Dominican Sisters Renew Commitment to Dismantling Racism The Dominican Sisters of Springfield and their anti-racism partners want to make clear they stand firm in their commitment to dismantle structural racism within their own institutions and in the communities they serve. “White supremacy is an evil that will destroy all of us unless we work to dismantle it,” says Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma, OP, the congregation’s prioress general. “Today, in light of the tragic events in Charlottesville over the […]

Springfield Dominican Sister Marcelline Koch, OP, is part of a new Springfield area group called Immigrant and Refugee Partners. The group is a coalition of community strategic partners to provide education, advocacy and support to immigrants and refugees in our Springfield, IL. The group is offering a free immigration training.  The event, Immigration 101: Immigrant and Refugee Ally Training, will be held on Saturday, August 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the University of Illinois Springfield, Public […]

Matthew 13: 24–30 As I write this column, some of us here at the Dominican Motherhouse are concluding a most remarkable retreat. The retreat invited us into a vision which both scientists and theologians have been exploring for several years now, a vision that opens us up to what humans are learning about the home we call our universe. What I am sharing here is simply one foundational principle about our origins in a vast exploration that amazes […]

Last week a small group of Sisters participated in a contemplative retreat. The retreatants integrated elements of the Universe Story with their Dominican stories and the personal experiences they brought to the retreat. Sister Anita guided the Sacred Heart Convent retreatants in the basics of creating a simple woven cloth—weaving the threads of life experiences into a tapestry that celebrates and gives thanks for each retreatant’s story. They learned from demonstrations and found a peaceful place to practice the […]