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March 2024

Reflections of the Director

The Anonymous Dominicans

By Nancy Mason Bordley

Director, Office of Dominican Charism

Many of us embrace the Dominican Charism and try to live in a way that reflects our values. And many of us have friends and family who, without knowing about the Dominican Charism, exemplify it by the way they choose to live.

Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner defined the anonymous Christian as a person who has never had a true encounter with Christianity but whose heart is touched by God and moved to act. This person is in a graced state but does not really know it.

Rahner’s own words express it best: “In every human person … there is something like an anonymous, unthematic, perhaps repressed, basic experience of being oriented to God … which can be repressed but not destroyed, which is ‘mystical’ or (if you prefer a more cautious terminology) has its climax in what the classical masters called infused contemplation.”

In addition to anonymous Christians, I think there are anonymous Dominicans. I think of my niece, Eryn. Many people at age 22 focus on degrees, careers, and significant life choices. Eryn is in her last year of college and has typical goals and hopes for her future, but she has always been concerned with helping others. She was her mother’s little helper when she was young. She was a patient listener when her peers needed to vent about their frustrations. When she sees a need, she steps up to serve.

In this Issue

News

- Catholic Sisters Week

- Associate Life Updates

- 'Will We Find God When We Get There?'

Living the

Dominican Charism

- Siena Literacy Center

- Dominican Life Center

Reflection

- Lenten Reflections

In her childhood, when one of her siblings went upstairs crying, she often followed to comfort them. Many times she sacrificed herself to help others. When the Michigan State University shootings occurred, she hid with other girls in a nearby building. One of the girls was a close friend of one of those killed, and Eryn was there to provide comfort. But when I texted her to see if she was safe, she was more concerned about her younger brother. She wanted to know whether she should go to his dorm to protect him. She had to be convinced that he was safe halfway across campus and that we were texting him. Eryn has a tender, generous, Dominican heart!

My own formation as a Dominican was influenced by my father, who was not Catholic and not formed in any specific religious tradition but who knew how to gather and nurture community better than anyone I know! He valued community whether it was our immediate family of seven, our extended family of more than 70, or friends, neighbors, colleagues, and even strangers. He had a way of bringing people together and making them feel comfortable. For him, it was all about relationships. No one was ever left out. All were welcome. My friends from school commented that they enjoyed coming to my house because they were immediately made to feel “at home.” My father exemplified Dominic’s value of growing community!

All of us know such anonymous Dominicans, people who never had any Dominican formation and may have never heard of the Dominican Charism. Perhaps unknowingly, they preach through their lifestyle wherever they live and work. Their words are backed up by action. They may be young or old and come from any religious tradition or none at all. 

Join me in inviting those anonymous Dominicans we know to be counted in the Dominican family. Our scripture tradition is filled with “call narratives,” and God continues to call all kinds of people today. How do we help sharpen people’s listening skills to hear that call? 

Many people today lament the current state of vocations, especially to marriage or religious life. Wisdom and encouragement from mentors, friends, and family can help develop vocations. We shouldn’t be afraid to talk with others about how we responded to God’s call and how we continue to respond as our lives evolve. A healthy prayer life keeps us curious and attentive to how we can live our best lives, whether as vowed, married, or single Dominicans.

Extend a warm welcome! Start a conversation by commending them for the values they live and how those values reflect the Dominican Charism. Then invite them to meet other Dominicans or to visit the Adrian campus. Many anonymous Dominicans, even if surrounded by other people, never encounter people like them. It can feel lonely to have values so different from those around you. By inviting them to join us in community, we can show them that their values are part of the Dominican Charism, a tradition that goes back almost a thousand years. And they can join us in taking comfort in the words from St. Catherine of Siena, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”



News from the Dominican Family

Catholic Sisters Week is celebrated every year from March 8 to 14 during Women’s History Month. Here is a sampling of how Adrian Dominican Associates honor Adrian Dominican Sisters and extend their gratitude to the Sisters for being a source of inspiration, love, and faith.



