(Left) S. Peggy McVetty and S. Judy Golden at the blessing of St. Dominic's Chapel. (Center) Sisters celebrate St. Dominic's Feast Day with a special lunch. (Right) The Dominican family raises their hands for a special blessing of St. Dominic's Chapel. | |
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WORDS of WISDOM
"Arm yourself with prayer instead of a sword;
Be clothed with humility instead of fine raiment."
- St. Dominic
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SHARINGS from LEADERSHIP
A Column by the Leadership Team
LCWR: Please keep the Leadership Team in your prayers as they gather for the Leadership Conference for Women Religious in Texas.
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Celebrating St. Dominic on the Feast of the Transfiguration
Sisters and the larger Dominican Family gathered to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Dominic on Sunday, August 6th in St. Albert Chapel at the Motherhouse. Father Ron spoke of St. Dominic as a person of transfiguration -- as we are all called to be! "We don't need to see new things," preached Father Ron. "We need to see the same old things with new eyes. Transfigured eyes don't deny nor ignore the disfigurations of our lives and our world. This deeper seeing, this transfigured vision is what allows us to face, to endure and to respond to the circumstances of our life and of our world. It's why we can get up and not be afraid." To hear the rest of his homily or to watch the Mass, click here.
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Blessing of St. Dominic's Chapel | |
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Big Blessings for the Tiny Chapel
Continuing the celebration on St. Dominic's Day, the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville gathered to offer a big blessing to perhaps the tiniest chapel in Long Island, NY on August 6, 2023.
Nestled on top of a small hill on the Motherhouse grounds, St. Dominic’s Chapel is a place of prayer that seats between 20 and 30 visitors. Built in 1888, it was newly refurbished in 2022: the bell tower was fixed and the interior repainted in the original style. Air conditioning and heat were installed to regulate the climate to keep the structure well preserved.
A blessing was offered that day in celebration of those new renovations.
Because of its long history, the sisters shared many stories about the little chapel such as:
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The Chapel bell in the tower is tolled at the burial of each of our sisters. This tradition began in 1889 with the death of Mother Seraphina Staimer who oversaw its construction, but died before the project was finished.
- Many sisters over the years, have meandered outside to find quiet time in the little chapel to petition and seek direction from their beloved St. Dominic.
- The community used to process out to the chapel on the 15 Tuesdays leading up to St. Dominic’s Day for communal prayer. Because it was so small, most of the sisters, novices and postulants were left outside because there was no room inside! (The sisters outside were the lucky ones because the chapel could get very hot and stuffy!)
- One year, a new postulant was welcomed into the community from the chapel.
- Many sisters enjoyed sledding or simply “rolling” down the hill in their habits after a winter's snowfall.
- Sisters recalled that students from Queen of the Rosary Academy (which used to be located on the property) used to sneak into the house of prayer to find quiet, to chat with each other, and perhaps smoke a cigarette!
- Sister Frances Xavier secretly kept kittens in the chapel – in the hopes of hiding them long enough to find them homes! There was even one story suggesting that the mama cat gave birth during one of the 15 Tuesdays. So communal prayer that day was punctuated with cries from a cat and a lot of "giggles."
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Dominican Institute of the Arts | |
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Dominican Institute of the Arts Celebrates 25 Years!
The Dominican Institute of the Arts (DIA) celebrated 25 years at its most recent gathering in July.
DIA is a grassroots collaboration of sisters, friars, laity, and associates of the Order of Preachers who are committed to preaching through the arts. Members are painters, musicians, dancers, sculptors, filmmakers, potters, poets, actors, composers, writers, designers of sacred space, dramatists, and supporters of the arts!
Over 25 years, there have been 500 official members. Of those 500, most recently12 were honored for their long-time involvement including our very own Sister Barbara Schwarz.
Sister Barbara, who has previously received the organization's highest honor the Fra Angelico Award, was also included in a special "Hall of Fame" experience in which all the winners were remembered. "They created a Hall of Fame," Sister Barbara said. "There were 25 pictures of all the Fra Angelico recipients... I was surprised! You had to walk between it (the lines of photos) to go to the meeting rooms."
For Sister Barbara, being at the gathering, was like visiting old friends. "They were so happy to see me," she beamed, mentioning that this is the first time she attended the event since the pandemic. "We were talking like old times and had a special night of remembering." Sister Barbara proclaimed the Gospel and preached the homily at a special Mass. To listen to the homily, click here. To watch a presentation of the beautiful artwork completed this year by members, click here. To find the keynote address by Shiela Flynn, click here.
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Save the Date for Our Fall Motherhouse Retreat
Our Motherhouse Retreat Week will be October 8-13, 2023. The theme is "Psalms ~ the Poetry of Prayer" with Retreat Directors Fr. Jude Siciliano, OP and S. Patricia Bruno, OP. Each day will include reflection sessions and reception of the Eucharist. Attached is the flyer.
