From May 18-21, the DSC Executive Committee met in person in Columbus, Ohio. We enjoyed the generous, warm hospitality of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Our facilitator, Sue Weber, joined us for most of our time together.

 

Key agenda items included the planning of the DSC Elected Leaders Meeting this coming fall, September 29 to October 2, at the Embassy Suites in Columbus, OH. Members of the Planning Committee joined us by Zoom.

 

We also discussed the progress and updates of the fruits of the Encuentro, like the Exploration of Dominican Union (EDU), and the working groups that came out of our time together last year.

 

We had the opportunity to dine at a local restaurant supporting a woman entrepreneur and enjoyed a delicious fusion of Mediterranean and Latin American cuisine, especially from the Dominican Republic.

 

Sue graced us with the Hopi Elders reflection, which was woven throughout our time together. Here is an excerpt:

 

“The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!

Banish the word ’struggle’ from your attitude and your vocabulary.

All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

—Hopi Elders' Prophecy

 

May the Spirit continue to bless us and guide us.

 

Happy Pentecost and Memorial Day Weekend!

The DSC Executive Committee Elections have concluded. Congratulations to Kathleen Tait, Springfield (new to the DSC EC) and Cheryl Liske, Adrian (renewing for a second 3-year term) who will begin their terms in October during the annual DSC meeting, September 28–October 2 in Columbus, Ohio.  

 

We express our gratitude to the other sister nominees: Gemma Doll, OP (Peace); Colleen Mary Mallon, OP (Mission San Jose), and Donna Maria Moses, OP (Mission San Jose) for participating in this process. Thank you, also, to all sisters who took this opportunity to vote for their representatives on the Executive Committee.

 

Congratulations to Kathleen and Cheryl!  

Dear Dominican Family,

 

On Tuesday, May 19, students and mentors from several of our Dominican Colleges will be gathering for the 24th Annual National College "Preaching in Action" Conference at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY. This is a week-long conference that brings together speakers from across the country who will present on all things Dominican. Students will learn about the Dominican tradition, social justice issues and preaching, as well as serving in the community.

 

Please join me in praying for these young people, their mentors, and all those who will participate in this wonderful event. May the spirit of St. Dominic and the fire of St. Catherine be with them as they open their hearts and minds to our wonderful Dominican Charism and learn what it means to "Preach with the Pulpit of their lives." Thank you!

 

In Dominic and Catherine,

Gina Fleming, OP, Promoter of Youth

By Sister Verónica Esparza Ramírez, OP
Mission San Jose

May 13, 2026

 

It is hard to convey an experience as rich as our time together in St Louis. Still, I want to put into words my experience of "Transforming Grace: Next Steps on the Journey," which took place in St. Louis, Missouri, from May 4-7, 2026. About 263 participants—leaders, justice promoters, and communicators—from 107 congregations attended. Many Dominicans were present (see picture above).

 

In many ways, the experience began before the conference itself, when the invitation arrived with preparatory materials that encouraged us to be open to walking together in solidarity, contemplation, and action, words that echoed Bridget Bearss’s vision.

 

As we arrived at the hotel, laughter filled the air. We reconnected with familiar faces, met new people, and began forming new connections, each of us carrying hopes and expectations for the gathering. The welcome was so warm that it immediately put everyone at ease, and from the very first day, the energy was evident and contagious.

Former mayors of Adrian, Michigan, bestowed on the Adrian Dominican Congregation the 2026 Adrian Mayors’ Humanitarian Award. Sister Elise D. García, OP, (front left) Prioress of the Congregation, and Sister Frances Nadolny, OP, General Councilor, (front right) accepted the award on behalf of the Congregation during the Adrian Mayors’ Legacy Benefit April 18, 2026, at the Hills of Lenawee Golf and Banquet Center. Standing behind them are former Adrian Mayors Gary McDowell, Joe Wagley, and Chuck Jacobson, and current Mayor Angela Sword Heath.

 

On behalf of the Adrian Dominican Sisters and Associates, the Adrian Dominican Sisters General Council issued the following statement in response to the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego: 

We Adrian Dominican Sisters stand with Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde and
Rabbi Susan Shankman in expressing our horror at the May 18 attack on the Islamic
Center of San Diego. We extend our prayers and condolences to those who lost loved
ones. 