I have known Sister Jeanine Boivin, OP, (right) for many years since she became my mother’s caregiver. Sister Jeanine gratefully accepted the position and responsibility of my mom’s care as she aged into her 90s. 

I had not had any interaction with Dominican sisters, having been taught by Franciscans. Sister Jeanine is an exemplary Dominican as I witnessed her deep prayer life, commitment to her order, and pride in her Dominican Sisters. She was very committed to service as she tutored many hours and years at the Dominican Literacy Center on Detroit’s Eastside. She also worked with a parish group of young people with physical and developmental disabilities.  

Her prayer life, service work, and care for the marginalized inspired me to join the Dominican family joyfully as an Associate.

Camille Klimecki

Sterling Heights, Michigan



Sister Joan Delaplane, OP, (left) has had an extraordinary influence on my life and my relationship with God, for which I will always be blessed and grateful. Sister Joan’s love of scripture and gifts as a homilist and spiritual director have guided me to understand what it means to live the Dominican Charism. I am constantly amazed at how she can see within my soul and know the right words to speak or prayer to share to help me break through whatever obstacles I face.  

Because of Sister Joan’s generous sharing of her faith and life with me, I have learned the importance of finding truth through prayer, study, and contemplation, then finding ways to share the fruits of what I’ve discovered where they are needed most. This led me to become an Adrian Dominican Associate and build community with our Sisters and Associates living the Dominican Charism. 

Dee Joyner

St. Louis, Missouri



Sister Margaret Exworthy, OP, (left) may she rest in peace, was a very intelligent person. She was always studying the Bible, including the Torah. She invited me to join a Sojourner Group, as we shared similar views. 

Sister Margaret was a delegate to the General Chapter and was always in a leadership role. She liked to be part of decision-making to foster change in her community. She was always ready to discuss issues such as immigration and human trafficking and help students at DePorres Place, a literacy center in West Palm Beach, Florida, develop their literacy skills. 

Sister Margaret showed me how to identify the Dominican Charism in others and how to bring them into our group. She was kind-hearted and always willing to lend a hand, help others in need, and listen to all without judging. Even with all her accolades, she was a humble person. I miss her guidance and her sense of humor.

Nancy Medina

West Palm Beach, Florida



Sister Margarita Ruíz, OP, (right) very often attended my parish church. After Mass, we would talk for a few minutes, and then we’d be on our way. One Sunday, Sister Margarita asked if I would ever like to go to Adrian. In a moment, I said, “Yes, I would love to go and visit Adrian.” Another Sister reminded me, “Follow your heart,” and that is what I did. 

In August 2016, I went to Weber Center and had a grand tour of Adrian, and I felt right at home. I knew I wanted Adrian and the Charism to be a part of my life, and I wanted to study more theology. Therefore, I began to study back in Florida to be an Associate. 

Sister Margarita was so caring, kind, gentle, understanding, and informative in helping me learn more about prayer, study, ministry, and community. It became more a part of my life. During our weekly meetings, she shared spirituality that made me think all week long about how important that part of my life was. She is an inspiration in her prayerfulness, gentleness, joy, willingness to share her knowledge, suffering, and love. 

Her charism of sharing her knowledge has become more a part of my life in the last 10 years because of her example. Her retired life in West Palm Beach, Florida, was anything but retirement. Sister Margarita summarized an important book project about the 50 years of the Sisters’ work in Latin America, taught English at De Porres Place, prepared the Spanish children for First Communion at Saint Ann’s Church, and mentored the Associates. Any time I go to Adrian, we visit. I keep in touch with her through e-mail, cards, and phone calls.  

Sylvia Raftery

Lake Worth, Florida

New Associate Life Sojourner Groups are forming in the Adrian and the Barry/Miami areas. Meetings will be in person for those living nearby and by Zoom for those at a distance. Members of each group will decide whether to have monthly or bi-monthly meetings. The new groups will include Associates, Sisters, and Associate Life Candidates. Any Associates who are interested in joining one of these groups should contact Associate Tom Brady at Tc7100@aol.com.

