Dr. Shannon Gomez Missioned as President of

St. Agnes Academy–St. Dominic School

In her address to the school community, Dr. Gomez reflected on the significance of the moment and the responsibility she has been entrusted to carry forward. “The legacy I have been commissioned to steward today was built by extraordinary people, and I intend to honor every one of them by ensuring that the next chapter of this story is as luminous as the ones that came before. And so, with a grateful heart, I accept this commission. I accept the responsibility. I accept the joy. I accept the work. And I accept the invitation to walk with all of you into whatever God has in store for St. Agnes Academy–St. Dominic School. Let us go forward, together, in joy, and with great, audacious, Dominican hope.”



Rosarian Academy Celebrates Missioning Mass for

New Head of School, Dr. Sharon Lencheski

The community of Rosarian Academy (West Palm Beach, Fla.) gathered on September 9, 2026, to mission Dr. Sharon Lencheski as the new Head of School. Rosarian Academy recently celebrated 100 years since its founding by the Dominican Sisters of Adrian. The missioning marked a new chapter in Rosarian Academy’s history and affirmed Dr. Lencheski with the sacred responsibility to carry its mission forward. 

The Mass, celebrated by Fr. Brian King, brought many people together. Students, teachers, parents, board members and families were all in attendance alongside representatives of Dominican Veritas Ministries (DVM).  As one body, all cherished the beautiful history of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, as well as the blessing of DVM as a promise from the Sisters for the future legacy of Rosarian Academy. 

Inspired by the Dominican Pillars, Rosarian Academy nurtures the growth of all students through Prayer, Study, Community, and Preaching. These four pillars have become Dr. Lencheski’s charge as she leads with conviction, truth and compassion.

Rosarian Academy welcomed Adrian Dominican Sister and President of the DVM Members, Sr. Mary Margaret Pachucki, OP; Chairman of the DVM, Inc. Board of Trustees, Michael O’Connor; and DVM Executive Director, Dr. Kristin Melley. Sr. Mary Margaret and Dr. Melley led the community in the missioning ritual and invited the community to bless Dr. Lencheski with wisdom, strength, and patience in her new leadership role. 

^{From left to right: Dr. Kristin Melley, Executive Director of DVM; Sharon Lencheski, Head of School at Rosarian Academy; Sr. Mary Margaret Pachucki, O.P., DVM Member; and Michael O’Connor, DVM Trustee.}

^{The Rosarian Academy community blesses Dr. Lencheski during the September 9, 2026 missioning ritual.} 

In Dr. Lencheski’s closing remarks to the school community, she reflected on the responsibilities of the charge with which she has been entrusted. “I accept this mission with humility and a profound sense of responsibility. We will honor the Dominican Catholic foundation entrusted to us while leading thoughtfully, responsibly, and courageously into the future.” 



DVM Trustee Releases New Book:

A Dominican Family Compendium

^{Mark Butler, DVM Trustee and author of A Dominican Family Compendium, with his newly published}

^{book featuring the lives and ministry of the Dominican tradition.}

DVM is excited to highlight a new resource to fuel to the Dominican torch. Last month, Dominican Associate and DVM Trustee, Mark Butler, published, A Dominican Family Compendium–a prayerful guide featuring the lives and ministries of the Dominican legacy. 

The project emerged gradually. Mark began by adding the feast days of Dominican saints and blesseds to his digital calendar. He wanted a simple, daily way to remain connected throughout the year to the individuals who have shaped the Dominican tradition. When he thought about sharing a downloadable calendar with others, he realized two things: people were already overwhelmed by daily digital notifications, and more importantly, simply seeing a name pop up on a screen didn't truly help anyone get to know them.

At the same time, Mark was hearing from fellow Dominican Associates and educators in Dominican schools who were searching for richer resources to introduce students to Dominican saints. Many existing materials focused almost exclusively on a handful of well-known figures, Mark knew there was a vastly larger Dominican family waiting to be discovered.

The turning point came this summer when Mark was on pilgrimage. Walking in the footsteps of St. Dominic across Caleruega, Spain and Fanjeaux and Toulouse, France, among other sacred sites where the Dominican story began, transformed a simple idea into an urgent project. “There is something about walking where Dominic walked that makes the history feel very close,” Mark shared. “You begin thinking not only about Dominic himself, but about all the people who have followed in his footsteps over the past eight centuries, not necessarily literally, but in carrying forward the mission of preaching.”

Upon returning from the pilgrimage, Mark began compiling and writing what would become A Dominican Family Compendium. The resulting book reaches far beyond the familiar names, bringing together hundreds of saints, blesseds, and venerables across centuries, cultures, and forms of Dominican life. Alongside the rich historical entries, Mark included brief reflections designed especially for those serving in Dominican schools and ministries. These reflections invite readers to pause and consider how the lived examples of earlier Dominicans speak directly to our contemporary questions of leadership, service, justice, learning, compassion, and mission. Whether guiding a school, leading a ministry, or navigating everyday choices, readers are invited to find fresh inspiration in those who walked the path before us.

