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June 4, 2014

Photos of the Week

Hope Dominicans
Sisters abuzz about new bee legislation

The Ossining, New York, Village Board of Trustees voted on May 21 to override the long-standing ordinance against bee keeping in Ossining. The Dominican Sisters of Hope, centered at Mariandale in Ossining, have long been proponents of the bees. “We are planting for the pollinators here at Mariandale, and hope to attract monarch butterflies as well as bees. We plan to tend our own bees as part of creating a sustainable and hospitable environment,” said Sister Bette Ann Jaster, OP (Hope). Read more

Read more about the importance of pollinators on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service web site. Also, June 16–22 is National Pollinator Week!

Above from left: Sister Nancy Erts, OP; Mariandale physical plant manager Carlos Santiago, and Sister Bette Ann Jaster, OP, stand among the community garden beds holding a sample of a bit of hive. All three are looking forward to welcoming bees on the property.

Maryknoll Sisters
Pax Christi honors Sister Jean with Peacemaker Award

On Sunday, June 1, Maryknoll Sister Jean Fallon, MM, was honored for her more than 40 years of peacemaking efforts when she was awarded the Sister Christine Mulready Peacemaker Award from Pax Christi Metro New York at its Peacemaker Awards Reception at St. Joseph’s Greenwich Village Church. Also receiving awards that day were the Carmelite Commission for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation, and Sandy Hook Promise. Read more

Springfield Dominicans
Marian Catholic High School students visit sisters

Five students of Marian Catholic High School’s campus ministry program visited Sacred Heart Convent May 21 to become more acquainted with the Springfield Dominican motherhouse and visit with the sisters, particularly former instructors of Marian Catholic High School. Read more

Dominican Women Afire
Visioning for the future in August in San Antonio

More than 130 Dominican women ages 59 and younger or less than 10 years finally professed from the 19 member congregations of the Dominican Sisters Conference will engage in a multicultural, bilingual, four-day gathering at the Oblate Center for Renewal in San Antonio, Texas, Labor Day weekend (Aug. 28–31). Read more

Above from left: The Dominican Women Afire Committee: Sisters Mary Ellen O’Grady, OP (Sinsinawa/Facilitator); Pat Connick, OP (Peace); Didi Madden, OP (Blauvelt); Gloria Marie Jones, OP (Mission San Jose), facilitator; Cyndie Cammack, OP (San Rafael); Mary Therese Perez, OP (Mission San Jose); and Xiomara Mendez-Hernandez, OP (Adrian). Not pictured: Sisters Linda Gibler, OP (Houston); Megan McElroy, OP (Grand Rapids); and Tanya Williams, OP (Sinsinawa).

College Preaching Conference
Students gather for 12th annual Preaching in Action event

During the week of May 20, 57 students from Dominican universities/colleges or colleges with a Dominican presence gathered at Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York, for the 12th National “Preaching in Action” Conference. These young people came together to learn about the Dominican charism of preaching, and how that charism can be incorporated into their own lives and passed on to others. Read article by Sister Gina Fleming, OP.

Jubilees in June
Sisters celebrate anniversaries of religious life

Dominican sisters across the United States are celebrating anniversaries of profession as vowed women religious this month. Many of the congregations feature stories and photos about their Jubilarians online. We’ve compiled a list of congregations celebrating Jubilees, and links to more information. Read more

UN Briefing
A report from the Indigenous Peoples Forum

The 13th Session of the Indigenous Peoples Forum took place at the UN Headquarters in New York last month with discussions and negotiations between stakeholders, governments and indigenous representatives from all over the world. Distinct challenges faced by these marginalized communities were highlighted, including unemployment, poor education, low access to services, and poverty. Read article by Dominican Volunteer Abby McCrary

Racine Dominicans
Sisters making headlines in local newspaper

On May 17, Racine Dominican Sister Pat Chaffee, OP, was featured in an article in the Racine (Wisconsin) Journal Times: “Speaking out: Sister Pat Chaffee works against injustice around the world.” Read article Sister Barbara Kukla, OP, was featured in another article in the same issue: “Art therapy helps victims of violence at Women’s Resource Center.” Read article

St. Martin de Porres Province
Fr. Tom Condon elected prior provincial

Fr. Tom Condon, OP, was elected as the prior provincial for the Province of St. Martin de Porres at the Eighth Provincial Chapter the last week in May. Fr. Tom is a regular contributor to DomLife, writing movie reviews for “Faith and Film.” Read more

Dominican Association of Secondary Schools
Sister Kathleen Anne Tait named director

Sister Kathleen Anne Tait, OP (Springfield), will become the new director of the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools (DASS) beginning in October 2014. Sister Kathleen will succeed Sister Pat Brady, OP, who is retiring after serving as DASS director since its incorporation in 2002. Sister Kathleen will be leaving her present position as principal of Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois, in July 2014. Read more

Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology
International Colloquium July 16–20

This unique event brings together top philosophers and theologians—representatives from over 40 academic institutions from the United States and eight other countries—including the Master of the Dominican Order, Fr. Bruno Cadore, OP. Presenters and participants will examine contemporary philosophical work and its implications for theology, and will look at philosophical questions that arise from theological inquiry. Read more

Previous updates:

  May 21, 2014 May 7, 2014
April 23, 2014 April 9, 2014 March 19, 2014
March 5, 2014 February 19, 2014 February 5, 2014
January 22, 2014 January 8, 2014 Nov 22, 2013
November 6, 2013 October 23, 2013 October 9, 2013
Sept 25, 2013 Sept 11, 2013 August 14, 2013
July 24, 2013 July 10, 2013 June 26, 2013
June 12, 2013 May 29, 2013 May 8, 2013
April 24, 2013 April 10, 2013 March 27, 2013
March 13, 2013 February 27, 2013 February 13, 2013
January 30, 2013 January 16, 2013 Dec 19, 2012
December 5, 2012 November 16, 2012 October 31, 2012
October 17, 2012 Sept 26, 2012 Sept 12, 2012
August 29, 2012 August 15, 2012 July 25, 2012
July 11, 2012 June 27, 2012 June 13, 2012
May 31, 2012 May 16, 2012 May 2, 2012
April 4, 2012 March 21, 2012 March 7, 2012
February 22, 2012 February 8, 2012 January 25, 2012
January 11, 2012 December 21, 2011 December 7, 2011
November 23, 2011 November 9, 2011 October 19, 2011
October 5, 2011 Sept 21, 2011 Sept 7, 2011
August 24, 2011 August 10, 2011 July 20, 2011

The next Dominican Life | USA update will be published on Wednesday, June 18. Deadline for submission of articles/photos is Friday, June 13.

IN BRIEF

Prayer for Nigerian schoolgirls

The U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT) is offering a prayer for the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls along with some action suggestions, including signing a petition to Nigeria’s president urging him to step up efforts to rescue the girls.

More info

Students create wooden boxes for reunion gift

A group of National Art Honor Society students at St. Mary’s Dominican High School, New Orleans, created and personalized wooden boxes for the Class of 1964’s 50-year reunion.

Read story, view photos

Eastern Province friars announce vocation events

Learn more about opportunities to visit and learn more about the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph.

More info

Friars in the news

Catholic News Service recently interviewed two newly ordained Dominican priests: Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, OP; and Fr. Peter Martyr Yungwirth, OP (Dominican Province of St. Joseph).

Watch video

OPSCC news

Dominican Sisters in Committed Collaboration (Amityville, Blauvelt, Caldwell, Hope and Sparkill) have pubished their summer newsletter.

Read newsletter

A report from the Indigenous Peoples Forum

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