Sister Beth is the communication director for the Dominican Sisters and is deeply engaged with social justice concerns including SDART and the Iraq Coordinating Committee, an initiative of the U.S. Dominican Justice Promoters. Her past ministry has included communications director for the Springfield diocese, a previous stint as communication director for the Dominicans, development work at St. Pius V Parish in Chicago, and community outreach coordinator for the Catholic refugee resettlement program in the Detroit archdiocese. She retains her role as communications director for the Dominicans while dedicating time to Cor Unum. She also writes regularly for the Springfield State Journal-Register. Many of her columns are below.
A Mother’s Day Litany
This article originally appeared in the State Journal Register on Saturday May 7, 2022. For Mothers. For all of them. For the ones called Mother, or Mom, Ma, Mommy, Mama, or Uma. For the ones not named, remembered, or called anything. For moms alive, and for those resting in peace. For moms we can visit […]
Excuse Me? How Do I Know You?
Have you ever been embarrassed by needing to ask this question? Yeah, me too. That’s the phrase that tumbled through my head recently as I looked up from contemplation and saw the crucifix on my wall. Excuse me? How do I know you? My question to Jesus, not his to me. I’d just read a […]
Dreaming. Discerning. Governing. Inspiring.
This essay first appeared in the Springfield State Journal-Register, Sunday, August 9, 2020. Everyone is thinking about John Lewis. You could write about him.” As I was mulling over what to write for this column, a friend crossed my path with this timely suggestion. I’d not thought of that. St. Dominic was on my mind, […]
A Litany for Fathers
This first appeared in the June 16, 2019, issue of the State Journal-Register, where I write regularly for the Beliefs column. Yes, that’s my dad, John C. Murphy, Sr., on furlough in 1943, and in 1971, sporting new Providence High School gear in support of his daughter’s high school pick. Add your Dad Share a […]
Living the Meaning of Holy Days
Did you hear about the people who decided, in the midst of this extraordinary COVID19 crisis, that they needed to haul down from the attic, up from the basement, or out of the garage rafters—Christmas? Perhaps we aren’t feeling as brave now as we were early in the days of shelter-in-place, before the magnitude of […]
Live-streamed Evening Prayer:
Welcome in a Time of Crisis
Where God closes a door, a window opens. Sometimes, almost literally. Cor Unum House, a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, is meant to be a house of hospitality, where guests are welcome into the sisters’ lives in tangible ways. Except, not now. While the Coronavirus lockdown has closed the sisters’ front door for […]
Oh! God comes every day!
Oh! I thought to myself as I read kind, reasoned words, cautioning against alienating our immigrant neighbors who contribute so much to our community. Oh, I groaned, at the latest news of unethical and incompetent political leadership. Oh, I marveled, as I watched one of my sisters gently lead another, weaker member of the community […]
Will the Gardener do as She’s Promised?
It’s balm for my soul to feast on today’s scripture texts, though in many Catholic parishes the readings will not be these. (They are different if the parish is preparing to receive candidates into full communion with the church at the Easter Vigil.) To follow along, find Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15 and Luke 13:1-9. Lately I’m […]
How are YOU a Neighbor?
This story, co-written by Sister Beth Murphy and Mr. Leroy Jordan, first appeared in the February 10, 2019 issue of the Springfield State-Journal Register. The Governing magazine report that discusses income disparity and segregation in Springfield was all the talk at a recent meeting of the Springfield Dominican Antiracism Team (SDART). What a discouraging message […]
Transform Your Life: Sing Mary’s Song
This essay was originally published on Sunday December 30, 2018, in the Springfield State Journal-Register Beliefs column for which Sister Beth Murphy writes regularly. For many of us, January 1 has become unmoored from the faith context of Christmas. It’s New Year’s Day, of course, and holds a sense of promise and fresh start that […]
