From a brief experience of the pre-Vatican structure of religious life; from the poets and singers of the Vietnam era to the congregation’s corporate stand response; from the classroom to the “board room” as a member of the congregational administrative team; through the life, death and resurrection experiences as a member of a family, congregation and human community, I believe I have lived life to the fullest these past 47 years.
The address at a recent assembly focused on our world view and how it changes and expands through one’s experience. Membership in my congregation has been a powerful force in shaping me into the person I am.
My primary ministry has been in high school education. Each experience has been a response to a call to be a changing force and influence in the lives of high school students at a crucial time of growth. For the past 15 years, I have been privileged to minister at our congregational high school–Aquinas. It has been particularly rewarding as we carry forward the Mission of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill in this congregational school founded in 1923. It is in this place and time that I commit myself to “proclamation of the reign of God through a ministry for justice.” Each day brings new surprises and is never boring. The interaction with students, partnership with parents, and the collegiality among faculty and staff enable us to do together what could not be done alone. We educate young women in a community of faith and learning rooted in the Catholic tradition and committed to excellence in the education of young women–mind and heart, body and spirit (Mission Statement). The work is challenging, the rewards abundant. Through the legacy of the Dominican Sisters, the giants upon whose shoulders we stand and extraordinary leadership and dedication of the many men and women who have joined us in the ministry of education, we have and continue to make a difference. The hope of the future is in the hands of the young women we send forward to make this world a better one
When I was a little girl, I was shopping with my mother. There I met two women who were dressed in very strange clothes and would sit begging for money for, what I later learned was the Catholic Hospital nearby, where I had been born. I looked forward to speaking with them each Saturday because of their smiles and their interest in me, and I came to know them very well. I remember saying to my mother, “One day I am going to become one of them”. I later learned they were not only Dominican sisters of Amityville, NY, but they were natural sisters. And so the relationship began.
At five years of age I entered first grade where once again I met the Dominican sisters and immediately fell in love with them for their patience and kindness and excellent teaching.
Dominican Sisters of Caldwell
As I became older I witnessed their dedication to the poor American blacks and Italian immigrants who comprised a large population of our school and parish community. I saw them go to homes with food and clothing. My father would pick up baked goods for them to give away. A vocation was nurtured through example and relationship.
Forty-eight years later I am happy to say that the Dominican life continues to nurture me with much joy and many challenges. I was once asked what was important to me about our life and my immediate response was the relationships with which I have been blessed in community and ministry. The people speak God’s word of truth and challenge me to respond as Jesus would. This had been my life as an elementary and high school Spanish teacher.
It was while teaching Spanish that I fell in love with the Hispanic culture and through God’s grace was invited into pastoral ministry with the Spanish Apostolate both at the parochial and diocesan levels. What a gift to experience the expression of faith through many cultures, to advocate for people whose need for survival and hope brought them to our country, to work with them to bring about unity through diversity. I was the minority and I was changed. My life was enriched through sharing prayer and ministry with people from all of the 22 Spanish-speaking countries. I have visited these countries and had opportunities to plan and advocate on every level of church, government, at the diocesan, regional and national levels.
Today in The Opening Word Program I also am privileged to work with immigrant women where we teach English as a Second Language. Their lives are a gift and a challenge. The Opening Word is a sponsored ministry of the Dominican sisters.
And the relationships continue as does the preaching.
Stories of Our Sisters
bring the Charism to Life
Here are Our Stories for April 2009
Dominican Sisters of Amityville
Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt
Dominican Sisters of Sparkill
I entered the Caldwell Dominicans because they taught me in school and “I liked what I saw.” I was especially taken up by the JOY and SPIRIT of Sister Eileen Imelda, and I wanted to share in that Joy and Spirit.
My biggest surprise is that I have ministered in so many different ministries: teacher in NJ, CT and Abaco Island, Bahamas; housemother for pregnant teens; adult day care; and now administrative assistant in our Development Office. I love the Spirit of our community and how we share it with each other. God has always been there for me and I want to share His LOVE and Joy with others. That’s what inspires and energizes me!
The members of the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary Come together to proclaim with John the apostle the words of Christ:“I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.”
In late August, I attended the ceremony of a recent graduate who entered the Pax Christi Sisters. That gathering occasioned a flood of memories of my own entrance in1961. My “call” or vocation was an ordinary experience. It was an ongoing nudge during the two years I was a 9-5 secretary. I am a lifer in terms of my education by the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill.
It was in the fourth grade that I first became interested in religious life. The Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt who taught me made their life real and attractive. In my senior year, they invited me to a gathering of women interested in religious life. Invitation, in-formation, and family were great supports for me.
In 1961 the Catholic Church was “letter of the law” as was religious life and I did a lot of thinking for myself. It was not until 1968, with Vatican Council changes, that I felt like myself again. Study and experience opened my eyes and heart to be my true and authentic self. Dominican life nurtured a healthy interdependence of self within community. Our motto of “Truth” and our four Dominican pillars of prayer, community, study and ministry felt like a perfect fit for me and still do.
Religious life for me was and is very much connected with ministry- nine years teaching followed by retreat work, parish and religious education, and then service as Vocation and Associate Director. Presently, I am a Pastoral Care Counselor and work for Global Justice.
My vocation is very much about relationship and community. In 1971, through the Charismatic Renewal, my relationship with God became very real. It has been the renewal in my life that has carried me through “thick and thin”. This work of the Spirit has revitalized the prayer, study, community and ministry, which have been so much a part of my life. I have been able to make real the Dominican motto, “To contemplate and to share with others the fruit of our contemplation”. Without a deep relationship with God, others, and myself, there would be little authentic fruit to share and I am very grateful.
www.catholicdominicansisters.org
+ Amityville + Blauvelt + Caldwell + Sparkill
The Order of Preachers sharing the Gospel for over 800 years.
