Indigenous Peoples Day 2021: The Both/And of Truth
Confused about which Federal holiday we are observing today? You are forgiven. The answer is that we are observing two Federal holidays October 11, 2021: The first-ever Federally recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day AND the seemingly forever-observance of Columbus Day. On Friday last week President Joseph Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day AND he issued a proclamation for Columbus Day. It is worth your time to pay attention to both. Doing so is a way of […]
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Sister Mary Gianini, OP
Sister Mary’s Services Visitors are welcome; masks required. Visitation: 4:00-5:00 p.m., Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704 Funeral Mass: 6:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 11, Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Dominican Father Michael DeTemple, celebrant. Funeral Mass live stream link Burial: Calvary Cemetery, 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 12. Livestream on Facebook. Springfield Dominican Sister Mary Gianini, OP, died peacefully Sunday, October 3, at St. John’s Hospital in the 66th year of her religious […]
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Wanted: Your Experience and Knowledge of the Dominican Blessing
The Dominican Blessing is one of the great treasures of the Dominican family. Since its debut in Simon Tugwell’s book Early Dominicans, it has become a common text for Dominican prayer. Several musicians of the order have set it to music; it has been integrated into the office book used by a great number of Dominican sisters in the United States, and, as far as I can measure, is commonly used within circles of Dominican youth. For four […]
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Trial & Grace: Loss, Grief and Hope in a Time of the Pandemic
This article originally appeared in the July 2021 Issue of JUST Words. I measure every Grief I meetWith narrow, probing, eyes –I wonder if it weights like Mine –or has an Easier size.[i] –Emily Dickinson From the beginning of the pandemic, up to the time of this writing, fourteen of our sisters, fourteen associates, and numerous family members and friends have entered eternal life, the full embrace of Trinitarian love. The experience of losing a loved one to […]
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Staying “in the Clay”
Associate SpotlightMary Helen Rowland “All through my 28 years as a potter, God has helped me stay in the clay even through the busy-ness of life,” says Mary Helen (Call) Rowland, a second-generation Springfield Dominican Associate who lives in Weston, Va., and travels frequently to her hometown, Springfield, Ill. Through the years she has used her skill to provide pottery crosses worn by RCIA catechumens, candidates, and confirmandi, and she has design altar pieces for Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian […]
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“Is My Mic On?”
Dominican Associate Class of 2022 Prepares for “Hybrid” Formation
Just as parents and students know what “hybrid learning” is, so does the new class of Springfield Dominican Associate candidates. Ten candidates in this year’s class gathered in person at Sacred Heart Convent, and virtually, for the first time on Sunday, Sept. 19. They were welcomed by Sister M. Joan Sorge, program director, and the sisters who will serve as their sponsors throughout an eight-month program of formation in Dominican life, spirituality, prayer, and history. Next month’s session […]
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Sister Samuella’s 25 Tips to Living a Simple Lifestyle
This post was originally drafted in October of 2018 but somehow never got published. Check out the list below from Sister Samuella on how to live a simple, clean lifestyle. Seems like she may have had a peek into the future with her ideas on using more video conferencing and making sure to always support local businesses. Three words: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Spiritual life Think of three things you are grateful for first thing in the morning before […]
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Call & Response: The Ecological Crisis and Changing Your Heart
Call by Tommy Walsh In recent years, debate over the environment has become a major factor in modern society. Between environmental recovery plans and seemingly never-ending arguments over climate change, some Americans have taken steps to do their part in the fight to save our planet and its resources. However, many citizens have simply continued on with their carbon-emitting lifestyles, wasting precious resources and neglecting to make easy, and often money-saving changes that can help protect our God-given […]
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