The Sacred Heart Statue and the Stuff of Legends
This statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ornamented the front porch of the Our Saviour Parish rectory in Jacksonville until 1903. In the late 1800s Sister Mary Agnes McGuire and several other Dominican Sisters of Springfield were invited by the pastor, Father Crowe, to tour the new rectory. The sisters admired the statue, so, for his amusement, Father Crowe told the sisters he’d give it to anyone who could move it. As the story goes, one-by-one the […]
Read More
Sister Luma Shares Her Iraq Experiences
Sister Luma Khudher, OP shares the extraordinary struggles and profound moments of hope the Saint Catherine of Siena Dominican Sisters, Iraq have experienced in the past few years. Video: Christians in Iraq: Between Conflict and Hope by Sister Luma Khudher, OP at Sacred Heart Convent in Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois on Friday, May 27, 2016
Read More
Sister Mary Rene Lawless, OP
With sadness we announce the death of Sister Mary Rene Lawless, OP. Sister Rene passed away late last night at 6:45 p.m. We ask you to pray for her. Sister Rene was one of the pioneers that went to La Oroya, Peru in 1964 and she was a tireless missionary throughout her life. She touched many lives both in the U.S. and Peru and will be deeply missed. Funeral Arrangements: Tuesday, May 31 3:00 Gathering 3:30 – 6:15 […]
Read More
Video: Billy and Sister Samuella
One Dominican Sister, One First Grader, One Life-changing Relationship An Update on Jesuit Student Billy Menor & His Relationship with Sister Samuella Volk, OP Now he’s studying philosophy and sociology at St. Louis University, but in the spring of 2016 Billy Menor was on a cross-country pilgrimage with only $35 in his pocket. He travelled from San Francisco to New York and in-between stopped at—Jubilee Farm—our Eco spirituality center in Springfield. He shared amazing stories about his […]
Read More
One Dominican Sister, One First Grader, One Life-changing Relationship
An Update on Jesuit Student Billy Menor & His Relationship with Sister Samuella Volk, OP Now he’s studying philosophy and sociology at St. Louis University, but in the spring of 2016 Billy Menor was on a cross-country pilgrimage with only $35 in his pocket. He travelled from San Francisco to New York and in-between stopped at—Jubilee Farm—our Eco spirituality center in Springfield. He shared amazing stories about his month-long travel experiences as a Jesuit novice. His most interesting […]
Read More
Twenty-nine New Associates Make Committment
Springfield, Ill.—The Dominican Sisters of Springfield welcomed 29 new associates from Illinois and Missouri during Mass at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel on May 15. One of the largest associate classes in recent years, the group included residents from seven Illinois communities and, for the first time ever, ten new associates that hail from Columbia, Missouri. They made their commitment after completing a 9-month course in the history, spirituality, and mission of the Dominicans. Welcome to all our […]
Read More
Who was St. Catherine of Siena?
Who was St. Catherine of Siena? From The Love of Christ Impels Us A Short History of St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital and St. Dominic Health Services, Inc. 1946-2000 By Susan Karina Dickey and Josephine Therese Uhll St. Catherine was born in Siena, Italy in 1347. At the age of seven she consecrated her lif to Jesus and nine years later she received the habit of the lay Dominicans. As a lay Dominican she did not live in a […]
Read More
Sister Mary Ventura, OP: 1928-2016
Springfield Dominican Sister Mary Ventura died on April 26, 2016, at Sacred Heart Convent. She was born in Bradley, Ill., in 1928, one of four children born to Philip and Josephine Ciaccio Ventura. She made her profession of vows in 1947 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield. Sister Mary gave her life educating children and adults. As a primary school teacher she served in Chicago, Mt. Sterling, Odell, and Springfield. In Aurora and Morrisonville she was principal and junior […]
Read More