Mowing the Grass Stairs: Lessons in Neighborliness
By Brandon Durham I have always enjoyed mowing. My yard is much smaller than the 5 acres I grew up on, so when spring comes it doesn’t take long to cut. The street out front is split by a raised median that is also part of my responsibility to maintain. What is striking about this strip is that as you go along the length of it, you can see how each house has influenced it. Odd trees, old […]
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Discern God’s Call
Sometimes all it takes is an invitation. Do you know a young woman who has a desire to make the world a better place? Who is considerate of others? Who asks insightful questions? Who has a gift for recognizing injustice? Who practices her Catholic faith? Who is attracted to matters of the spirit? Then you know a potential Dominican Sister of Springfield. If you know someone like that, your encouragement can make all the difference. Think about inviting […]
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What is leisure?
By Sister Judine Hilbing, OP While leisure can be defined as time spent away from business, work, domestic chores, and education, we simply can’t put it off until all the work is done. We need to take time to care for the mind, body, and spirit by carving out time and space for relaxation. Doing so provides an energy source that will help us accomplish our work in a more productive manner. Whether a person is engaged in […]
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Make a Pilgrimage of Hope for the Season of Creation
The public is welcome to open the 2025 Season of Creation by celebrating Mass with the Dominican Sisters at Sacred Heart Convent at 9:00 a.m., Monday, Sept. 1. “This day marks the opening of a month long, global, ecumenical celebration of the gifts of God’s Creation,” said Sister Sharon Zayac, OP, who chairs the Springfield Dominican Sisters Laudato Si’ Action Platform committee. “We are happy to welcome all who want to join us. “In fact, we are celebrating […]
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New card designs from Sister Maristella
Springfield Dominican Sister Maristella Dunlavy made her mark on Illinois’ civic life decades ago when she was the official calligrapher for the State of Illinois, hand-lettering resolutions for the House and Senate for $10 per piece. Each resolution took about three hours to letter with no “white out” and no errors allowed. Now she spends part of her day designing cards meant to uplift and inspire. Eleven new cards, in addition to her previous designs, are available now […]
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Join Catholic Sisters nationwide in prayer for a more just and compassionate world
Springfield, Ill.- The Dominican Sisters of Springfield will participate in a national movement of prayer, fasting, and advocacy for a more just and compassionate world on Wednesday, July 23. Everyone is welcome to join them. The Dominicans are joining Catholic sisters from around the nation. Each congregation has selected a day to participate in this national effort. “By choosing a day to focus our desires for a more just and compassionate world, we heighten our awareness and sense […]
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Daphne Skretvedt honored for work with United Nations
Daphne Skretvedt , a Dominican Associate since 2002, was recently crowned “queen” at a party of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNCHR) in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday June 20, 2025. Alejandro Henning, the Director of Human Resources during Daphne’s tenure, graciously combined the annual retirement party with a reunion of those UN field workers who served with Daphne and were served by Daphne. A definite highlight of the evening was Daphne’s remarks to her former co-workers in […]
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Happy 108th Birthday Sister Elise Bocke!
Dominican Sisters celebrate longest-lived community member with a sock-hop About the photo: Sister Elise Bocke, second from right, celebrates her birthday with her nephew Joe Bocke, her niece Mary Ann Vahle, and Joe’s wife Janice. Sister Rose Marie Riley, decked out in a ginger wig and sunglasses, emcees the party. Just two months after the U.S. officially declared war on Germany in 1917, baby Elizabeth Christine Bocke was born in Quincy to Bernard and Emma Hacker Bocke in […]
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