Catherine Benincasa was born in mid-14th century Tuscany, a plague-ridden, economically and politically unstable time—much like our own. She and her twin sister were the 23rd and 24th children in a prosperous family of 25 children of Lapa and Jacopo di Benincasa, wool dealers. By the time Catherine died at the age of 33 in […]
How St. Catherine of Siena Healed the World Read More »
This article originally appeared in the July 2021 Issue of JUST Words. I measure every Grief I meet With narrow, probing, eyes – I wonder if it weights like Mine – or has an Easier size.[i] –Emily Dickinson From the beginning of the pandemic, up to the time of this writing, fourteen of our sisters,
Trial & Grace: Loss, Grief and Hope in a Time of the Pandemic Read More »
This article originally appeared in the JUST Words Summer Edition. Call by Tommy Walsh In recent years, debate over the environment has become a major factor in modern society. Between environmental recovery plans and seemingly never-ending arguments over climate change, some Americans have taken steps to do their part in the fight to save our
Call & Response: The Ecological Crisis and Changing Your Heart Read More »
Disturbing images of children at the border were flooding the daily news. During the height of the immigration crisis, an invitation went out for volunteers to minister to those arriving in Texas to be processed through Catholic Charities of Laredo. In collaboration with a larger initiative of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), the
Life at the Border: Simple Toys, New Shoes, and Solidarity Read More »
In March 2020 the world suddenly became very small for all of us. My family was no exception. The girls, Leah and Clare, stayed home every day and accessed school via video conference. Josh and I still worked but had limited contact with co-workers and no contact with anyone else. Elisabeth, who lives in Chicago,
The Becker Family’s Epic Journey: Reconnecting Family in a Post-Pandemic Season Read More »
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2020-2021 Edition of JUST Words. Interested in receiving your own copy of JUST Words? Sign-up here for the print or digital versions. By: Sister Patricia Stark, OP Sister Patricia lives at Sacred Heart Convent and participated in Sister Mila’s course on the prophets. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Recently, Springfield Dominican Sister
Reality through Another’s Eyes: Poems for Peacemaking Read More »
Recognizing our interconnectedness in the cosmos, we have embraced the common call toward communion with God and all creation. Non-violence is an integral part of that journey—a journey which is both inward and outward. Awareness motivates behavior; behavior strengthens one’s internal orientation. Following are a few suggestions for living non-violently in relation to the cosmos,
32 Ways to Live Less Violently Read More »
This article was originally published in the Winter 2020-2021 Edition of JUST Words. Susan M. Hickman is a Springfield Dominican associate and a member of the sisters’ Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Committee. Recently I was privileged to participate in a Pax Christi United Kingdom workshop on nonviolence. The sessions took place over five
Active Nonviolence: To Celebrate, Contemplate, and Live Read More »
This article was originally published in the Winter 2020-2021 Edition of JUST Words. January is a month to reflect back and look forward. Far from pulling us in opposite directions, this two-way vision provides a valuable perspective on the experience we are now enduring. Much to my delight, my reflection has revealed three precious gifts
The Blessings of 2020: Sister Kathleen Anne Tait Looks Back—and Forward Read More »
This article was originally published in the Winter 2020-2021 Edition of JUST Words. Sister Judine Hilbing reflects: It was the feast of the Visitation, a day to remember Mary as she ran with joyful news to her cousin Elizabeth. It was also the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and COVID-19 had cancelled all hope of
This morning, November 20, 2020, Sister Barbara Ann Bogenschutz communicated to us the sad news of the death from COVID-19 of Mr. Paul Little, a parishioner of Sister Barbara’s at Our Lady of the Sioux Parish, Oglala, SD, and a friend to many of our sisters who’ve had the privilege of knowing him. Read a
COVID-19 at Our Lady of the Sioux Parish Read More »
In 45 years as a respiratory therapist I’ve never seen anything like this. Not AIDS. Not SARS. Nothing.” After “hello,” these were Howard Derrick’s first words to me on a May 1st video call from his office at St. Dominic Hospital, Jackson, Miss. “This” was coronavirus. Howard, a Springfield Dominican associate, and I have served
Building a Bridge is the Greatest Reward Read More »
Once Thanksgiving rolls around, there is hardly a resident of the United States who can escape the tidal wave of excess known as “The Holiday Season.” It carries us forward on a momentum of joviality, food, drink, gift-giving, and good will. Not a bad thing in itself, if it doesn’t obscure the foundational event
Advent and Christmas:
Seasons that Never End Read More »
Sister Denise Glazik says she understood the nature of call early in religious life when she realized she was not called to teaching. Try as she would, she found no life, energy, or satisfaction in that ministry. With the help of others, she discerned a call to pastoral ministry and finally knew she was doing
SISTER DENISE GLAZIK: VOCATION ENCOURAGEMENT IS “A.I.D.ING” Read More »
Bethany House residents celebrate graduation from the World Relief Job Readiness program. Imagine you are 18 years old (again!)—and have spent fully half of your life searching for a safe and welcoming place to call home. That is Elizabeth’s reality. She fled her home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at nine years old
Walking the Talk at Bethany House Read More »