This past year there have been violent attacks on Catholic, Latter-day Saint, Jewish,
and Muslim houses of prayer. As women of faith, we join Bishop Budde and Rabbi
Shankar in saying, “An attack on one community’s sanctuary wounds us all.”  We join
them in working “to promote and protect each faith tradition’s rightful place among us."

In celebration of their 150th Anniversary, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill invite you to join a once-in-a-lifetime Dominican Heritage Tour through the sacred places that shaped our history and spirituality. Journey with us to Palencia, Loyola, Lourdes, Toulouse, Florence, Bologna, Siena, and Rome as we walk in the footsteps of saints, scholars, and preachers whose legacy continues to inspire hope and faith today. We would be honored to have you share in this unforgettable pilgrimage of prayer, history, community, and celebration. 

To date, ten discerners have registered to attend! Please be reminded that the deadline to register is June 1st.

 

We also invite sisters to write letters of encouragement to the discerners and email them to dglazik@spdom.org.

  

May 28, 2026 
3:00 PM CEST/ 9:00 AM EDT via Zoom
(simultaneous translation in Spanish and French)

Join us on Zoom to hear firsthand insights from the first Fossil Fuel Phase Out Conference in Santa Marta, Colombia. Learn about the "coalition of the willing" and their plans for a global treaty to move beyond fossil fuels. Speakers include: 

• Lisa Sullivan - Senior Policy Officer for Integral Ecology at the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns in Washington, D.C.
• Fr. T. L. D. Rohan Dominic - Coordinator of the Claretian Team to the United Nations, New York City

To register, please send an email to dsi@curia.op.org.

 

Please see these event flyers:

English: https://dsiop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/EN_May-28-flyer.pdf
Spanish: https://dsiop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ES_May-28-flyer.pdf

For all events at the Siena Retreat Center, you may register by going to the website www.sienaretreatcenter.org, calling the registar at 262-898-2582 with a credit card number, or by mailing a check made out to “Siena Retreat Center.” The address is 5637 Erie St., Racine, WI 53402. Payment must be received to complete registration.

Writing Haiku as Sacred Art
Saturday, June 6 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Cost: $85 (includes lunch)
Facilitator: Vicky Curtiss
Living in the present moment with attentiveness using all our senses is a spiritual practice enhanced by writing haiku. Haiku is a brief poem, usually of three lines with 17 syllables or fewer, that originated in Japan. Traditionally haiku included a nature image and seasonal reference but has expanded in English to capture a variety of moments within our everyday days—moments in which we can notice and savor the Sacred. Writing prompts and contemplative walks will fuel our creativity and awareness throughout the day. https://www.sienaretreatcenter.org/retreats/haiku/

 

Silent Directed Retreat
Sunday, July 12 – Saturday, July 18
Cost: $890 (includes accommodations, meals, and spiritual guidance appointments)
Facilitators: Kathie Tilot; Lorrita Verhey, SSND; Nancy Sell, OSF; Nancy Raboin, PHJC; Ruth Hoenick

This contemplative retreat offers participants the opportunity to meet daily one-on-one with a spiritual guide and share Eucharistic Liturgy and Evening Prayer with the retreat group. Solitude, nature, and silence enhance these sacred days. Participants are invited to journal, read, walk the beautiful Siena grounds and labyrinth, create with art supplies, and be refreshed and renewed.
https://www.sienaretreatcenter.org/retreats/silent-directed/

 

Contemplative Retreat for Women
Sunday, July 19 – Saturday, July 25
Cost: $890 (includes accommodations, meals, and spiritual guidance appointments)
Facilitators: Barb Cathey, Deborah DeManno, Jomarie Zielke, CSA, Patti Essig, Susan Seeby
This silent retreat for women will call together wisdom from many of the world’s spiritual resources to renew, enrich, and inspire us to be an awakened people in a world that needs our love and action. You are invited to a week of inner discovery and replenishment through morning reflection, evening rituals, one-on-one spiritual guidance, embodied prayer, gentle yoga, centering prayer, and abundant time for silent reflection and exploration of Siena’s beauty and resources. https://www.sienaretreatcenter.org/retreats/contemplative-retreat/

 

Celebrate 30 years of the Dominican Sisters of Hope of Ossining, NY with a concert by songwriter, recording artist, performer, educator, and activist Carrie Newcomer at the Center at Mariandale in Ossining, NY. The live concert takes place on Thursday, May 28 at 3pm, and it will be livestreamed from the Mariandale Chapel. 

