Anyway

You can spend your whole life building

Something from nothin'

One storm can come and blow it all away

Build it anyway

You can chase a dream

That seems so out of reach

And you know it might not never come your way

Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good

And when I pray

It doesn't always turn out like I think it should

But I do it anyway

I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy

It's hard to believe

That tomorrow will be better than today

Believe it anyway.....

You can love someone with all your heart
For all the right reasons

In a moment they can choose to walk away

Love 'em anyway

You can pour your soul out singing

A song you believe in

That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang

Sing it anyway

Yeah, sing it anyway

I sing

I dream

I love

Anyway.

Words and music by Martina McBride, Brad Warren, Brett Warren

As we celebrate the sacredness of Christmas and begin a new calendar year, I reflect back on 2016 and see a year full of transitions, unease, and contention. We live in a country whose citizens are sharply divided on politics, morality, and visions for the future. It is very easy to feel discouragement, concern, and at times despair about the environment, diversity, and those who are living on the margins of society.

This beautiful song encourages me to go forward and do what I can, even if it looks like it won't turn out the way I want. Our Enactments give us much guidance and hope for the future. We stand united, Partners in Mission, Sisters and Associates who will continue to seek truth, make peace, and reverence life.

It takes prayer, community, study, and service ----  the four foundations, or pillars, of our shared Dominican charism ----  to stay focused and not lose hope. We are called to contemplate and share the fruits of our contemplation. We open ourselves to possibilities and gather to listen to one another and discern how God is moving in our lives.

The song "Anyway" reminds me to dream, love, build, and believe, even though there are obstacles and a good result may be in doubt.

When I strip away all the consumerism and reflect quietly on this time of the year, I remember all the many, many times I have been the recipient of a grace that I wasn't expecting. I remember times when someone said something encouraging and when an unexpected gift arrived; the amazing honor of twice being a mother after I was told that there was no way I could carry a child to term; and the lovely man I was so fortunate to marry.

That is the meaning of Christmas. The answers to what we seek come in unlikely ways and places. In this case, in a lowly stable manger, in a country divided sharply by the haves and the have nots, a country where there were few choices, strict rules, and little freedom.

Jesus was born into a world with little regard for the marginalized, where life was extremely difficult ----  a world in which life expectancy was 30 to 35 years, and where Roman rule was oppressive, to say the least. Jesus was born to Mary and given a stepfather who must have had more questions than answers. Yet, Jesus was born, the Word made flesh. Reflecting on the Incarnation gives me hope and reminds me to look for the sacred in unexpected places and people, and not to be afraid to share our faith with others.

Recently, my son Andrew, who works for Apple, was interviewed for a promotion, for a job he has been working toward and hoping for. Apparently, Andrew has had a lot of success assisting elderly clients who cannot figure out how to use technology and are out of their comfort zones. (I might be one of those.) The district manager wanted Andrew to tell him the secret of his success with these clients. Andrew thought about the politically correct answer, but instead answered the question with his truth. He said, "I see God in all our clients, particularly the older ones. Once you recognize God in people, you can only treat them with respect." After a startled moment, Andrew was offered the job. 

Unexpected, grace-filled moments ----  I wish all of you that and more in the upcoming year and to pray, believe, sing and hope ... hope anyway.


Dr. Roxanne Davies of Barry University has made all of this possible. Mary Fran Fleischaker, OP, has organized the formation sessions and worked on mentoring our new Associates, along with Mary Tindel, OP and Evelyn Piche, OP. Lloyd Van Bylevelt, Associate, attended both the Founders Day Mass and the luncheon.

From Miami, we traveled to Boca Raton, to the home of Neisy Nunez, Associate. Neisy and the other Boca Raton Associates, Bonnie Aymat and Diana Castro, welcomed nine women and one man from their parish, St. Joan of Arc, who are interested in Associate Life. Fran Madigan, OP, and Carmen Álvarez, OP, are mentoring all of them. It was a wonderful luncheon and I enjoyed meeting everyone.