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S. Joan McDonald Turns 95 Years Old
Joan McDonald celebrated her 95th birthday this week. Kathleen Noftsker, a good friend and former member of the community, hosted a special luncheon in her honor! S. Joan loved the celebration and kidded, “What are we going to do for the 100th?” she wondered with a big smile.
Sister Joan enjoyed the party. She recounted some of her favorite memories, including one of her heroes: Sister Anne Patrice Posthauer. “I admired her so much,” S. Joan said. “She was an excellent teacher.” Sister Joan described how Sister Anne Patrice would walk down the aisles with her long rosary beads swinging and catching on the benches. "She broke so many beads!" said S. Joan. She also marveled at how S. Anne Patrice could be teaching in the back of the room and still spot a boy in the front getting into trouble!
In her own ministry, Sister Joan said that she loved teaching. She especially loved teaching eighth-grade boys, she said. “I never had brothers so these were the brothers I never had,” said Sister Joan. She also had a wonderful experience teaching the girls at Dominican Commercial. Sister Joan taught in various schools including St. Elizabeth in Ozone Park for ten years and Dominican Commercial for almost 20 years.
Good friend Sister Margaret Briody chimed in about Sister Joan's deep sense of responsibility. While others lunched, Sister Joan would sit with a pile of essays to grade, she recalled.
Her niece Marianne Dayton thanked Sister Joan for always being "a voice of reason, a good listener, and an advocate for everyone,” said Marianne. She explained that when she attended Holy Family High School (now St. Anthony’s) it felt so big so I talked to Aunt Joan.” Even though it meant leaving the Catholic school system, Sister Joan advocated for her niece's needs. “I ended up transferring in 10th grade to Cold Spring Harbor High School which has a smaller class size.”
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Christmas Comes to the Motherhouse in July!
On July 25th it was "Joy to the World" as we celebrated "Christmas in July" at the Motherhouse. The sisters gathered in the main dining room and were able to enter a raffle that contained choices of 65 prizes. Thank you to our Advancement Office for some of the donations as well as S. Fran Gorman for gathering them! The prizes ranged from Christmas socks and ornaments to candy, scarves, blankets, and lottery tickets. Mrs. Claus even dropped by to spread some cheer along with best wishes from Santa. This brought some fun and smiles to a warm summer day.
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Special Book Club in Carlin Hall led by Dawn Meyer
Look at this great photo from our Carlin Hall book club. We are reading "And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer" by Fredrik Backman. We meet each Friday and our next book will be "A Man Called Ove" by the same author. The movie "A Man Called Otto" starring Tom Hanks is based on this book. That book discussion will start on Friday, August 4th. Also, sometime in August, I will be starting a separate, smaller book club with some of the Sisters in St. Catherine. I cannot even express fully how excited and happy I am to be doing both of these book clubs. Thanks, Dawn Meyer
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2023 Autumn Evening Scheduled for October 27th
Our 2023 Autumn Evening benefit is scheduled for Friday, October 27th at the Crest Hollow Country Club. It is with great enthusiasm that we announce this year’s honorees: Robert Walker, Esq. and S. Lenore Toscano, OP.
Our 2023 Veritas Award recipient, Bob Walker, is the managing partner and one of the founding members of Gallagher, Walker, Bianco & Plastaras, LLP. Since graduating from St. John’s Law School, Mr. Walker has been engaged in the defense of personal injury actions at the trial and appellate levels. Over his career he has tried in excess of two hundred cases to verdict. His experience includes the trial of complex, high exposure cases of many types, including product liability, medical malpractice, Labor Law, automobile and premises liability. Mr. Walker has also served on the board of The Opening Word for more than a decade.
Our St. Catherine of Siena Award recipient is S. Lenore Toscano, OP. Understanding that education is the key to empowerment, S. Lenore has had a lifelong love for teaching. She was Principal of BVM Help of Christians School in Woodside and St. Nicholas High School in Williamsburg. She has also served as Diocesan School Supervisor for the Diocese of Brooklyn, Assistant Prioress for the Sisters of St. Dominic in Amityville. She and Sister Carolann Masone began the Opening Word Program in Amityville in 1995. She served as a teacher, site manager and later as the Executive Director of the entire program.
We hope you can join us at the event. Proceeds raised from this fundraiser support the Congregation’s Ministry Support Fund (MSF), established to assist ministries that provide services to those most in need. Please check back for upcoming announcements as we get closer to the event.
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High School Preaching Conference
On June 24, 2023, students and mentors from 14 high schools across the United States gathered at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan for the 22nd Annual High Schools Preaching Conference. Click here for the full press release.
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Dominican Sisters Futuring Leadership Conference | |
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Dominican Sisters Futuring Leadership Conference
S. Diane Capuano shared this about the Dominican Sisters Futuring Leadership Conference: Last week some of us attended the Dominican Sisters Futuring Leadership Conference at Ohio Dominican University. Attached is a summary of our days there.
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TPC Summer Schedule
In July and August, The Preaching Continues will be published on these dates: Today, August 10th and 24th. As always, we will continue to send out any important notifications. Please send correspondence to the communications email at sistersop@amityop.org. Thank you.