Active Sojourner Groups are meeting in St. Louis, West Palm Beach, Anchorage, and the Dominican Republic. In addition, the Hope Sojourner Group and the newest (yet-to-be-named) Sojourner Group meet exclusively via Zoom. The Sojourner Group in Henderson, Nevada, is in the process of being reactivated.

Associates interested in learning more about any of these groups may contact Associate Tom Brady, Community Circle member, at Tc7100@aol.com or any other member of the Community Circle: Associates Nery Cummings, Jan Donner, Carol Fowler, Dee Joyner, Rosemary Martin, and Brenda Stratton, and Sister Rosa Monique Peña, OP.

Coming in April

Mark your Calendar for a livestream presentation for all Associates and Sisters at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. More details are coming soon! Our brand-new document, Together in Mission, will be presented and discussed. Please plan to join us!

Sister Katherine Frazier, OP, seated right, spent a day at the Motherhouse Campus with college students from Detroit. The trip was organized by Associate James Mallare.

Organizing any outing with my students – rather, young adults with very active lives – is a feat in itself: competing schedules, preferences for one venue over another, the list of complications is endless. 

When a group of my students asked to visit the Motherhouse, I instinctively said yes, of course, but I didn’t anticipate the preparation and almost “divine” coordination that went into the trip. We attempted to go in the spring and summer, but the calendar wasn’t quite right. It was as if the Spirit was delaying the trip for reasons unknown. 

When we finally narrowed down a day and time that worked for all of us, the excitement of the students mounted. A barrage of questions followed: Will the nuns be wearing those special outfits? Do they mind us being there? Are the nuns going to be nice? Do the nuns care that I am not Catholic, let alone a Christian? But the most striking question I received in a late-night text message before our trip was, Will we find God when we get there?

As we all piled into my car for the hour’s drive from Detroit to Adrian, a flutter of excitement took over my students. Between moments of carpool karaoke, they reminded me how they have been looking forward to this for a long time. As we drove up the long driveway, past the cemetery and garden boxes tended lovingly by our Sisters, an audible gasp of awe was followed by a calm reverence. I would be remiss if I didn’t let the students tell us how they experienced, as one of them described, their new “home away from home.”

From Shridula:

Visiting the Motherhouse was an extremely rejuvenating experience. Amid the hustle and bustle of university life, where the constant rush to complete assignments while balancing extracurriculars often dominates, it can be a challenge to appreciate the simplicity of everyday moments and remember why we are choosing to pursue this path in the first place. 

Taking a day off during the midterm season to visit the Motherhouse left me with a newfound sense of motivation. Spending time with the Sisters and listening to their stories about joining the Dominican Order was truly enlightening. Discovering the diverse ways they’ve dedicated themselves to serving communities, not only in Michigan but across the globe, deeply inspired me and reminded me why I am committed to pursuing further education. 

Approaching the Motherhouse for the first time, I held no expectations, but my anticipation heightened the instant we entered one of the chapels. The radiant sunlight streaming through the beautiful stained glass in St. Dominic Chapel set the stage for a truly enchanting day, foreshadowing the experiences that lay ahead. To my delight, I discovered the Sisters to be remarkably welcoming, genuine, and eager to share insights into the history of the Order and their own lives. The unexpected warmth and openness of the Sisters made the experience truly special, adding depth to my understanding of the Motherhouse and its significance.

From Hadi:

The Motherhouse tour was a very serene experience. I felt a sense of peace there, and after meeting the Sisters, it was quite clear why. Entering the Motherhouse, my peers and I were greeted with sincere smiles and introductions. Following our greetings, the Sisters were happy to explain why they joined the sisterhood and share some heartfelt stories regarding their experiences as a Sister. 

Each of the Sisters that I conversed with had a passion to serve others in their ways. This included educating the youth, translating for immigrants, or helping families struggling with poverty. I admired that the sisterhood not only maintained a warm collectivist community but also embraced the individualism that each Sister brought to the table. 

After our friendly exchanges with the Sisters, I was intrigued by the tour, which included beautiful chapels and a history lesson on how the Dominican Order came to be. The story of the sisterhood was truly one of resounding resilience and humility. Following the visit to the Motherhouse, I was genuinely inspired to replicate that same level of warmth with others I will come to meet and use my talents to service others with compassion.

