Springfield, Ill. — A commitment ceremony for the 2025 Springfield Dominican Associate class was held at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel on Sunday, May 4, 2025.
During the homily of the Mass Father Robert Kelly, OP, chaplain for the Dominican Sisters, thanked the associates for their commitment and preached on Sunday’s Gospel from John about the disciples fishing after the resurrection and hearing the risen Christ calling to them from the shore. He wondered whether they went fishing, in part, to relieve the boredom they felt in the absence of Jesus.
“I believe the new Dominican associates have cast their nets. In the middle of everyday life, you have heard the voice from the shore. You have responded not by escaping boredom with distraction but by embracing the deeper purpose. Like the disciples who said ‘Yes, I will follow,’ your commitment is not a stepping back from the world but a stepping into it with Dominican eyes. Serious about studying, committed to prayer, dedicated to community but ever ready to preach with your lives,” he said.
The new associates prepared for commitment by participation in nine monthly sessions of prayer and study about the history of the Order of Preachers and the Springfield Dominican congregation, about the theology of mission and ministry, Catholic Social Teaching, and liturgy and prayer. Each candidate was accompanied by a sponsor—a sister or an associate—who answered their questions and offered encouragement during their period of discernment before commitment.
Dominican associates embrace the Dominican traditions of prayer, study, community, and ministry. They respond to God's call to share the Gospel by preaching it through the witness of their lives.
Each associate was called forward by the associate program director, Sister M. Joan Sorge, OP. They stated publicly their commitment to “preach the Word and witness Gospel values,” and received an associate pin from Sister Joanne Delehanty, OP, vicaress general of the congregation.
Sister Joanne accepted the new associates’ commitment statements and thanked them for their dedication in preaching the word of God.
“Our Dominican charism is a gift of the spirit and because it is, it must be lived in the world and lived to its fullest. The world needs who we are now. And who we are now is vowed women religious and associates,” she said.
The first Springfield Dominican associates made commitment in 1991. Since then, hundreds of women and men, baptized Christians in the United States and Peru, have become associates.
Dominican associates make individual commitments to volunteer ministries in their own parishes and communities. They may also join the sisters on committees and boards, work side-by-side with the sisters in their ministries, or provide logistical support for the congregation’s public events. To learn more about becoming a Springfield Dominican Associate visit springfieldop.org/associates or call Sister M. Joan at 217-787-0481. The next cohort will begin their formation in September 2025 and make commitment in May 2026.
By region the associates are:
Central Illinois
Belen Ortega Daba, Springfield, Ill., is a parishioner at St. Agnes Catholic Church and a staff member in the cafeteria at Sacred Heart-Grifffin High School. Belen’s commitments include living the core values of the Dominican charism including prayer, study community, service and being a light of Christ to the people around her beginning with her family. She plans to continue her support for pro-life activities by praying the rosary in front of Planned Parenthood each Thursday and asking Christ for mercy to rest upon those who participate and are involved with abortion. She plans to get involved with Jubilee Farm and support any of the ecological activities hosted by the Dominican Sisters. She plans to continue her engagement in St. Agnes Parish focusing on the Marian apostolate and Eucharistic Adoration. Sponsor: Sister M. Celestine Rondelli. Prayer sponsor: Sister M. Jerome Quinn.
Susan Gillen, Chatham, Ill., is a parishioner at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church and is retired. Her commitments include participating in a scripture sharing group and being available to help her children, grandchildren, and neighbors when needed. She also helps with parish funeral dinners and the helping hands dinner ministry. She plans to volunteer at Jubilee Farm and to sort medical supplies through the outreach mission for worldwide donations. Sponsor: Sister Judith Pfile. Prayer sponsor: Sister Adele Human.
Katie Grant, Springfield, Ill., is a parishioner at Little Flower Catholic Church and a graphic designer at the Illinois Association of School Boards. Katie’s commitments include continuing to be a God-minded and prayerful mother/mother figure to her children and their friends and their community. She also plans to serve as “safe harbor” for those who are curious about faith or those who are struggling. She plans to share her gift and talents in communications and the arts with the church and the Dominican Sisters. Sponsor: Sister Linda Sue Turner. Prayer sponsor: Sister M. Angelene Biderbost.
Johnny Habibi, Springfield, Ill., a parishioner at Little Flower Catholic Church, and is retired from the State of Illinois where he worked as a mechanical engineer. His commitments include caring for and beautifying the church gardens while reusing, reducing, and recycling. He plans to uphold the values of the Springfield Dominican Sisters and live his faith by leading by example and listening to God’s voice. Johnny also plans to engage with the Springfield Dominican Anti-Racism team. He was sponsored by his wife, Rihab Habibi, who was in the 2025 associate class. Prayer sponsor: Sister M. Samuella Volk.
Tammie Klein, Springfield, Ill., is a parishioner at St. Agnes Catholic Church and is retired. Tammie’s commitments include expressing gratitude for her own blessings through service to others, especially traveling with the International Medical Mission group. She also plans to help care for the church grounds and share her love of language and cultural connection by working at the Dominican Literacy Center. Sponsor: Sister Francis Mary Philipp. Prayer sponsor: Sister Agnes Ann Pisel.
Faye Mini-Reyman, Springfield, Ill., is a parishioner at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Chatham, Ill., and is an addiction therapist at Memorial Hospital. Faye’s commitments include daily prayer and the rosary, focusing on the souls of the Gaza hostages and their families and friends. She plans to continue her service as a hospitality minister and Eucharistic Minister at the parish while volunteering as a Eucharistic Minister through the Pastoral Care Department at Memorial Hospital. Sponsor: Sister Judith Pfile. Prayer sponsor: Sister M. Bride Quinn.