 

Oftentimes, hope isn’t easy to come by or even to define. Yet, as 90 Catholic Sisters, the Dominican Sisters of Hope of Ossining, NY have committed their lives to living and preaching the Gospel message of Hope. This event celebrates their shared efforts for 30 years.

 

In a world marred by violence, environmental destruction, and deep divisions, the Sisters give witness to the enduring power of Hope.

 

This concert is a gift from the Dominican Sisters of Hope in celebration of 30 years in mission, but we ask that you register online. Free-will donations are most appreciated.

 

Note: This is an in-person concert in Mariandale's Chapel and it will also be livestreamed for online viewing. Please indicate whether you will attend in person or watch the livestream when you register.

Join us and deepen your relationship with God, self, and others.

Learn more about us here.

 

 

Are you ready this summer for a week of quiet time to explore the spiritual questions of your heart? Weber Retreat and Conference Center offers a directed retreat that just might meet your needs. You will have the time and space to walk our labyrinth and outdoor garden, pray and reflect, attend campus liturgies, and meet daily with a spiritual director of your choice. The Private Directed Retreat is offered from 2:00 PM Monday, July 6, 2026, through 1:00 PM Friday, July 10, 2026. Learn more.

 

Rule of Life Refresh Retreat
In-Person • Saturday, June 6 • 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
If you have a Rule (you might call it a Rhythm of Life or your guidelines for living) and are attempting to live by it, however imperfectly, but want some intentional community and time to observe with God what needs to be refreshed so you will be sustained by it, then join our Rule of Life Refresh Retreat. In this 3-hour morning retreat we will consider together what is working for you and what isn’t, common pitfalls, and what invitations God has for you to discover the trellis that does support your current growth. Details & Registration: https://www.grdominicans.org/program-retreat/rule-of-life-refresh/

Journey Into Silence Retreat (6-day retreat in Conway, MI)
In-Person • Sunday, June 7 – Friday, June 12
Join us for Journey into Silence Retreat, a six-day silent, directed retreat. After our initial gathering Sunday night, we spend the days in silence and communion with God. You will meet with a Spiritual Director each day to further cultivate and process your experience. This retreat is held at the Augustine Center Retreat House. The center is a retreat house welcoming individuals and groups for ongoing formation, education, and spirituality. Silence the world around you. Silence the world within you. Silence the thoughts that shout out to you. In the stillness hear God’s voice. In the quiet, sense the Divine’s presence and the spiritual love that is waiting to embrace you. Details & Registration: https://www.grdominicans.org/program-retreat/journey-into-silence-retreat-june-2026/

 

The Spiritual Dimensions of the Human-Animal Bond
In-Person • Saturday, June 13 • 9:00 AM–Noon
Have you ever felt that your relationship with an animal was… something more? More than companionship—something sacred, even transformative? In this two-hour workshop, we’ll explore the deeper meaning of our connections with animals—how they invite us into presence, teach us about unconditional love, and walk with us through joy, healing, and even grief. Through reflection, storytelling, and creative art practices, you’ll have space to honor the animals who have shaped your life and deepen your sense of connection to all living beings. Whether you share your heart and home with an animal companion or are simply curious about the spiritual side of these relationships, you are welcome. Come and rediscover the wisdom, love, and sacred connection animals bring into our lives.
Details & Registration: https://www.grdominicans.org/program-retreat/human-animal-spiritual-bond/

 

Ecospirituality: The Heart of the Matter
In-Person • Saturday, June 27 • 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Come deepen your understanding of ecospirituality and cultivate transformation within you, the ecosystem of your life, and the greater biosphere of life together. To respond to the needs of our desperate world, we must look within our own hearts. We must embrace once again the truths we as humans and as people of faith and goodwill have long known: We are all one. Acknowledging this calls us to a transformation of heart, a transformation of consciousness that compels us to committed action on behalf of the Earth community. In this gathering we will learn from Sharon Zayac, OP and each other through presentations, small groups and large group reflection and interaction in order to deepen the conversion of our hearts toward transformative action within our neighborhood–our eco-system–of people, land, plant, animal, and spirit. Details & Registration: https://www.grdominicans.org/program-retreat/ecospirituality-zayac/