Teaching Baby-Boomers: Not for the Faint of Heart!
“You called. I answered and entered the ministry of teaching…I survived only on your mercy and strength along with the wisdom of those around me.” ~Sister Regina Marie Bernet Photo provided by Peggy Derhake, Former Sacred Heart Academy Student After 18 months in formation, Marilyn made her profession of vows, took the name Regina Marie, and launched off to points north, beginning her teaching ministry among the littlest students at Our Lady of Grace School on Chicago’s north […]
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Sister Denise Joins A Nun’s Life for Advent Evening Prayer
This Advent season in a time of pandemic is an invitation to make an opening for God to be present in our lives! Sister Denise’s powerful preaching during A Nun’s Life livestreaming Advent evening prayer on Monday, December 9, 2020 is something to revisit again and again during the Advent season. Make some time today to listen to “Sister Mary Resource” share what makes her vocation unique as a Springfield Dominican Sister as she shares her journey from […]
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Our Lady of Guadalupe: The Maternal Face of God
In the Church we are used to thinking of God as Father. Nevertheless, human language will always be limited. We highlight the paternal image that Jesus communicated to us in the Lord’s Prayer, but there are also maternal images of God in the Bible. God is presented defending her people like a mother bear deprived of her cubs (Hosea 13:8), God is described as a female eagle (Deuteronomy 32:11-12), God gives birth (Deuteronomy 32:18), God’s love is greater […]
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Pope Francis Announces Trip to Iraq in 2021
Pope Francis announces trip to Iraq, which means an encounter with Dominicans, most likely. Iraq may be “out of sight-out of mind” for most Americans, but that is not the case for many U.S. Dominicans, including the Springfield Dominican Sisters, who have strong ties to the country through their Iraqi Dominican sisters and brothers. For Dominicans, it’s especially exciting news that Pope Francis will make Iraq his first international visit in more than a year. According to […]
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Living Hope Testimonial: “A Radiant Presence” at SHA
If I was to pick the most influential person in my life, it would without any hesitation be Sister Regina Marie. I was beyond blessed to have her as a teacher during my four years at Sacred Heart Academy. One of her most admirable traits is that no matter what day it was, what was happening or who you were, she always welcomed you, as well as sent you off, with a smile on her face. Sister Regina […]
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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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