As we ended our visit, I found one of our students tracing their fingers over the Congregation logo, which hung in the gathering space of Weber. Asking me what it meant, I borrowed the all-familiar lines from Sisters Barbara Chenicek and Rita Schlitz: “…White light shining in the color of the Earth, Primitive as early Christian seal, Or contemporary as the world today, A mark that unites us, To be seen to be questioned to become loved and known, A sign that says Adrian.”

Yes, I think God was found when we got here, just not in the way they were expecting. But is not our God a God of surprises?

A special thank you to Sister Katherine Frazier for being our guardian angel, organizing our visit, taking time out of her day, and spending it with us.

Living the Dominican Charism ...

From left, Marissa Johnston, Juliet Brown-Graves, and Crystal White live the Dominican Charism at Detroit's Siena Literacy Center.

It can be challenging for adult learners to return to school – even more so when dealing with housing insecurity, childcare, legal problems, or other issues.

Siena Literacy Center, a sponsored institution of the Adrian Dominican Sisters in Northwest Detroit, is addressing these problems head-on with a new Community Resource Navigation Program. This program connects adult learners to community resources so they can find the support they need to focus on studying.

“If you’re worrying about if your kids are going to eat later, you can’t get on the computer for two hours to learn,” said Juliet Brown-Graves, who joined the Siena team in December as the new Community Resource Navigator. Juliet has a long history of working with community organizations and completed her bachelor’s degree in human services in 2022 at Siena Heights University, also a sponsored institution of Adrian Dominican Sisters. 

So far, Juliet has helped students meet various needs, including mental health resources, Section 8 housing, and signing up for benefits from the state of Michigan. She loves how the position gives students the support they need to pursue their educational goals. 

“Some of them stop coming because they’re worried about their needs,” Juliet said. “I like that my position is helping them sustain their education while I’m worrying about the community stuff.”

Siena Literacy Center provides adult leaders with one-to-one tutoring in reading, math, and English as a Second Language. The non-profit was founded in 1995 by Sister Mary Hemmen, OP, and in the 2022-23 school year enrolled 214 students. 

Siena Literacy Center staff had long realized that students often required additional assistance outside of academics and that they turned to their tutors for help. In 2023, staff began screening new students for community resource needs and found that more than 75% needed some social work assistance. New learners are now screened to see if they need help with food, housing, job placement, benefits, clothing, legal advice, domestic violence, mental health, or financial literacy. 

A grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan enabled Siena to hire a full-time Community Resource Navigator to assist these students. Juliet is assisted by two social work interns, Marissa Johnston and Crystal White. 

“Meeting the students and getting to know them has been a great learning opportunity,” said Marissa, who is in her first year of Wayne State University’s Master of Social Work program. Marissa has worked at Siena since August, enrolling new students, following up on community referrals, and performing wellness checks on students with attendance issues.  

“I have become aware of many different programs and opportunities that are available for adult learners,” Marissa said. “I have also noticed many ways that the policies and society can make it difficult for adult learners to achieve their goals. I want to be an agent of change, and Siena makes that possible.”  

Crystal, who joined Siena’s team in January, is in the second year of her bachelor’s degree program at Wayne State and plans to earn her master’s. She hopes to work in child welfare or school social work. 

The team has already worked with more than 70 students and will continue to provide additional support. The focus of Siena Literacy Center continues to be education. With the help of community partners and referral networks like United Way’s 2-1-1, the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network, and many other nonprofits, students will be more ready than ever to meet their academic goals.  

During my 42-year tenure as a nurse, I have worked in mental health, critical care, and nurse leadership. I was drawn to work for the Adrian Dominican Sisters because of their commitment to compassion, service, and community.

Transitioning from the Director of Nursing to the Dominican Life Center (DLC) Administrator role allows me to further align my professional expertise with a role that combines healthcare leadership with a deeper connection to the values and mission upheld by the Dominican Sisters. This shift reflects my desire to contribute meaningfully to the well-being of Sister residents and the spiritual essence of the community.

