The Story of the Dominican High Schools Preaching Conference

The first Dominican High Schools Preaching Conference was held at Queen of Peace High School in Burbank, IL (Chicago) from June 13-18, 1999. Thirty-nine students from 17 Dominican high schools participated in this ground-breaking event. Women and men representing many Dominican congregations/provinces participated in the conference as planners, presenters, prayer leaders, and mentors for the student group.

The following summer (2000), the conference was moved to Dominican University in River Forest, IL to accommodate an increased number of participants (seventy-four). Dominican University remained the host site for the 2001-2003 conferences. In 2004, the conference moved to Siena Heights University in Adrian, MI, where it continues to be hosted. At this point in time, several hundred young people have participated in these annual gatherings.

The theme of the conference has remained the same: each of us is called to preach the Gospel in our own unique way.  During the six-day conference, Dominicans (members of the Order of Preachers) highlight the charism of preaching as it has been practiced from the earliest days of the Order to the present. Participants meet many Dominicans who preach the Gospel in a variety of settings. Participants also have the opportunity to visit service sites where they can "put their preaching into action."

Each day begins and ends with a prayer/ritual prepared by the participants with the assistance of Dominican liturgists. At the closing Eucharistic celebration, school teams share ways that they can take the message of the conference back to their school communities.

Sr. Mary Soher, OP, (Adrian) is the director of the conference.

2012 Presenters

Preaching in the Dominican Tradition

Keynote Presentation
Mr. Michael Petro, Cardinal Stritch High School & Kateri Catholic Academy

St. Dominic
Mr. Patrick Spedale, St. Pius X High School, Houston, TX

St. Catherine of Siena
Sister Nancy Murray, OP, Dominican Sister of Adrian

St. Martin de Porres
Brother Herman Johnson, OP, Province of St. Martin de Porres

St. Rose of Lima
Sister Rosa Monique Pena, OP, Dominican Sister of Adrian

Antonio Montesinos
Father Jim Barnett, OP, Province of St. Albert the Great

Interfaith Dances of Inclusion
Brother Joseph Kilikevice, OP, Province of St. Albert the Great

Preaching the Signs of the Times

Dominicans at the United Nations
Sister Durstyne Farnan, OP, Dominican Sister of Adrian

Ecology of Permaculture
Sister Carol Coston, OP, Dominican Sister of Adrian
Stan Goff, Urban Permaculturalist

The Parish Response to Immigration
Father Brendan Curran, OP, Province of St. Albert the Great

Our Family in Iraq
Sister Beth Murphy, OP, Dominican Sister of Springfield

African Experience
Sister Mary Brenda, OP, Dominican Sister of Houston

Human Trafficking
Sister Therese Haggerty, OP, Dominican Sister of Houston,
Kirsten Allen, Senior, St. Mary’s Dominican High School
Kelly Castleberry, Navy Veteran

Preaching Through the Arts

Collages of Contemplation
Sister Peggy McVetty, OP, Dominican Sister of Amityville
Katelin Walker, St. Agnes Academy, TN

Liturgical Movement
Sister Lucy Sori, OP, Dominican Sister of Adrian

T’ai-Chi Chih
Sister Mary Brenda, OP, Dominican Sister of Adrian

Liturgical Preaching
Sister Sara Fairbanks, OP, Dominican Sister of Adrian

Mandalas
Sister Barbara Schwarz, OP, Dominican Sister of Amityville

Rosary Making
Sister Jean Patrick Ehrhardt, OP, Dominican Sister of Springfield

Pieces of Art
Sister Xiomara Mendez-Hernandez, OP, Dominican Sister of Adrian

Dances of Inclusion
Brother Joseph Kilikevice, OP, Province of St. Albert the Great

Taize
Sister Melissa Blankestyn, OP, Dominican Sister of Springfield
Sister Theresia Scheuer, OP, Dominican Sister of Adrian