Fifth Week of Lent 2021
“[Unless] a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” – John 12: 24-25 In this week’s Gospel, as we approach Palm Sunday, Jesus is increasingly clear about the demands of Christian discipleship. “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I […]
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Turning Suffering into Solidarity
Turning Suffering Into Solidarity Tender-hearted Sister Josetta Brown came home from work at day-care lamenting the situation of one of her co-workers. Shelly* had mentioned it was only Wednesday and all the food that was left for her husband and two grade school boys for the rest of the week was peanut butter and jelly. Sister Phyllis suggested that she stop by the community pantry the third Monday of the month when they give away boxes of food. […]
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Fourth Week of Lent 2021
“But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that their works may be clearly seen as done in God.” – John 3: 21 In this week’s Gospel, we hear perhaps the most famous passage from the New Testament: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him might not die but have eternal life.” A few lines later we hear, “[Whoever] lives the truth comes to the light, […]
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Marian Catholic Fine Arts Department Achievements and Accolades
Chicago Heights, Ill. (March 11, 2021) – Marian Catholic High School students started 2021 with a bang. With a Fine Arts Department known for success, both the Marian Catholic Band and Marian Catholic Speech Team competed in state-wide tournaments already this year. Ten students were named all-state musicians by the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA). This is the highest honor a high school music student can achieve in Illinois. Congratulations to Michelle Brannon ’21 – Flute (South Holland, […]
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Third Week of Lent 2021
“Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area…” John 2: 13-15 For this third week of Lent, the Scripture readings center on the theme of God’s commandments and the sins of idolatry. In the first reading, the Israelites receive God’s ten commandments. In the […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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