Feeding Hungers: A Catholic Sisters Week Reflection
“If you can’t breathe nothing else matters” says a friend of the Dominican Sisters who is a respiratory therapist. Other physiological needs are equally important. If you can’t breathe, if you are physically hungry, if you are cold, tired, and without shelter, there is little else you can be attentive to. When needs for safety, belonging, and self esteem are not met, how can individuals learn, grow, and contribute to the well-being of the whole? For all these […]
Read More
A Prayer for Pope Francis’ Trip to Iraq
Lord our God, Grant Pope Francis health and safety to carry out successfully this eagerly awaited visit. Bless his effort to promote dialogue, enhance fraternal reconciliation, build confidence, consolidate peace values and human dignity, especially for us Iraqis who have been through painful “events” that affected our lives. Lord, our Creator, enlighten our hearts with Your light, to recognize goodness and peace, and to realize them. Mother Mary, we entrust Pope Francis’ visit to your maternal care so […]
Read More
Dominican Women at the United Nations: Changing the Narrative One Story at a Time
For many years the world-wide Dominican Family has had representatives at the United Nations, in New York and Geneva, to amplify the voices of the people we accompany in every corner of the globe. Later this month, at the end of the two-week annual UN assembly of the Commission on the Status of Women, the Dominican Sisters at the United Nations will host a webinar gathering the voices of Dominican Sisters and their partners in ministry on five […]
Read More
Pope Francis Visits Iraq:
March 5-8, 2021
It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq, planned for March 5-8, 2021. A prayer composed for the occasion asks for blessings on Pope Francis’ efforts to promote dialogue, reconciliation, peace, and human dignity. To this end, during the 3-day journey visits are scheduled for Pope Francis with governmental leaders and other authorities in civil society. The pope will be present to the Christian community for events in Baghdad and Mosul as well […]
Read More
32 Ways to Live Less Violently
Recognizing our interconnectedness in the cosmos, we have embraced the common call toward communion with God and all creation. Non-violence is an integral part of that journey-a journey which is both inward and outward. Awareness motivates behavior; behavior strengthens one’s internal orientation. Following are a few suggestions for living non-violently in relation to the cosmos, others, and ourselves. Spend time each day with the God of peace. Consciously seek to expand your capacity for empathy. Seek the wisdom […]
Read More
Adjustments to COVID and Cold: News from Our Lady of the Sioux Parish
In a February newsletter to friends and supporters, Sister Barbara Ann Bogenschutz reflected on the challenges of the past year since the COVID lockdown began on Pine Ridge Reservation where she is pastoral associate at Our Lady of the Sioux Parish, Oglala, SD. “Some new healthy patterns have begun,” she said. “The vaccine does give some hope and a little more peace.” Though people have adapted well to the necessary adjustments to mitigate the spread of the virus, […]
Read More
Step away from the Noise at “Sound Scape” A BIG READ
event at Jubilee Farm
New Berlin, Ill.—Listen to the sounds of creation, enjoy fresh air, and get a respite from the noise and frenetic pace of life during “Sound Scape,” at Jubilee Farm, 10:00-11:00 Saturday, April 24, 2021. The free public event is offered by Jubilee Farm, a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield in partnership with the Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) at Lincoln Land Community College, host of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read in Sangamon […]
Read More
Second Week of Lent 2021
“Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them…” Mark 9: 2-3 In the readings for the second Sunday of Lent, we hear the challenging story of Abraham’s near sacrifice of Isaac, followed by the story of Jesus’ transfiguration before three disciples from Mark’s Gospel. In one reading, Abraham is willing to give up his precious son, Isaac, to follow the will of God. In […]
Read More