Springfield, Ill. — A commitment ceremony for the 2026 Springfield Dominican Associate class was held at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel on Sunday, May 3, 2026.
During the homily of the Mass Father Bob Kelly, OP, chaplain for the Dominican Sisters, compared the new associates to the apostles listening to Jesus' farewell.
“Through prayer, study, community and service, the Dominican Associate candidates have responded to Jesus’ invitation to continue your mission in the world,” said Father Bob.
The new associates prepared for commitment by participating in nine monthly sessions of prayer and study about the history of the Order of Preachers and the Springfield Dominican congregation, about the theology of mission and ministry, Catholic Social Teaching, and liturgy and prayer. Each candidate was accompanied by a sponsor—a sister or an associate—who answered their questions and offered encouragement during their period of discernment before commitment.
Dominican associates embrace the Dominican traditions of prayer, study, community, and ministry. They respond to God's call to share the Gospel by preaching it through the witness of their lives.
Each associate was called forward by the associate program director, Sister M. Joan Sorge, OP. They stated publicly their commitment to “preach the Word and witness Gospel values,” and received an associate pin from Sister M. Paul McCaughey, OP, prioress general of the congregation.
Sister M. Paul accepted the new associates’ commitment statements and thanked them for their dedication in preaching the word of God.
“Our Associates are deeply a part of the Dominican family—and of our family as well. Having them make their commitment in the presence of their loved ones binds us together even more deeply. What a glorious morning!” she said.
The 2026 Associate class includes:
Our Savior, Jacksonville, Ill.
Joan Ryan, Joanie Schone-Themig, both of Jacksonville, Ill., Shelly Heideman, of Pleasant Plains, Ill., Rhonda Cors, of Woodson, Ill., and Stevie VanDeVelde of Winchester,Ill.
St. Agnes, Springfield
Rita Messinger, Stephanie Heckenkamp, and Linda Distlehorst, all of Springfield, Ill.
Little Flower, Springfield
Larry McMasters, of Rochester, Ill., and Marian Palumbo of Springfield, Ill.
Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Springfield
John Bucari of Springfield, Ill.
Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield
Nyasha Nyabawa
Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Maryville
Kimberly Winkler, of Glen Carbon, Ill.
St. Michael the Archangel, Greenfield
Martha Rawe, of Greenfield, Ill.
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Shelbyville, Ill.
Tavia Jones of Tower Hill, Ill.
Madonna della Strada Chapel, Loyola University, Chicago, Ill.
Celine Azem of Chicago, Ill.
Mississippi
St. Richards Catholic Church, Jackson, Ms.
Joel Gray of Jackson, Ms.
Vertical Church, Madison, Ms.
Casey Rinewalt of Canton, Ms
The first Springfield Dominican associates made commitment in 1991. Since then, hundreds of women and men, baptized Christians in the United States and Peru, have become associates.
Dominican associates make individual commitments to volunteer ministries in their own parishes and communities. They may also join the sisters on committees and boards, work side-by-side with the sisters in their ministries or provide logistical support for the congregation’s public events. To learn more about becoming a Springfield Dominican Associate visit springfieldop.org/associates or call Sister M. Joan at 217-787-0481.
The Dominican Sisters of Springfield 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. The Springfield Dominicans were established 153 years ago in Jacksonville, Illinois, and relocated their motherhouse to Springfield in 1893. Today, thousands of Dominican sisters, nuns, priests, brothers, associates, and laity ministers in more than 100 countries around the world. To learn more about the Dominican Sisters of Springfield visit springfieldop.org.
