Sparkill
Dominicans Move Immigrant Ministry to New Home
SPARKILL, NY -- October 27, 2008 --
Sunday,
September 21, 2008, was a day of prayer, laughter, rejoicing,
and friendship as Cecilia LaPietra, OP (Sparkill) the
Executive Director of One to One Learning, officially welcomed everyone
to its new site, the Marydell Faith and Life Center.
One To One, Inc. is a not-for-profit,
incorporated, outreach organization, founded by the Dominican
Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary, Sparkill, New York. The
mission is to provide English classes and other supportive services
for immigrants to empower them to reach their full potential
and to lead meaningful lives within their communities.
The Sisters of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine own Marydell,
their property in West Nyack NY. It is used as a summer
camp, a place for groups to come and enjoy the beauty of the
countryside, parish gatherings, retreats, and catechetical programs. The
sisters have been aware that Sr. Cecilia LaPietra’s program
was outgrowing the available space at St. John’s Parish
in Piermont and offered their site as an alternative. They opened
their doors to the Hispanic immigrants.
Sr. Agnes O’Connor, RCD, president of this
generous community, spoke to the assembled group of their early
work with immigrants and of the joy they were experiencing in
this opportunity to use their property for their original ministry
of service.
Tours were given of the freshly painted cabins transformed
into offices, plus a computer lab and classrooms. A delicious
luncheon was provided by neighboring restaurants. The day
concluded with a prayer service that united all in thanksgiving
for the people at St. John’s, the sisters at Marydell,
the volunteers from St. Thomas Aquinas College and Tappan Zee
High School, the teachers, the students and of course the Sparkill
Dominicans who have watched the steady growth of this wonderful
program since 1997.
Joan Smith, OP (Blauvelt)
Director of Communications
Dominican Sisters of Sparkill
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