The Order of Preachers sharing the Gospel for over 800 years.
Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt
www.catholicdominicansisters.org
Sponsored by the Vocation Ministers of the Northeast Dominican 6 Congregations
Stories of Our Sisters
bring the Charism to Life
Here are Our Stories for April 2008
This is my vision of what might have sown the seeds of my vocation. Growing up in Ireland, I had never heard of St. Dominic, much less of Mary Ann Sammon, our foundress, who was born not far from my home. Among my earliest memories, is an image of the Rosary said at a grandmother’s knee and of bible stories read by my aunt.
What shapes the heart of one who loses a mother at age 15 and soon after emmigrates to England? Perhaps it was the peace of a little church, where I stood in appreciation of its simplicity. Two years later when I arrived in America, that moment was forgotten.
Falling in with a few immigrants like myself made for lots of adventures. Our lives alternated between a shack owned by an aunt in Breezy Point, NY and the Catskill Mountains, which reminded us of home.
It has been written of the Irish that when we revisit the past, we can reinvent the truth to suit ourselves. It was a hot summer day, there was a beach and I might have said, "there has to be more to life”. I do know there was no sound, no terrible beauty, no wind or shroud of mist that engulfed me in a passion of holiness. Shortly after when I met the Blauvelt Dominicans, their charismatic demeanor, their work in education, and their concern for the poor moved me. Thus I said, as Mother Mary Ann did, "Here I shall be."
I thank God for this vocation and for the gift of being able to live a full life with all I have been given and for all I have been able to give in return. Is this not the Dominican way?
Dominican Sisters of Hope
My story as a Dominican Sister of Hope begins as a Newburgh Dominican.(How Hope happened is another whole story!) Unlike many other women religious, I came to this life not through knowing the Sisters but through reading about Dominicans and, while in college, listening to other students’ accounts of Sisters from their Catholic school experiences. Though born into a thoroughly Catholic family, I enjoyed twelve years in public school where even in adolescence I somehow knew (though the concept terrified me), that I had a religious “vocation”.The ideals that attracted me to the Dominicans in the first place have remained pretty much the same ones that have sustained me for over fifty years: a love of Scripture and all things beautiful, especially liturgy, the powerful witness of Jesus, our
Truth, the primacy of ministry supported by community, and a joy in the gift of profound personal relationships. Dominic’s commitment to an integrated life of mind, body and spirit, and a deep concern for the lives of people, especially the poorest, continue to attract and inspire me.
All the varied ministries that have engaged my energies over the years have been both challenging and rewarding. Enormous change marks the years of my membership. And religious life continues to change. I relish this new opportunity to be part of shaping the future with other faith-filled women. We care enough about our planet and its people to work with others for all that will foster life, preaching the Word with profound hope in the Source of all life.
Dominican Sisters of Sparkill
One fateful night in October 1995, I sat in a car in the parking lot of the Fame Diner across the street from St. John’s University and spoke with S. Joan. We had dinner together and I let it “slip” that I was struggling with a “life crisis,” but I wouldn’t say more. We continued to talk in her car, and suddenly she said the “V” word—Vocation. My silence was deafening. We talked for a long time in her car that night. A few days later she gave me the card for the vocation director. A few months later I dropped the postcard requesting information in the mailbox. As soon as the card left my hand, I knew my life would never be the same. I met with the vocation director in May, by September we set an entrance date, and I said my first public YES on 12/31/96.
Dominican Sisters of Amityville
Considering my Mom is Catholic and my Dad is Jewish, and the thought of religious life wasn’t in my original life-plan, I found and continue to find God’s call to be both humorous and profound. I encountered many obstacles, yet the deep presence of God within me never wavered. A retreat in Fanjeaux in 1999 secured my rootedness in Dominic and our charism of the Holy Preaching. My love for Catherine of Siena and her intimacy with Jesus have strengthened me for a journey I never would have imagined. My desire to live out my love relationship with God as a Dominican Sister of Amityville is written in the very depths of my heart. The gift of becoming the person God invites me to become is the grace of God’s boundless love for me—and for each one of us.
IIn 1957, I entered Religious Life to serve God, to bring people closer to God, and to save my own soul. I entered the Caldwell Dominicans because of the intelligent, kind, and happy sisters who taught me at Saint Aloysius Grammar School (Grades 5-8) and Mount Saint Dominic Academy. I have chosen to live it for 50 years because of a loving relationship with God and belief in the Dominican Way of life.
My biggest surprise has been teaching theology at Caldwell College! Who would have thought that Bobbie Krug would follow the steps of Phil Smith and Bob McMullen much less serve six years as chairperson of the Department following the distinguished chairpersons,: Father Paul Christopher
Perrotta, OP, Sister Maura Campbell, OP, Sister Mary Rattigan, CSJ, and Dr. James Flynn! Wow!
My biggest reward has been seeing some of my former students become such fine women and men. Many are more committed to a loving relationship with God, serving God’s People, and concern for justice, even for our planet Earth! In a sense, I feel like a grandmother enjoying her family!
Sisters' Stories April 2008
(APRIL STORIES ARE ON TOP OF EACH LIST)
Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt
Dominican Sisters of Caldwell
Dominican Sisters of Hope
Dominican Sisters of Amityville
Dominican Sisters of
St. Catherine de' Ricci
Dominican Sisters of Sparkill
When I was around 12 and helping out in the dining room at our Retreat house in Niskayuna, one of our sisters said “When you grow up, you will all be good Dominicans”. The other girls helping let out an emphatic, “No” or “Eeeuw” or “I don’t think so”. My response was, “Dominican, carpenter, teacher, who knows?”
Thirty-two years later, I am a Dominican Sister of St. Catherine de’ Ricci and I am the administrator of the same retreat house where I grew up. What happened in between?
In between, I helped and I watched and I listened. I saw the sisters laugh and sometimes get upset. I watched them minister to so many as I worked in the dining room, sang in the choir, learned how to lead a prayer service, helped prepare the house for retreats, volunteered with the disabled on their special retreat, and used my carpentry skills a bit. They were very real and very human…and an awful lot like me.
When I worked as a children’s counselor in a shelter for victims of domestic violence, the retreat house become my parish. I learned much from some very wise women who allowed me to grow into my gifts and talents in their presence. There was never any lightning bolt for me. I gradually began to realize that my gifts seemed to “fit” and I was being drawn toward this life. One day I simply “could not, not do it any longer”. I needed to give religious life a try with this community that had watched me grow into a woman.
Years later I am still watching and listening as we help others come to see the wondrous ways that God is working in their lives each day. And we do it as Sisters together.
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As a child I planned to marry and have a family – what did I know of God’s plans? Upon entering college I now saw three avenues of life open up before me – married life, single life and religious life. All seemed equally inviting – so I decided to wait until after graduation to explore further. Graduation came, I began teaching and dating a wonderful young man – seemed like a perfect match – an “EHarmony” special - long before it existed. But then there was this little voice that kept telling me there was something else I was to do with my life. This little voice never insisted, but never went away either. Peacefully parting from my boyfriend I decided to enter the Sparkill Dominican Community. Looking back over 40 years – that was a REALLY GOOD decision! “If today you hear God’s voice . . .” don’t be afraid to respond!!!!