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Northeast Associates Pool Party
Join us at the Northeast Associates Pool Party on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. There will be a Mass in St. Albert Chapel at 10:45 AM. Then head out to the Amityville Motherhouse Pool where you can meet and greet other Associates from the Northeast congregations.
Light lunch will be served.
Attached is the flyer with more information.
R.S.V.P. by August 4 here.
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Shared Formation Enrichment for Dominican Associate Life
Please join us in our third year of Shared Formation Enrichment for Dominican Associate Life, brought to you by the Midwest/Tacoma Dominican Associate Directors & liaisons (M/TDAD). Our monthly sessions are now on Tuesday evenings, with two Saturday retreats. Our intention is to supplement your already excellent Dominican formation processes, as well as to capitalize on the wisdom in the Dominican Charism Initiative. We will send the Zoom connection out before the 1st session. Please note there is no fee or registration required, and everyone in or aspiring to our Dominican Family is welcome. Please see the attached 2023-2024 Shared Formation Enrichment Schedule for details, and share it with your community.
Blessings! Mare Wheeler, Racine Dominican Associate Leadership, 262-898-4098
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"The Letter" to be Shown on August 19th
On Saturday, August 19th, Pope Francis' "The Letter" will be shown in the De Porres Room at our Motherhouse at 2PM. We ask that, if possible, you let us know if you will be present for the showing. Please email Emily Masse emilymasseop@yahoo.com or text her (917-836-4344). We ask that you do this by August 15th. Thank you. Hopefully afterwards, weather permitting, we will share time at our pool, some food which will be provided and some frolic.
Laudato Si': In the last TPC edition, the suggestion was made to possibly watch the movie Sound of Freedom. This time, you might consider a video put out by Catholic Climate Covenant - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpOtuhPSNCO - this video would help us all to update ourselves on Ecological Spirituality which is Goal #4 of LSAP.
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Summer Vespers With Lori McAndrews
Dates and Time: August 15, 22, 29, 7:30 pm
Vespers via Zoom led by Associate Member Lori McAndrews.
Pray your summer days to a close by joining others in this communal prayer of the Church. No books or papers are required, just an open grateful heart. Click Here to Register. See our website posting.
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Contemplative Workshop With Mo Carey
On July 29th, there was an Artful Contemplative Workshop hosted by Maureen Carey, PhD. This was a "We Move Forward Together" Event. This three-hour workshop introduced participants to the basic method of prayerful meditation using watercolors, blending color techniques and creating simple colorful images while maintaining a silent presence. It was a wonderful experience and there will be another workshop on August 25th. For more information or to sign up email careyartstudio@gmail.com. All materials are provided. The cost is $40.
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At the Table of Holy Wisdom
On July 26th, there was an event entitled, "At the Table of Holy Wisdom: Global Hungers and Feminist Biblical Interpretation." After listening to Sister Barbara Reid, OP-- one of the leading scholars in feminist interpretation of the Scriptures and President of Catholic Theological Union -- participants came together to unpack its wisdom with Sister Diane Morgan. To watch Sister Barbara's video lecture, click here. on the above topic on YouTube.
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Thought You'd Like to Know | |
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Futuring Leadership Team Newsletter
Attached you will find the Futuring Leadership Team (FLT) newsletter. Last week we welcomed our New Associate Director for Futuring, Sr. Lisa Kane, OP (Racine). Next week close to 130 Sisters under 70 will meet in person and 11 will join us by Zoom.
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Saint John Vianney Center is Offering the 19th Annotation
Saint John Vianney Center is pleased to offer the 19th Annotation or Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life, a transformative and life-changing adventure of intimacy with Christ. It will begin this September. Space is limited. To view the information pamphlet, click here. If ready to register, click here.
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RFC Communications Assistant
The Religious Formation Conference (RFC) is looking to contract with a part-time, hourly Communications Assistant to work with the Conference on our publications. This role can be done remotely (does not need to work out of our National Office in Chicago) and must have a working knowledge of Adobe InDesign, desktop publishing, and page layout software used to produce newsletters, magazines, etc. Please see the attached position description for further information and how to apply (the deadline to apply is Monday, August 7th). Feel free to forward on to anyone who may be interested. Email rhoffmann@relforcon.org with questions/inquiries.
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Prayer Requests and Gratitude | |
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Dear Sisters, Associates, Young Adults and Friends,
Faith Melhoefer's mother appreciates all the prayers for Faith. The surgery went smoothly for Faith but she continues to have seizures.
Thanks again for your prayers,
Joan Kilmski
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Dear Sisters, Associates, Young Adults, Friends,
My family and I are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and prayers we received from you at the passing of our beloved father, Antonio Chacon. As we continue to celebrate his wonderful life, our hearts are full of gratitude for the strength your presence gives. Please hold our mother Rita Chacon in your hearts as she mourns his loss, and returns to their home in El Salvador.
In Peace and Hope,
Yanira Chacon- Associate
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