In Retrospect: Sister Paul Mary Janssens, OP
Sister Paul Mary Janssens is retiring from leadership of the Springfield Dominican Associate Program after eleven years in this community ministry. During Sister Paul Mary’s final commitment ceremony Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma, prioress general, called her a “superb animator” of the associates. Sister Beth Murphy sat down with Sister Paul Mary for a conversation about her years of service. What have these last 11 years been like for you? They have been vibrant, relational, and spiritual. I have […]
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Springfield Dominican Sisters Response to the Withdraw from the Paris Agreement
We are sharing a press release sent out Thursday, June 1, 2017 from the Catholic Climate Covenant with the response of national Catholic organizations, including LCWR, to President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Accord. If you would like to partner with our mission to care for our planet, keep working for our common home with us at Jubilee Farm. Catholic Leaders Respond to Paris Withdrawal We, the member organizations of Catholic Climate Covenant, are deeply disappointed by President Donald […]
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Healing with Dialogue
Healing with Dialogue Election Year Strained Friendship by Aaron Tebrinke with reflections by Shirley Johnson and J. Graham Thompson, LMFT Aaron Tebrinke, our Multimedia Specialist, and Shirley Johnson have been friends since 2013. Aaron feared that their friendship was damaged by the general election last November. He was eager to try an exercise in contemplative dialogue with the help of facilitator Graham Thompson, marriage therapist, Dominican Associate, and JUST Words editorial board member. Shirley agreed. Here is a […]
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JUST Words: La Oroya, Peru, Healing with Dialogue, Brown Bag Seminars, and More!
Click on in the image of JUST Words to read about what is new in the mission and ministries of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois. Read the Spring/Summer 2017 issue: JUST Words Vol 17 No 2
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Twenty-eight Dominican Associates make Commitment
Associates and Prioress General Express Gratitude to Program Director Sister Paul Mary Janssens, OP Springfield, Ill.—The Dominican Sisters of Springfield welcomed 28 new associates—and expressed gratitude to Sister Paul Mary Janssens, OP, who is leaving leadership of the program after 11 years of service—during Mass at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel on May 7. Sixteen of the new associates are residents of the diocese. The associate class included residents of Springfield, Bluffs, Auburn, Flossmoor, Jacksonville, Illiopolis, Galesburg, Pana, […]
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Hanging with The Donut Sister
How did Sister Francella Vyverman find her niche at Washington Street Mission? Photography by Aaron Tebrinke. Sister Farancella enjoys a moment with a mission patron. Sister Francella Vyverman traffics in lap robes. It comes with the job of pastoral minister to the sick and elderly of Cathedral Parish, her beat since 2002. On a piercing cold day last fall, she was stymied about what to do with a surplus of the volunteer-crafted quilts filling her back seat. “I’d […]
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REGISTRATION OPEN NOW FOR DOMINICAN SISTERS’ JULY 9-11 FAITH CAMP
Fun, Faith, and Sister Buddies SPRINGFIELD, ILL.—It is not clear who enjoys the Dominican Sisters’ Faith Camp more—the junior high girls who participate or their grateful parents—but it is time for families to register their daughters for this year’s camp, scheduled July 9-11. Early registration is advised; participation is limited to 25 campers. “It was such a wonderful experience for her to see how the sisters live,” said Jennifer Cunningham, Quincy, Ill., whose daughter Gwendolyn participated in camp […]
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Twelve Dominican Sisters Celebrate Jubilees
Twelve Dominican Sisters of Springfield are observing profession anniversaries of 75, 60, or 50 years in 2017. We are blessed to call them our sisters and pleased to share with you these synopses of their lives of faithfulness and service. As with much of life, it is when we read between the lines that we can discern the presence of God’s spirit moving within and among us. As you peruse our sisters’ stories; watch for the name of […]
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