Springfield, IL—Fifty-two weeks a year, Catholic sisters stand with the poor and immigrants, teach children, fight injustice, heal the sick, share the power of prayer, empower women, defend the planet, promote peace, create community, and offer hope.
During the week of March 8-14 each year, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield celebrate the blessings of their consecrated life and ministry, and invite the public to experience the lives of Catholic sisters more directly.
For the Dominicans, the week is an opportunity to share the joy that comes from lives dedicated to seeking God, walking with others, and responding together to the needs of the world.
“Catholic Sisters Week events are designed to open a window into our lives for young people and other curious folks,” said Sister Denise Glazik, the Springfield Dominicans’ vocation director. “This annual event is a great excuse to welcome new friends and have some fun.”
Three events are planned for the 2020 celebration:
Sunday March 8: Mother-Daughter Tea & Tour
Moms and their pre-teen daughters are welcome for a Mother-Daughter Tea & Tour, 1:30-4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 8, Sacred Heart Convent, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704. Enjoy an interactive, kid-friendly tour of Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, share tea or lemonade and home-baked treats with the sisters, and take home a goody bag and one of the sisters’ favorite recipes to try at home. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited so register early.
Thursday March 12: Hospitality Night
Sacred Heart-Griffin High School juniors and seniors will join the sisters for Evening Prayer, dinner, and a legendary (and lively!) evening of card and board games. Students register with their theology teachers in order to participate. Evening Prayer in the historic Sacred Heart Convent chapel begins at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, and is followed immediately by dinner and game night. Registration is open to SHG students in grades 11 and 12. They can register here.
Saturday March 14: Sisters to the Land
Sisters to the Land is scheduled 1:00-4:00 p.m., Saturday March 14 at Jubilee Farm, 6760 Old Jacksonville Road, New Berlin, IL 62670. Young adult and adult Participants will learn about Jubilee Farm, walk the land, help prepare for spring planting, and enjoy an earth-centered craft.
Since 1999, the Dominican Sisters have had stewardship of Jubilee Farm, a 164-acre eco-spirituality center where they preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the Earth community and share the gift of the land. Sisters to the Land is a great way to explore the Christian imperative to honor and respect Earth. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited so register early.
CSW is an annual celebration under the auspices of Communicators for Women Religious, a professional organization for the women and men who assist communities of Catholic Sisters with communicating their mission, ministries, and values. The event was created to honor women religious, recognize the vital role sisters play in society, and encourage young women to think about becoming sisters themselves.
The Dominican Sisters of Springfield are part of a worldwide Dominican family, the Order of Preachers. For more than 800 years, Dominicans have preached the Gospel in word and deed. The Springfield Dominicans were established in Jacksonville, Illinois, in 1873 and relocated to Springfield in 1893. Today, thousands of Dominican sisters, nuns, priests, brothers, associates, and laity minister in more than 100 countries around the world. To learn more about the Dominican Sisters of Springfield visit springfieldop.org.
