It’s open application time for national service immersion event hosted in Springfield

Women who are discerning a call to religious life are invited to Mr. Lincoln’s Hometown in June for a national event hosted by the Springfield Dominican Sisters.

Applications are being received now, and up to fifteen women will be selected for participation in the event, scheduled for June 16-20. The group will live at Sacred Heart Convent and experience the rhythms of apostolic religious life, which includes community life, prayer, active service, and theological reflection.

Any single Catholic woman age 20-45 who would like to participate is encouraged to apply at springfieldop.org/events.

Local non-profit organizations will provide sites for service activities.

Three additional congregations of Dominican Sisters are also participating: The Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Mich., the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wis., and the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Columbus, Ohio, are co-sponsoring the project. Vocation ministers from each congregation will be present to the participants and animate group activities. Vocation ministers are those who accompany women discerning God’s call to religious life.

“Springfield is a perfect place to give women a taste of the foundations of Dominican life: community life, prayer, study, and preaching, or service.” said Sister Denise Glazik, OP, minister of vocation accompaniment for the Springfield Dominican Sisters. “Our senior sisters at the motherhouse are gracious and welcoming, and the city is home to some stellar nonprofit organizations that will provide a wonderful immersion experience for participants.

“All single Catholic women, 20-45 are welcome to apply—but do it soon!” Sister Denise added. There is a limit to the number of participants who can come.

The $50 participation fee should not be a barrier for any applicant. Scholarships will be available for those who need them.

Apply today! Registration closes June 1, 2026

Yes, I'd like to join you!

2026 Summer Immersion Experience Interest Form

Apply before the deadline, attendance will be limited! Make sure all fields are filled, and we hope to see you there!

Name(Required)

Please complete this form to share your interest in participating in the 2026 Summer Immersion Experience, June 16-20, 2026, in Springfield, Illinois. Complettion of form does not obligate you to participate. This is an initial inquiry only.

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Your Dominican Connections(Required)

If you are already familiar with the Dominican Sisters and have a relationship with one of the Dominican congergations in the U.S., we'd like to know. Please select the congregation you know best from the drop down menu.

Your why(Required)

Please tell us briefly why you would like to participate in this event.

Why religious life?

Consecrated religious life—membership in a community of women or men who profess the evangelical counsels of poverty, celibacy and obedience—continues to be a radical choice for Catholics who want to witness to the centrality of God in their lives by living their baptismal promises as members of religious communities. While fewer women are choosing to be sisters than in recent past years, the vocation is still very much alive. The why of religious life varies from person to person, but this video offers a top-ten list of reasons women are still attracted to giving their lives to Jesus through consecrated religious life.

Why Dominican Life?

The Dominican Sisters hosting the 2026 Summer Immersion Experience are part of a worldwide Dominican family, the Order of Preachers. For more than 800 years, Dominicans have preached the Gospel in word and deed. Today, thousands of Dominican sisters, nuns, priests, brothers, associates, and laity minister in more than 100 countries around the world. To learn more about the U.S. Dominicans visit dominicansistersconference.org. For news and information from the global Dominican family visit the Dominican Sisters International Confederation.