Meister Eckhardt, a Dominican mystic, wrote that if the only prayer we ever said was thank you, that would be enough. That is my prayer for all the ways God has blessed my life as a Dominican Sister of Amityville. Taught by them in elementary school, I was curious and awed by the mystery of who these joy-filled, friendly women were. The more I observed, the more I felt God’s call and wanted to be like them. As the time to enter approached, tragedy struck my family with the news that my brother had been killed in action in the second World War. I knew everything had to be put on hold as we grieved this terrible loss. Although I never talked about what I wanted, my mother knew. Her unsolicited words are written on my heart: “Irene, I’ve lived my life and I have to let you live yours. Do whatever you have to do.” Her unselfishness, her belief in my vocation, has always been a source of strength for me. In 1945 I became a Dominican.
Dominican Sisters of Caldwell
I was blessed to be formed in the monastic tradition of our Order and then by the new life that unfolded with the Vatican Council. To reclaim our preaching charism, to rediscover the four pillars that shaped our life style: prayer, study, community, ministry was gift. All the possibilities for renewal excited me. I truly believed that God was doing something new and I was called to be part of it.
What I learned through my many years of ministry in education, leadership, spirituality is that how we relate to others is key. We form and are formed by those who share our journey. We are comforted and challenged by each other in community.
I look back on my life as a series of calls within “the call.” Each one has stretched me and blessed me and I pray that God has used me to stretch and bless others. Karl Rahner once wrote: “When we take a vow of obedience, we choose an unforeseeable destiny.” I know that to be true. There have been many surprises.
Stories of Our Sisters
bring the Charism to Life
Here are Our Stories for
June 2009
Dominican Sisters of Amityville
Sisters' Stories
June 2009
Dominican Sisters of Amityville
Dominican Sisters of Caldwell
Dominican Sisters of Sparkill
Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt
Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt
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.
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.
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
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.
When I entered I was inspired by the Sisters who had taught me. For fifty years that inspiration from my Sisters has been constant. They helped me to know myself and to grow in so many ways. During the past 50 years I have learned that the Dominican life and mission fit my personality, deepest desires and dreams.
Praising, blessing, preaching; studying reflecting and dialoging; learning to let go in hope have been part of the continuing thread of my life. What energizes me most now is the new fire and desire in the hearts of my sisters and parish people to know the Lord,Jesus, to understand and live the Sciptures and to work for peace and justice. What a great time to be a Caldwell Dominican.
The biggest surprise and the most amazing gift was the Second Vatican and Pope John XXIII's challenge to reclaim our spirit and charism. What a journey it has been! My call to teach Dominican History, to help found the Mariandale Dominican Reflection Center and finally to write the Community History have been surprises of the Spirit that have transformed my vision and shaped my gifts. This is the year to say thanks and to sing Alleluia. I believe we are already living our future full of hope as we seek the Spirit's direction for our choices.
www.catholicdominicansisters.org
+ Amityville + Blauvelt + Caldwell + Sparkill
