A Prayer for the Life of the World

En español

Holy Mystery, ever ancient, ever new,
we, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, come before You,
aware of our interconnectedness in the cosmos,
and in solidarity with the rostros concretos* of the marginalized.

We come with deep gratitude for our common call.
Draw us into communion with You and all creation.
Living with intentional awareness and openness to change,
we seek to expand the expression of our vows,
inviting others to walk with us in sharing our charism.
Free our hearts to recognize and attend to Christ in hidden and unexpected places.

We renounce our participation in the sin of racism
and reject the societal barriers created by the misuse of power.
Through our contemplation, transform us to listen deeply to one another and to the brokenness of the world.
Bless our efforts to be the holy preaching.

Christ, You are expansive.
We journey in that truth, offering our testimonio de vida.

*Rostros concretos literally means “specific faces.” Nevertheless, it is a concept which includes the people (poor, immigrants, LGBTQA, etc.), oppressive situations, creation, anything placed on the margins.

Dominican Sisters
Elect Leadership,
Strengthen Commitments,
Share the Fruit of Their Contemplation

The new Springfield Dominican Leadership team will begin their responsibilities after the planned June 15, 2019 installation ceremony at Sacred Heart Convent. From left to right are Sister Rose Miriam Schulte, OP (vicaress), Sister Marie Michelle Hackett, OP (third councilor) Sister Mila Diaz Solano (second councilor), and Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma, OP (Prioress General). A …

Dominican Sisters
Elect Leadership,
Strengthen Commitments,
Share the Fruit of Their Contemplation Read More »

Seeking the Global Common Good:
Seeing, Connecting, and Sustaining
Life-giving Change

This story was first published in the Fall 2018 edition of JUST Words. Passions for justice Among my Springfield Dominican Sisters there are many varied passions for justice. A quick review of the community directory brings to mind certain sisters who are passionate about or ministerialy engaged with the following concerns: immigration reform access to …

Seeking the Global Common Good:
Seeing, Connecting, and Sustaining
Life-giving Change Read More »

Dominican Sisters: Building Relationships in a Disconnected World

In preparation for our upcoming General Chapter, we invited some of our sisters, friends, and associates to talk about how they see the sisters following the Spirit’s lead into the future. The Winter 2019 issue of JUST Words pulled their thoughts together, but there was more good stuff than we could include in the print …

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Dominican Sisters Head to the Border to Serve Children & Families

A week of service at an immigrant shelter in El Paso helps ease the burdens of desperate families Springfield, Ill.—On Sunday, Springfield Dominican Sisters Anita Cleary and Marcelline Koch will travel to El Paso, Texas to volunteer at a Catholic shelter for families called Annunciation House. “We’re going because Annunciation House and other shelters like …

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"We all long for peace in this land" Sister Mila in Jerusalem

Springfield Dominican Sister Mila Diaz Solano resides in Jerusalem where she is completing her doctoral thesis at the École Biblique et Archéologique, a French academic establishment in Jerusalem, founded by Dominicans, and specializing in archaeology and Biblical exegesis. Today she shared with her Dominican sisters in the United States and Peru her experience of the …

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Honduras: “Your people will be my people.”

Witness and Solidarity: Sister Kathlyn Mulcahy in Honduras The days surrounding the unconstitutional re-inauguration of Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez last month were fraught with danger for anyone who spoke out against the regime or dared to oppose his election. Because of this, religious leaders in the country asked for an interfaith delegation to stand …

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Sister Kathlyn Mulcahy Heads to Honduras

To Join International Emergency Interfaith Delegation Trip coincides with inauguration of contested Honduran president-elect Springfield Dominican Sister Kathlyn Mulcahy will spend a week in Honduras as part of an emergency international interfaith delegation of religious leaders who wish to stand in solidarity with the people of the most violent country in the world and to …

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“Forget Yourself
And Think of Others”
Volunteering and Jesus’ Mission

This story by Sister Geraldine Kemper, OP, first appeared in JUST Words, Winter 2018. Many organizations depend on volunteers to achieve their mission. What motivating force compels someone to volunteer time, knowledge, energy, and love? Pope Francis said during an audience last March, “Love and charity are service, helping others, serving others. There are many …

“Forget Yourself
And Think of Others”
Volunteering and Jesus’ Mission Read More »

Hanging with The Donut Sister

How did Sister Francella Vyverman find her niche at Washington Street Mission? Photography by Aaron Tebrinke. Sister Farancella enjoys a moment with a mission patron. Sister Francella Vyverman traffics in lap robes. It comes with the job of pastoral minister to the sick and elderly of Cathedral Parish, her beat since 2002. On a piercing …

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Sr. Marcelline Koch, OP – Iraq delegation: Global Sisters Report Articles

The Global Sisters Report at National Catholic Reporter asked that the Iraq delegation members write a reflection about their experiences to Iraq. Over this month all three articles written by Sr. Marcelline, Sr. Dusty Farnan and Sr. Arlene Flahert were posted online providing a power glimpse of what they saw and felt. Sr. Marcelline’s topic …

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