coordinator, and the DSIC Continental Coordinators, planned CALERUEGA 2024, a wonderful program for 48 sisters, finally professed 20 years or less, from 30 Dominican congregations from around the world. These sisters came from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

Sisters from North America presented at the meeting of younger sisters in Caleruega, Spain: Jen Schaaf, Dulce Aguilar Rodriguez, Ana Isabel Gonzalez, Katherine Frazier, Priscilla Torres, Patricia Siemen (coordinator of North America and Canada region), Jane Marie Estoesta, Mary Voung, Mila Diaz Solano, Xiomara Mendez Hernandez, DSC Executive Director, Kelly Biddle, Barbara Reid (speaker), Margaret Mayce (DSIC International Coordinator)

At Caleruega 2024 two of our DSC sisters were among the five sisters elected to represent the younger Dominican sisters at the DSIC Assembly in Rome in May 2025: Mila Diaz Solano (Springfield), and Alma Zapanta (Adrian) will represent United States/Canada and Asia-Pacific respectively. While Mary Onoshokhue Ekwe (Africa), Emilie Ruzickova (Europe) and Alcira Guerrero (Latin America and Carribean) will represent their continents. Let’s hold these sisters in prayer as they will be meeting with Margaret Mayce (Amityville), DSIC international coordinator, to gather the fruits of our gathering in Caleruega. They will present to the Dominican prioresses throughout the world, our collective hopes, dreams, proposals for the present and future: towards a vibrant Dominican life. May spirit of Dominic guide them!

July 17, 2024

Events & Retreats 7.17.2024

Weber Retreat Center Upcoming Retreats and Programs

Julian of Norwich: Mystic Theologian
Sun, Jul 28, 7:00 pm through Wed, Jul 31, 11:00 am
Julian of Norwich is an example of what Bernard McGinn has called a “vernacular theologian.” After briefly placing her in her historical context, I will describe the experience which precipitated her writings. I will analyze what is mystical about that experience and evaluate the importance of the theology which grew from it, What is stunning about Julian’s writings is how well it was able to serve as an antidote to the severe fear and despair caused by the Black Death in fourteenth-century England, along with the ability of its author to describe it so eloquently.

Day off Mindfulness – Welcoming Uncertainty
Sat, Aug 3 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Instead of wanting to secure ourselves on the path, instead of hoping we can transcend the struggles of life, we move toward them. As we sit we can discover the warmth and tenderness of our aching heart and that of the world.

To register and view a full listing of programs, retreats and events at the Weber Retreat Center click HERE

Dominican Center Marywood Upcoming Retreats and Programs

Tending Our Hearts to Tend the Earth (In-Person)
Friday, Aug 9 • 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
The effects of climate change are all around us. We feel it in little ways as we pull on summer clothes and harvest gardens a little earlier each year. And in big ways as we watch fires blaze through entire towns and our streets fill with rain. Climate anxiety touches nearly everything we do, and especially how we interact with and support the next generations. What do we do with the fear, grief, and anger we feel? Join us for a retreat to place our bodies on this sacred land allowing the stones and the wind to carry our grief. There will be time for story sharing, wandering the woods, practicing rituals around our grief and anger, settling in silence and rest, and summoning that wild possibility of hope. This retreat is open to all wanting to tend their hearts around climate anxiety, especially those involved with children: parents, teachers, grandparents, neighbors, etc. Each of us belong to this sweet earth, all part of this earth family that shares responsibility, emotions, and hope.

Zentangle Patterns of Pause ~ A Visual Prayer Practice to Cultivate Peace (In-Person)
Saturday, Sept 7 • 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
In the fullness of everyday life, there is refreshment in pausing and noticing what scripture and creation can reveal to us. Both are filled with wonderful patterns that can spark delight. When we slow down and notice, we make space to invite peace and calm, encounter the presence of God, and be rejuvenated. In this class, we’ll enjoy combining the Zentangle Method, watercolor, and pen to create a visual prayer inspired by a portion of Psalm 19. We’ll also explore how this visual prayer practice encourages us to cultivate gratitude, awareness, delight, peace, and faith. Other visual prayers are sure to be inspired! Previous art or Zentangle experience is not required, only a willingness to create, one stroke at a time! All supplies will be provided.

Foundations in Spirituality (In-Person)
Saturdays: Sep 21, Oct 19, Nov 16, Dec 21, 2024; Jan 18, Feb 22, Mar 22, Apr 26, May 17, 2025 • 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Foundations in Spirituality is a serious reflective study that opens our minds and hearts to the teachings and life examples of the great Christian spiritual teachers that continue to deepen our present spiritual journey. It’s the beginning, the first step of the formation offerings at Dominican Center Marywood at Aquinas College. Explore the rich preaching of St. Dominic; the unbreakable faith of St. Teresa of Avila; the deep spirituality of St. John of the Cross; the life-giving wisdom of the Beguines; the daily prayerful life of St. Ignatius; and the lives of many more who continue to enrich our own faith and spirituality. The course introduces the practice of contemplative prayer as grounding practice for living a richer spiritual life. Immerse yourself in Foundations in Spirituality and begin deepening your relationship with God through study, prayer, and community.

Foundations II: Wisdom from the Margin (Online)
Mondays: Sep 23, Oct 28, Nov 25, 2024; Jan 6, Jan 27, Feb 24, Mar 24, Apr 28, 2025 • 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Foundations II: Wisdom from the Margins is a course and community that reflectively studies the life stories and teachings of great spiritual leaders who have impacted the world from the margins. The hope is to open our minds and hearts to those who have been “othered,” and let their inspirational wisdom challenge, nurture and deepen our spiritual life. Explore the activism born of a deep spirituality in Sojourner Truth and the Grimke sisters; the transformative power of service and reflection in Henri Nouwen and Mother Theresa; the joy of reconciliation in Desmond Tutu; and the inspiring humility of Oscar Romero. Foundations II can be taken after Foundations I (Foundations in Spirituality) or it can also be taken as a stand-alone course. We do not require that Foundations I be taken first, nor that Foundations II be taken in order to enter our Spiritual Director Practicums.

To register and view a the full listing of programs, retreats and events at Marywood click HERE

Siena Retreat Center Upcoming Retreats and Programs

Thursday Morning Centering Prayer via Zoom
Siena Retreat Center offers Centering Prayer via Zoom on Thursday mornings at 7:00am Central, 8:00am Eastern. The time together includes facilitated reflections on a selected reading as well as silent Centering Prayer.

The Great Re-imagining: Spirituality in an Age of Apocalypse
We have reached a transformative and revelatory moment in human history. Author and philosopher Theodore Richards will lead an in-person weekend retreat at Siena Retreat Center on September 20-21, 2024. The retreat material will include writings from the world’s wisdom traditions and contemporary science, as well as a process of shared inquiry into the contemporary political and cultural landscape. Cost of $225 includes overnight accommodations and meals.

SoulCollage® Weekend Retreat
“Forgiveness” is the theme for this SoulCollage® retreat at Siena Retreat Center on September 28-29, 2024. SoulCollage® is an experience of self-reflection using images that speak to you. The retreat will be facilitated by Missy Isely-Poltrock and Vicky Curtiss. Cost of $225 includes overnight accommodations, meals, and materials.

To register and view a the full listing of programs, retreats and events at Siena Retreat Center HERE