Butler hopes the book helps readers experience the Dominican tradition less as a collection of famous historical figures and more as a living family. “For more than 800 years, women and men in vastly different places and circumstances have found their own ways to praise, to bless, and to preach. I hope this book gives people a chance to meet some of them.” 

A Dominican Family Compendium is now available through Amazon in English, Spanish, and French editions.

DVM Announces Director of School Governance

• Guided the school community through its sponsorship transfer from the Dominican Sisters of Peace to DVM.
• Served on the Executive Board of the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools (DASS) in the lead up to the DVM's creation, fostering a closer working relationship among US Dominican schools.

Before leading St. Agnes Academy–St. Dominic School, Tom served as Head of School at Mining and Mechanical Institute (MMI) Preparatory School in Freeland, Penn., an independent, coeducational college-preparatory school serving students in grades 6–12. He also spent two years as MMI’s Vice President, managing all educational and student programs. Prior to his time at MMI, Tom spent 22 years in the Army, including four years teaching at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics from the United States Military Academy and a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. During his military service, he qualified as both a helicopter and fixed-wing pilot. Before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, he held various command and staff positions, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Tom and his wife, Mary-Lee, have been married for over 40 years and have four adult children. They recently moved to the Greater Cincinnati area to be closer to their grandson.



DVM Team meets for its annual retreat

in New Haven, Connecticut

This past July, the DVM staff gathered in New Haven, Connecticut, for three inspiring days dedicated to teambuilding, spiritual reflection, and preparation for the upcoming year. Located on the serene campus of Albertus Magnus College, the time together allowed for contemplation on the work and learning from the previous year and the opportunity to refine plans for the year ahead. 

Each day included prayer at the college chapel, reflection and conversation in the Meister Eckhart Contemplative Garden–a peaceful sanctuary designed by Sr. Anne Kilbride, OP.--and a chance to learn from the Dominican tradition. Some of the documents the team studied included a brief biography on Albert the Great (Albertus Magnus) and his teachings on prayer along with a letter from Fr. Timothy Radcliffe to the Dominican Order (1999). A special highlight was sharing dinner with Sr. Anne Kilbride, OP, a local Dominican Sister of Peace, with whom the staff enjoyed rich conversation and warm fellowship. In addition, the staff explored some local culture, sampling famous New Haven pizza and testing its skills with pottery, with staff members building with clay or painting ceramics.

As a new school year begins, the DVM staff is energized and renewed in the joy and purpose of the mission and the communities it serves.

^{DVM Staff at Albertus Magnus College for its annual team retreat.}

^{DVM Staff meeting with Sr. Anne Kilbride, OP.}

Water has always meant life. Where water is found, life gathers: communities take root, growth flourishes, and people come together. For centuries, the well has stood at the heart of a community. It is a place to draw what is necessary for life, but also a place to meet, share, and be refreshed together.

Scripture is filled with such wells. Rebekah draws water for Abraham’s servant and his camels. Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. Reflecting on the life of Dominicans, a well marks the location of St. Dominic’s birthplace in Caleruega, Spain. Br. Donaugh O’Shea O.P. described Dominican cloisters, with its covered walk and a tree or well at the center, as “a perfect image of the inner life.”¹ Water holds a sacred place in our Catholic life: the waters of baptism, the holy water with which we mark ourselves, and the many ways water reminds us of renewal and new life. It is in this spirit that DVM News is delighted to introduce,

The Wellspring–a designated space for prayer, reflection, and spiritual nourishment for everyone across the wide Dominican Catholic education community. Each issue will feature prayer materials for the liturgical season and Dominican celebrations, reflective exercises and experiences, and other invitations to pause, contemplate, and pray.

¹Willits, A., O. P. (2007). Are we coming or going?. In At Home in Wisdom’s Tent. Dominican Sisters of Adrian.

Contribute to the Wellspring

The Dominican Educator Learning Community is invited to contribute prayers or prayer exercises to The Wellspring. Please visit the Prayer Library on the DELC Platform, and click “New Post” on the top right corner of the page to add your contribution to The Wellspring

Prayer at the Tomb of St. Albert the Great

As we start the new school year, we invite you to pause and reflect on this prayer, offered by Pope St. John Paul II at the tomb of St. Albert the Great. May these words remind us of the profound role educators play in forming hearts and minds within our Dominican schools.

Finding Something New in the Platform

Celebrating the Feast of St. Luis Bertrand, OP–October 9th

Have you seen the newest addition of “Resources to Celebrate Dominican Feast Days?”

Click the link below to explore ways to celebrate Dominican Saint Luis Bertrand, OP in your community, including a helpful prayer exercise for those moments when we find ourselves waiting.

DVM School Opportunities

President – Dominical High School (Whitefish Bay, Wisc.)

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