Dominican Month for Peace: War, Repression and Displacement in Ukraine
In the aftermath of the April 2014 Ukrainian revolution, the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, and protests by Russian-backed separatist groups, fighting in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of East Ukraine (collectively called the “Donbass”) has been ongoing. Hundreds of citifies and settlements have been captured by Russian-led troops. According to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, between March 2014 and October 31, 2019, over 13,000 people (including at least 3,345 […]
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From a Loving Home…to Prison?
How Did Springfield Dominican Sister Regina Marie Bernet go from being a sheltered child growing up in a loving home on Springfield’s North End to a sign of Living Hope for hundreds of students and families-then wind up in prison? That’s what we’ll explore as we unfold young Marilyn Bernet’s story, from her baptism at St. Joseph Parish to her courageous prison ministry in central Illinois. Once, while reflecting on her response to God’s call, Sister Regina Marie […]
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Dominican Month for Peace: Ukraine
After three years of demonstrating global Dominican solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are working to bring hope in situations of violence and war, the Dominican Month for Peace has now become a regular part of the annual program of our Dominican Family. We started with a Latin American focus on Colombia in 2017. We then moved to an African focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2018. In 2019 we moved to Asia with a […]
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Sisters for the Life of the World
People who know us well say that we Springfield Dominican Sisters are effective ministers and powerful pray-ers, hospitable and down-to-earth folks. They see us as leaders in places where God’s people are alive and thriving. We have a broad reach across Illinois, the lower 48 states, and in the peaks and valleys of Peru. With us, you and other like-minded women have the opportunity to live out your dreams in ways that can change the world. Would you […]
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Advent for Grown-ups
We can all remember the fun holiday traditions from our childhood: opening each day of the Advent calendar to find your piece of candy, lighting the candles on the Advent wreath, and all the excitement of preparing for Christmas. While those traditions are valuable and fun, many of us could benefit from a deeper reflection of the “reason for the season.” Advent allows us time to prepare our hearts to recognize what the Incarnation means in our daily […]
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COVID-19 at Our Lady of the Sioux Parish
This morning, November 20, 2020, Sister Barbara Ann Bogenschutz communicated to us the sad news of the death from COVID-19 of Mr. Paul Little, a parishioner of Sister Barbara’s at Our Lady of the Sioux Parish, Oglala, SD, and a friend to many of our sisters who’ve had the privilege of knowing him. Read a local TV station’s tribute to Paul. Experience of the coronavirus pandemic looks remarkably different depending on where you put your feet. Springfield Dominican […]
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Excuse Me? How Do I Know You?
Have you ever been embarrassed by needing to ask this question? Yeah, me too. That’s the phrase that tumbled through my head recently as I looked up from contemplation and saw the crucifix on my wall. Excuse me? How do I know you? My question to Jesus, not his to me. I’d just read a portion of scripture given for that day from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “I consider everything as a loss because of the […]
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Sister Mary Melanie Roetker, OP
Sister M. Melanie’s Services Private Mass of Resurrection at Sacred Heart Convent, Tuesday, Nov. 17; private burial, Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Wednesday, Nov. 18. A memorial mass will be held at Sacred Heart Convent at a later date. Memorials to honor the memory of Sister M. Melanie may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL, 62704. The Dominican Sisters and friends of Sister M. Melanie are served by Butler Funeral Homes. […]
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