Cor Unum

Cor Unum is a dynamic community

of women who become for one another a source of friendship and support. Participants share their gifts, skills, and creativity. They accompany one another as they reflect on the meaning of their lives in relationship to God, one another, and our neighbors.

“Young women tell us they want a community of friends with whom they can grow personally and spiritually, and make a difference in the world,” said Sister Lori Kirchman, one of three sisters who anchor the new ministry. “Cor Unum is a signal of our aspiration for mutuality among women who want to explore the connection between their own spiritual growth and a more just and peaceful civil society.”

“This is exciting new territory for us,” said Sister Mary Clare Fichtner, an octogenarian who is passionate about beginning this new ministry. “It wouldn’t happen without friends and benefactors who believe in the promise of young people to transform the world.”

Cor Unum is a house

on North Fifth Street in historic Enos Park. It is the center—the heart—of your relationships with one another and the place from which we can begin to transform the world.

Those friends include Fletcher Farrar, president of Old Neighborhood Rehab, Inc. The nonprofit’s mission is to make Enos Park a livable and welcoming place by rescuing old buildings and creating a neighborly space. “This aligns well with the Springfield Dominican commitment to seeking right relationship and sharing the Gospel of compassion,” said Sister Beth Murphy, a member of Cor Unum-One Heart’s core community. “Fletcher’s generosity and vision is at the heart of our new ministry.”