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)

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.

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.

This has been an exciting summer for cohort members: several traveled to Fanjeaux, France, for the Deepening our Dominican Spirit pilgrimage, and others have very recently returned from Calaruega, Spain where they took part in the global gathering of younger Dominican women hosted by Dominican Sisters International. We pray that walking in the footsteps of the Order’s earliest preachers has renewed their passion for our shared charism.

We extend heartfelt congratulations to two members of our cohort who celebrated significant milestones in their journey as vowed Dominican women. On August 11, Sr. Katherine Frazier professed perpetual vows as an Adrian Dominican. The evening before, her fellow Adrian Sr. Jamie Caporizo was received into the novitiate. It was a weekend of blessed abundance. We rejoice with our sisters and give thanks for their “yes”!

The cohort met together virtually on July 27^th and August 1^st when the Interculturality Working Group led us in prayer, invited the cohort to see all our work and collaboration through an intercultural lens, and prompted us to share our family stories in small groups. We are grateful to the sisters who thoughtfully planned the session to encourage reflection on our diverse cultural formations while building relationships amongst the cohort. 

The next Cohort gathering (via Zoom) will on Sept. 7 and Sept. 9 when the Future Pathways Working Group will again engage us in dialogue and contemplation regarding our shared future. 

Enjoy these final days of summer! Blessings on all students, staff, and faculty beginning the new school year!

UPDATES FROM THE UN-NGO 

GETTING READY FOR THE SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE

We at the UN are getting ready for the Summit of the future in mid- September. As you know we are hopeful that two of our Roman Dominican Sisters will join us here for the
Summit. They have received word that they are accepted to attend. Now we hope for
their visas as well.

To better understand the meaning and significance of this summit review the following
updates.

There is a wonderful podcast that explains the summit. This podcast will take a deep dive into the upcoming Summit. The presenters will explore the significance of the Summit and what to expect as well as the three major outcome documents. You can listen to the podcast here. The speakers on the podcast are from the Global Governance Innovation Network, Stimson Center and the C4UN.

NCR Talks with Sister Terri Schell, OP, to learn more about her Catholic Approach to Ecology and Faith

Sr. Terri Schell, OP, is a second-year novice sister of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. In August, she began a new ministry as the director of the Shepherd's Corner Ecology Center, an ecological ministry the congregation founded in 1992 in Blacklick, Ohio.

She holds a bachelor's degree in environmental science and a minor in biology from University of North Carolina Wilmington and has extensive experience in environmental education and conservation.

Global Sisters Report asked Schell about her vision for the ecology center and how Catholics can approach ecology and their faith.

Picture Credit: NCR Website 
Author: Greta Gaffin

Open to ALL Dominicans and ; Candidates Held on 2nd 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.

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. 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. 

Details & Registration: https://www.grdominicans.org/program-retreat/zentangle-1/

 

 

Tuesday Table Talk: “Centering Down” in an Uncertain World (In-Person)

Tuesday, Sept 10 • 6:00 – 8:30 pm

 It’s a phrase we use or hear regularly – living in ‘unprecedented’ or ‘uncertain’ times – but how often do we pause to consider how living with and acting out of anxious uncertainty affects our relationships, our communities, and ourselves? When we react quickly and reflexively, when we are triggered and become defensive, when we act out of fear, we risk causing harm both to ourselves and our neighbors. Join us for dinner and a conversation on the spiritual toll and the tangible ramifications of existing in a constant state of ‘fight, flight, or freeze.

Details & Registration: https://www.grdominicans.org/program-retreat/table-talk-fall-2024/

 

 

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. 

Details & Registration: https://dominicancenter.com/programs-and-retreats/foundations-in-spirituality/