The DLC leadership team facilitates supportive services that enable Sisters to live purposeful lives and celebrate their spirituality while actively participating in their care.

Reflection from Our Community

In response to a question I posed during several workshops, retreats, and on social media — “How would you complete this sentence: Today the world is in need of…” — people answered compassion and empathy, justice and equality, unity and collaboration, environmental stewardship, peace and reconciliation, education and knowledge, cultural understanding, peace and conflict resolution, humanitarian aid, and spiritual and moral guidance.

As I listened to and read their responses, I was aware of how much they coincide with the Dominican Charism, the intensity of Dominican spirituality: prayer and contemplation, study, community, preaching, compassion and service, and joyful zeal.

As each of you — within your various ministries, careers, and lives of service — reflect on your living of the Dominican Charism, I also ponder that call frequently. After many years of ministering in faith formation in parishes and in the Archdiocese of Detroit (as director of adult faith formation), for the last 15 years, I have been involved in many facets of adult faith formation: leading retreats, days of reflection, parish missions, and workshops; writing, especially in the areas of spirituality and faith formation; facilitating online courses for two universities; serving as a pastoral services team member for RENEW International, working with leaders of small faith-sharing groups in parishes and dioceses throughout the United States and Canada; facilitating gatherings and retreats for communities of women religious; and publishing GEMS, a twice-monthly newsletter from an ongoing international best practices study on adult faith formation.

The more I walk with others on life’s faith journey, the more I realize how adult faith formation is (should be) rooted in the Dominican Charism:

• Flowing from, anchored in, and deepening prayer and contemplation.

• Searching for truth through study and conversations.

• Experiencing the questions and joys of life with others.

• Sharing our experiences of God.

• Serving because of what we have newly learned.

• Appreciating and living life’s gifts and challenges with joy.

So much of the Dominican Charism and the Adrian Dominican Vision is “translatable” to people’s everyday lives. For instance, people learn and grow best in the transition times of life. Many people — experiencing significant and life-changing transitions — have survived and flourished these life passages because of prayer, community, study, and reaching out to others.

I once planned a prayer service for parish leaders and adult faith formation leaders, centered on Isaiah 2:2-5 and the song, “Seek Truth, Make Peace, Reverence Life”. The reflection and faith-sharing questions were: What are you outraged by? What can you do about it? One gentleman responded, “I’m outraged that I’m not (until now) outraged.”

As we live this Lenten season of 2024 — in a world that needs the Dominican Charism and each of us to be Charism carriers — what might we reflect on? How might we live?

What are you outraged by? What can you do about it?

• Many people see Lent as a somber time. How might you approach your everyday life, relationships, and the pursuit of truth with enthusiasm and joy?

• Pray for strangers. In addition to praying for your family/friends, cultivate the habit of praying for people in line at the grocery store, for mourners in a funeral procession, for ambulance passengers, for government leaders, for people in the news, for those at and beyond our borders, etc.

• Incorporate moments of silent prayer into your daily routine — a moment at your desk before beginning work, while sitting on a park bench during lunch, in your car before starting a drive, after the evening news.

• Take something on: 40 days of letter writing, 40 acts of kindness, 40 phone calls to the important people in your life.

• Participate in a spirituality book club or small community of faith. Check out what’s happening at your parish, or pick a book and start your own.

•  Recall one person, now deceased, who was instrumental in your early formation and/or your Dominican formation. Choose one specific way to pass on the gift that person gave you to another.

• Complaining Fast. Try to refrain from all whining and complaining. See if this doesn’t help you become more aware of all the good things in your life.

• Write a letter to the editor about a peace and justice issue.

• Volunteer your time with the aged, widowed, homebound. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, hospital, or with a hospice organization.

• Begin (or continue) a serious study of one timely issue, such as poverty, immigration, racism, environmental sustainability, trafficking, violence, etc.



• Our Lenten season lasts for forty days; we celebrate the season of Easter for fifty days. Does that tell us something? What are your plans for celebrating the season for the 50 days – not just on one Sunday?