Dr. Holly Novak, Springfield, Ill., is a parishioner at St. Joseph Catholic Church and works part-time as a cardiologist at Prairie Heart. Holly’s commitments include deepening her faith through study and prayer, and bringing other’s joy by sharing her baking and knitting talents. She plans to protect the earth by watching her own consumption and attending to recycling. She also plans to speak out in her church with daily conversations and interactions about the Associate program. Sponsor: Sister Patricia Burke. Prayer sponsor: Sister Bernice Juip.
Kathleen O’Bryen, Rochester, Ill., is a parishioner at Little Flower Catholic Church and a retired senior public service administrator with the Illinois State Police. Her commitments include serving as a lector and Eucharistic Minister in her parish, contributing to her parish’s prayer shawl ministry and to the community through the Inner-City Mission and St. John’s Breadline. She plans to care for creation by beautifying her community and respecting Earth by reusing and recycling all she can. Sponsor: Sister Linda Sue Turner. Prayer sponsor: Sister Maira Barry.
Molly Parker, Springfield, Ill. Molly’s commitments include tutoring women in English as a Second Language at the Dominican Literacy Cente and participating in Churches United for the Common Good and the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network. Sponsor: Sister M. Clare Fichtner. Prayer sponsor: Anne Hilofsky.
Kathy Rubinkowski, Springfield, Ill., is a parishioner at St. Agnes Catholic Church. Her commitments include visiting with the Dominican Sisters who live in skilled care at Sacred Heart Convent and volunteering at HSHS Mission Outreach by doing sorting and data entry of donated medical items. She will continue her service as a Eucharistic Minister and be more mindful in prayer and open and accepting of what God is calling her to do. Sponsor: Sister Agnes Ann Pisel. Prayer sponsor: Sister Francis Mary Philipp.
Elizabeth Simpson, Springfield, Ill., is retired. Her commitments include treating every person with dignity and respect as a child of God and educating herself about social issues that are aligned with the Dominican Sisters’ commitments. She plans to listen deeply to the Gospels with an interest in the Good Samaritan and being compassionate to others in her daily life. Sponsor: Sister Georgiana Stubner. Prayer sponsor: Sister Marilyn Jean Runkel.
Northern Illinois
Nancy Kemper, Peoria, Ill., is a parishioner at St. Anthony Catholic Church and works at Kemper Express. Her commitments include an outreach ministry for those experience darkness in their lives, living her faith by example, and sharing the Dominican Sisters’ pillars of prayer, study, community, and ministry each day. She plans to become a more faithful pray-er, and listen to God’s voice as he leads her with family, friends and co-workers. Sponsor: Sister Judith Anne Haase. Prayer sponsor: Sisters M. Geraldine Kemper (her sister) and Catherine Mary Currie.
Mike Riordan, Naperville, Ill., is a parishioner at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and is the incoming President of Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Ill. Mike’s commitments include living his faith and leading by example at home with his family and at Marian, and expressing gratitude for his own blessings through service to others. He will guide the teens at Marian Catholic in the values of the Dominican Sisters and support the Kairos retreat program. He will support his home parish and the Springfield Dominican Sister’s ministries by dedicating his time and talents to the best of his ability. Sponsor: Sister Marilyn Jean Runkel. Prayer sponsor: Sister M. Paul McCaughey.
Nina Houston, Evergreen Park, Ill., is a parishioner at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and a Project Manager at MPDV, Inc. Nina’s commitments include serving as a Eucharistic Minister and lector at her church, and assisting at Holy Redeemer with the hospitality ministry . She is also pursuing training as a spiritual director. Sponsor: Sister Joanne Delehanty. Prayer sponsor: Sister Mary Pokorny.
Southern Illinois
Cathie Rockwood, Jerseyville, Ill., is a parishioner at Holy Ghost Catholic Church and is retired from her work as an arbitrator for a property and casualty insurance agent. Cathie’s commitments include giving free service by cleaning for an elderly couple and actively supporting immigrants through social action, prayer, and community involvement. Sponsor: Nancy Goetten. Prayer sponsor: Sister Mary Lou Owens.
Iowa
Nancy Gehlsen, DeWitt, Iowa. Nancy’s commitments include responding to the challenging times for impoverished people in our nation by making greater commitments to them by donating, cooking, and serving through her membership in “Lasagna Love.” She will also care for creation by growing pollinator plants, composting, and donating home grown food to the local food pantry. Nancy also wants to learn how to become a bereavement minister in her parish and to help with the Dominican Sisters’ antiracism team. Sponsor: Sister M. Clare Fichtner. Prayer sponsor: Sister M. Joan Sorge.
Allison Young, from the Des Moines diocese, is a parishioner at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Allison’s commitments include living her Catholic faith while studying the Dominican charism of truth and leading by example. She volunteers with her parish youth group and wants to study the writing of St. Thomas Aquinas to grow in knowledge of the Catholic faith and a deeper relationship with the Lord. Sponsor: Sister Catherine Steward. Prayer sponsor: Sister Maristella Dunlavy.
Mississippi
Equenia (Kenny) Clave Micabalo, is a junior high teacher from Jackson, Miss. Kenny’s commitments include serving as cantor at her parish. She also plans to financially support her nieces and nephews in the college level of study and donate to programs that cater to the poor and marginalized. She is is a talented singer and will offer her services free of change for weddings, funerals and special events. Her care for creation is rooted in a simple lifestyle, and reusing and recycling all that she can. She also lives her faith and leads by example in her school community. Sponsor: Sister June Volpe. Prayer sponsor: Sister Ann Elizabeth Little.
The Springfield Dominicans were established 150 years ago in Jacksonville, Illinois and relocated their motherhouse 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.
