Sixteen Illinoisans Promise Collaboration
With the Dominican Preaching Mission
Springfield, Ill.—Sixteen Illinois residents made formal commitment as associates of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield during a ceremony at Sacred Heart Convent on May 5, 2019.
Use the tabs below to learn more about the new associates.
Dave Sanders, parishioner at St. Joseph the Worker, Chatham, Ill., retired Illinois State Trooper. He and his wife Mary have two daughters and a son. His commitment includes serving as eucharistic minister at St. Joseph the Worker Church and as a visitor to those who are elderly or in residential care facilities or hospitals and living his faith by leading by example for his family and friends. He and his wife Mary have two daughters and a son
Ralph Metz, parishioner, Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago; retired Cook County Public Defender. His commitment includes bringing the Dominican charism to the sacristy, soup kitchen and ambo as he proclaims the word, and being aware of how he approaches life and his interactions with people.
Norinne Pulec, parishioner, St. Agnes, Chicago Heights; retired human resources director. Her commitment includes singing in the St. Agnes Chancel Choir and Resurrection Choir, offering love and care to the elderly and sick, studying scriptures, and living as Jesus did. She and her late husband Andrew have three daughters and a son.
Denise Iggins, parishioner, St. George, Tinley Park; teacher at Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights. Her commitment includes growing in her calling to preach through a life of Christian service, preaching God’s love as a Kairos leader, and organizing opportunities for students to participate in acts of service. She and her husband Robert have a son and a daughter.
Kathy Turner, parishioner at Our Saviour Parish, Jacksonville, retired payroll clerk. Kathy and her late husband John D. Turner have two daughters. Her commitment includes being one with God in her actions and deeds, ministering and listening to those in need, and continuing her duties as a Eucharistic Minister and lectoring at Mass.
Maurice Tierney, parishioner at St. Mary Parish, Atlanta, Ill., retired correctional officer. His commitment includes helping with maintenance at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, supporting financially the food pantry at Holy Family in Lincoln, and transporting residents of Castle Manor to appointments. Maurice and his wife Teresa, who is also an associate, have a daughter and a son.
Jennifer Bettis, parishioner, Christ the King, director of advancement, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. Her commitment includes her work at SHG and sharing her time, talent and resources with those in need and the community at large. She and her husband Chad have one son.
Blanca Farris, parishioner, Blessed Sacrament and Christ the King; technical manager for IDOT. Her commitment includes volunteering at functions and activities and living the four pillars of Dominican Life prayer, study, community, and preaching, or service. She and her husband Stephen have three daughters and a son.
Jen Graves, parishioner, St. Agnes; educator and homemaker. Her commitment includes volunteering at St. Agnes School and the Elizabeth Ann Seaton project and modeling the four pillars of the Dominican Life for her children. She and her husband Chris have three daughters.
Marian Jenkins, parishioner, Blessed Sacrament; retired teacher and retail manager. Her commitment includes scripture study and to use more of her gift of hospitality, greeting and giving hope and strength to the sick and suffering. She and her late husband Harry have five daughters.
Joann Lenn, parishioner, Cathedral; retired from AT&T. Her commitment includes serving the sick at St. John’s Hospital, helping in Cathedral Parish as eucharistic minister and coordinating and serving funeral lunches.
dral; retired secretary. Her commitment includes serving the sick at St. John’s Hospital, helping in Cathedral Parish as eucharistic minister and coordinating and serving funeral lunches.
Pam McGhiey, parishioner, St. Francis Cabrini; speech pathologist at Sherman elementary. Her commitment includes listening in prayer to what God is calling her to do, studying Catholic teaching and scriptures and serving her parish as lector, usher, and catechist.
Kara Rapacz, parishioner, Christ the King; principal, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. Her commitment includes raising her children in a home built on Catholic, Dominican values and by leading SHG focused on the Dominican charism. She and her husband Chris have a daughter and two sons.
Kathy Roe, parishioner, Cathedral; self-employed. Her commitment includes welcoming the stranger, serving as lector, responding to needs and surrendering her life to the Lord’s service. She and her husband Dan have a daughter and a son.
Judy Babb-Troxell, parishioner, St. Matthew Parish, Champaign; retired administrator, University of Illinois. Her commitments include walking with those in need, witnessing to her faith in service as a eucharistic minister at Mass, and as a visitor; and bringing her therapy dog to residential centers. She is married to Jeff Troxell.They recently completed a nine-month program of formation in Dominican life, history, spirituality and mission provided by the Dominican Sisters for Christian women and men since 1990.
“This class of associates is alive with the Spirit and eager to walk with our Dominican Sisters in preaching the gospel with their lives,” said Sister M. Joan Sorge, director of the associate program. “Their gifts shared reflect God’s loving and risen presence in our world.”
Preaching on John’s gospel resurrection story about the risen Christ appearing to the apostles after a failed night of fishing, Sister Kathleen Gallagher, a member of the sisters’ leadership team, invited the new associates to think about what it means to heed Jesus’ request to cast nets on the other side of the boat. “When Jesus calls the disciples to cast their net over the right side of the boat, he tells them, ‘You will find something,’” she said. What the associates find, like the 153 fish mentioned in the Gospel, may be “new inspirations, new friends, new graces to go on if troubles haunt you, new paths drawing you closer to your God.”
Dominican Associates are increasingly active in collaboration with the Springfield Dominican Sisters. Three members of this year’s class work in ministries sponsored by the sisters. Three are related to one of the sisters; others have been taught by them or are active in parishes where the sisters minister. Associates need not be Catholic, but it is important that they be baptized in some Christian tradition and already actively living their faith.
After the 9-month period of formation, associates meet regularly for study, prayer, and socializing with associates in their geographic region who’ve made commitment in the past.
Each associate fulfills the promises they’ve made on commitment day and are encouraged in that by frequent communication with the sisters and each other. The sisters provide regular opportunities for spiritual enrichment for the associates. Frequently throughout the year there are days for prayer and study, and opportunities for service and actions of social justice supported by the sisters.
Applications are currently being accepted for the next associate class, which meets monthly from August to May each year. Learn how you can become a Springfield Dominican Associate or call 217-787-0481 to speak with associate program director, Sister M. Joan Sorge, OP.
