Nonstop Mission: Dominican Literacy Center, Aurora, Ill.
An empty church basement. A dusty card table. Two rickety folding chairs. A 75-year-old woman determined to sing in English at church on Sunday. That’s what God’s Nonstop Mission looked like to Sister Kathleen Ryan 25-years ago when she established the Dominican Literacy Center in Aurora, Ill. Twenty-five years later, with the assistance of many Springfield Dominican Sisters and hundreds of volunteers, 2,800 women have learned to read, write, and speak English. Hundreds of legal residents from five […]
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Sister Mary Blaise Galloway, OP
Sister M. Blaise’s Services Visitation: 4:00 p.m.—6:15 p.m., Tuesday, August 6, 2019, Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, 1237 W. Monroe St. in Springfield. Visitation begins with a prayer service. Funeral Mass: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 6, 2019, Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Dominican Father Peter Witchousky, celebrant. Morning Prayer, Remembering, and Final Commendation: 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 7, 2019, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel. Burial follows at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dominican […]
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Happy Feast of St. Mary Magdalene—OP!
Today, July 22, is a feast day for all Dominicans, and for Dominican women, in a special way. Dominicans recognize St. Mary Magdalene as a co-patroness of the order under the title “apostle to the apostles.” She was the first to preach the good news of Christ’s resurrection. Celebrate with us by reading and listening to these reflections on the significance of this feast for our day. It’s Early Morning: Mary Magdalene and the children. A preaching from […]
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St. Christopher:
Christ-Bearer, Burden-Sharer,
Patron of Travelers
July 25 is the feast day of St. Christopher, who, in Catholic popular piety was revered as the patron of travelers. His image was—and perhaps still is—found around the necks of Catholics who have a devotion to him. About the Saint Several months ago, we received the gift of this touching sculpture of St. Christopher—his name means Christ-bearer—crossing a river with the Christ child on his shoulders. The statue has found its home in an enclosed breezeway that […]
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Fletcher Farrar:
High Adventure, Old Houses,
and Giving
Spirituality and Money? These two concepts don’t often rub shoulders. For spouses Fletcher Farrar and Mary Jessup, however, it’s a connection continually made. Fletcher learned from his parents who were integrally tied to church and community in Mt. Vernon, Ill., where Fletcher Farrar Sr. worked as an oil producer. Frequently the product was a dry hole; at other times a stream of income for the family. The senior Farrar was grateful when resources were available and treated his […]
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A Beacon of Hope at Jubilee Farm
Who was there: Row 1: Roy Williams, Veronica Espina, Patricia Kloppenburg, Sister Marcelline Koch; Row 2: Sarah Scheufele, Anne Hilofsky, Sister Sharon Zayac, Sister Simone Campbell, Sister Mila Díaz Solano, Ana Manrique, Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma; Row 3: Leahy Bennet, Teresa Bennet, Dave Steward, John Freml, Sister Elizabeth Wrenn, Jim Dixon, Wesley McNeese, Erica Smith. Rural Community Roundtable Generates Compassion, Ideas, Understanding “Explain that to me,” Sister Simone Campbell said. “Why don’t farmers have health insurance?” Because […]
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Sister Mary de Paul Kane, OP
Sister M. de Paul’s Services Visitation: 4:00 p.m.—6:15 p.m., Monday, July 22, 2019, Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, 1237 W. Monroe St. in Springfield. Visitation begins with a prayer service. Funeral Mass: 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 22, 2019, Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Dominican Father Peter Witchousky, celebrant. Morning Prayer, Remembering, and Final Commendation: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel. Burial follows at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the […]
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What is the Call to Leadership?
Invitation “The Call to leadership is deeply expressed by inviting others to use their gifts, providing opportunities for this, and promoting the common good.”Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma, OP Meet Sister Rebecca Ann Solidarity “Leadership urges me to journey in this service in solidarity with the rostros concretos of the marginalized.”Sister Mila Díaz Solano, OP Meet Sister Mila SharedDecision-Making “A call to leadership is a response to the movement of the collective. In a religious congregation, leadership is exercised […]
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