Later that day, we traveled to West Palm Beach to stay at the Casa with our Adrian Dominican Sisters. There, we met with the West Palm Beach Associates: Nelson and Sandra Pino, Nancy Medina, and Peggy Rowe-Linn, as well as Sylvia Raftery, a prospective Associate. Our Sisters Margo Ruiz, OP, and Mary Jean Clemenger, OP, are mentoring them, along with Margaret Exworthy, OP.

On Friday evening, several women who are interested in Associate Life came to a meeting. It was such a pleasant evening. I also had the opportunity to visit Christa Rusch, an Associate who serves in the lower school after-care program at Rosarian Academy. Christa is going to introduce Associate Life to her co-workers. I also had a great conversation with Mary Ann Caulfield, OP, Chapter Prioress of the Florida Mission Chapter. We will have a gathering of all Florida Associates and prospective Associates at Rosarian Academy on Saturday, May 20, to get to know one another and to discuss how Sojourner groups ----  mission groups made up primarily of Associates ----  will work in Florida.

My husband and I were the recipients of fine Dominican hospitality and are very grateful.

Dr. Carmen McCrink ----  a native of Havana, Cuba, who moved with her parents to the United States in 1962 ---- is an Associate Professor and Department Chair at Barry University. She teaches students who are pursuing the PhD in leadership and education/higher education administration. She enjoys teaching the History of Education course, in which she describes the contributions of St. Thomas Aquinas to the founding of medieval universities. She wishes to continue to share the Dominican charism with her students and co-workers.

"The Adrian Dominican Sisters' commitment to touch the lives of others, through their charism, is exemplary," Carmen wrote. "By becoming an Associate, I hope to continue learning from the Sisters' leadership and mission and identify ways in which I may continue their legacy through my role at Barry University and service to the community. If you were to ask what I bring to this relationship of association, I would say that it is an open heart and mind."

Carmen has three adult children.

As a Professor of Organizational Behavior at Barry University, Dr. Michael Provitera encourages his students to help veterans and the poor. He is the author of Mastering Self-Motivation: Preparing Yourself for Personal Excellence. He founded the Coalition of Children's Book Authors, which has sent new books to Tanzania. Michael brings an enthusiasm to all he does and is ready to share the Dominican charism with his students, co-workers, and family, including his wife Esin and his daughters Janet and Lauren.

Noting his appreciation for the mentoring process for prospective Associates at Barry, Michael wrote of his anticipation of 2017 and the opportunity that the four new Barry Associates will have to "serve the cause of the Adrian Dominican Sisters and model the Associate life." He wrote of his resolve to continue his ministry of outreach to the orphans of Tanzania ----  many of whom would be deprived of books without the help of his coalition and the generosity of many students and others who have contributed books. Those who are interested in this ministry and in donating books are invited to contact him at [email protected].

Christopher (Kit) Starratt and Gerene (Gerry) Starratt were welcomed as Adrian Dominican Associates on November 16 at Barry University. Photo by Thierry Lach

Two other Associates, Dr. Christopher (Kit) and Dr. Gerene (Gerry) Starrat, were welcomed on November 16. Kit, Vice President for Mission and Institutional Effectiveness, has served at Barry since 1993. His ministry is to increase the level of our Dominican heritage by establishing programs to facilitate this process. A clinical neuropsychologist, he believes that "education is a powerful tool to alleviate human suffering and to combat social injustice." This belief led to his service in higher education.

"I have been in direct connection with Adrian Dominican Sisters for 35 of my almost 62 years," he said. "The Congregation is part of the fabric of my life. My Catholic formation was grounded in the teaching and training I received by Adrian Dominican Sisters, in my youth as an elementary and high school student, and as a member of the Barry community for over 23 years."

Gerry, Associate Professor of Education at Barry, teaches methodology and statistics and is a dissertation advisor. "Our family values ----  and my personal values ----  are aligned with the Mission and Vision of the Adrian Dominican Sisters," she wrote. "Because the Gospel message assures us that Christ is present in some special way when 'two or more' engage together in His work, I wish to join the work that God has assigned to me with the prayer and good works of the [Adrian Dominican] Community."

Gerry and Kit have been married for 42 years and have three adult children. They are both active in their parish, St. Jerome, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.