"The COVID Class"—Associates who made Commitment in 2021 - Dominican Sisters of Springfield Illinois

"Beautiful Spirit" among this year's class, Sister M. Joan Sorge says

Springfield, Ill.—From as nearby as down the street and as far away as Brookline, Mass., eleven women and men made formal commitment as associates of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield during ceremonies at Sacred Heart Convent on Sunday, May 2, 2021.

The associates who lived nearby joined a small, socially distanced group of sisters in the convent chapel to read their commitment statements and receive their associate pins and congratulations from Sister M. Joan Sorge, associate program director, and Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma, the congregation's prioress general. Later, a virtual gathering was held in a conference room where sisters gathered to watch other candidates make their commitments from home, projected on a large screen.

Family and friends joined in via livestream for the chapel service and via teleconference for the virtual service.

This year's nine formation sessions, allowing the candidates to learn about Dominican history, spirituality, and mission, were held virtually, but that didn't seem to dampen the community spirit of the candidates.

“Even though we were unable to come together this year due to the pandemic, you were so faithful to gathering for your virtual formation sessions," Sister Joan said to the new associates. "Thank you for the companioning you have done as associate candidates or as sponsors of candidates. Your retreat, as many of you shared, was powerful and Spirit-filled. The Spirit was at work! The Spirit has united you as a class.”

Use the tabs below to learn more about the new associates.

Athens, Ill. Brookline, Mass. Columbia, Mo. Jacksonville, Ill. Reston, Va. St. John, Ind. Springfield, Ill.

Athens, Ill.

Angelic Dawn Thompson, parishioner, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception; Military (Army).

Angelic's commitment includes studying Catholic teachings and being a good example of the Dominican charism for her children, being of service to God and to those most in need; living a more sustainable life-style and connecting that life-style to the Gospels, being a voice for those who have none, showing compassion to the poorest of the poor and homeless so they feel love, finding the face of Jesus in all of those whom I can help and teaching her children and others to do the same. Angelic and her husband Jeffrey have three sons.

Brookline, Mass.

Margaret Lombe, parishioner, St. Mary of the Assumption; Associate Professor, Boston College, Boston, MA.

Margaret's commitment includes partnering with the Dominican Sisters of Springfield to support the work of justice and peace (anti-racism) and to work for a just and better world where all have dignity; participating in social justice, equity and inclusion initiatives in her university community; using her research to accompany young women in reducing the risk for HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa; standing with young women in her university community as they navigate adulthood, and to be “my sister’s keeper” by supporting the mission and work done by the sisters with women in early adulthood.

Columbia, Mo.

Delia M. Lising, parishioner, St. Thomas Moore; retired pediatrician.

Delia's commitment includes growing in her faith through Scripture studies, prayers, retreats, and pilgrimages; sharing her spiritual growth with friends; volunteering at the food bank; visiting nursing homes and bringing the Eucharist to residents; collecting used clothing and footwear to ship to a remote village in the Philippines; and sending her deceased brother’s granddaughter to college. Delia and her husband Alexander have two daughters and one son.

Purificacion Wilson, parishioner, Our Lady of Lourdes; retired registered nurse.

Purification's commitment includes loving and serving people who are living in various forms of poverty and marginalization through volunteer work with St. Vincent de Paul, where she shares her nursing skills; participating in opportunities offered by the Dominican Sisters to deepen her faith and spirituality; serving as a Eucharistic and hospitality minister; and helping the sick and elderly who live alone by working with the area tri-parish faith-based health ministry.

Jacksonville, Ill.

Donna Chenoweth, parishioner, Faith Lutheran Church; adjunct instructor at Greenville University and Benedictine University.

Donna's commitment includes praying for God’s guidance as her ministry unfolds that God will help her do more for others; listening to God’s plan as she explores and grows in her faith; honoring, supporting and learning from the Dominican sisters who have become mentors and friends in her life; using opportunities to help others, whether it is in her teaching, in her church, community or in a garden. Donna has one daughter and one son.

Mary Stella Johnson Duffy, parishioner, Our Saviour Church; home care aide.

Mary Stella's commitment includes going to daily Mass and asking God to help her grow into the person he intends; cleaning the homeless shelter and delivering doorbell dinners; being involved in the faith development of her grandchild; striving to share the Dominican charism in her daily life by preaching God’s word and promoting the dignity of all persons. Mary Stella has two daughters.

Reston, Va.

Mary Helen Call Rowland, parishioner, St. John Neuman; pottery artist, former radio DJ and parish coordinator of religious education.

Mary Helen's commitment includes serving in the St. John Neuman racial justice ministry and outreach to the homeless; working to fight against human slavery and trafficking, using the Dominican Sisters of Springfield corporate stance fact sheets for learning and action; when in Springfield working on-site at Sacred Heart Convent and with Springfield charities and organizations such as Mercy Communities, Helping Hands, and St. Martin de Porres; serving as a potter for the Dominican Sisters by creating work that can be sold at Jubilee Farm to assist with financial support of the sisters. Mary and her husband Frank have one daughter and one son.

St. John, Ind.

Cecily Fultz, parishioner, St. John the Evangelist; director of marketing and communications, Marian Catholic High School.

Cecily's commitment includes living and sharing the Dominican charism in community with Marian Catholic High School students, faculty and alumni; giving of her time, talent and treasure to extend hope and compassion to those in need, that they may be assured of God’s love for them; exploring her faith and spirituality to better understand and appreciate the life God has planned for her. Cecily and her deceased husband Jim have one son.

Springfield, Ill.

Michael Beckmann, parishioner, St. Agnes; retired physician (pathologist).

Michael's commitment includes serving as a music minister, cantor, and choir member for liturgies, serving as a member of the school board and parish finance council; helping the sick through blood donations; and increasing contemplative prayer, meditation, and knowledge of the Dominicans. Michael and his wife Karen love to travel with friends.

Litina Carnes, parishioner, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception; Blue Cross Blue Shield quality supervisor.

Litina's commitment includes carving out time for silent contemplative prayer and integrating new elements into that prayer to help deepen her relationship with God; sharing her love for reading by filling area libraries and the reading area at St. John’s Breadline with donated books; feeding the hungry by taking food to St. John’s Breadline and filling mobile food pantries in and around the community; exploring how her gifts and love of animals, nature, and the arts fit into Jubilee Farm. Litina and her husband Brian have three sons.

Jantzen T. Eddington, parishioner, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception; educational administration in higher education.

Jantzen's commitment includes listening, through prayer and study, to whom God has called him to be, and living the life God calls him to live; promoting social justice and advocating for the most vulnerable in the community; serving his parish as greeter, usher, and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist; listening, in prayer, to ways he can serve the unmet needs of the parish and Diocese.

Applications are currently being accepted for the next associate class, which meets monthly from September to May each year. Learn how you can become a Springfield Dominican Associate or call 217-787-0481 to speak with associate program director, Sister M. Joan Sorge, OP.

Ready to find out more?

Applications are currently being accepted for the next associate class, which meets monthly from August to May each year. Learn more here or call 217-787-0481 to speak with associate program director, Sister M. Joan Sorge, OP.

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