Dominican Sisters of Amityville
Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt
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The Order of Preachers sharing the Gospel for over 800 years.
Stories of Our Sisters
bring the Charism to Life
Here are Our Stories for January 2008
My decision to ask to enter the convent was a made on a September day during a visit to St. Dominic’s Convent in Blauvelt, NY. I made application in February and the following September found me walking up the steps of the motherhouse with seventeen other young women, only one of whom I knew.
When I look back I remember that my decision to enter was made in response to my desire to give something back to God in gratitude for all God had given me. I have never regretted it.
In the seventies, when so many sisters I knew were leaving the convent, I began hear the question: Why do you stay? My answer then and now is because I firmly believe this is where I am meant to find God and accomplish God’s work.
During the past 40 years, I have served in education on all levels; in parish work; congregational leadership and now in a community based organization which ministers to those afflicted with HIV/AIDS.
My ministry experiences have all been life giving and have enabled me to live out our Dominican call to preach the gospel of Jesus in exciting and creative ways.
Has it always been easy? Of course not, no vocation ever is. But religious life has provided me with companions in an outside my congregation who support, encourage, teach and challenge me. I am grateful for all I have learned from them and look forward to all I have yet to learn.
I entered religious life pre-Vatican II. That gives you a clue as to how old I am! In those days there was a certain security to religious life, or so we thought. Shortly after my profession, everything started to change. My first mission was to a convent of over fifty sisters. My first ministry was teaching second grade.
I was an elementary school teacher for sixteen years. At the same time, I was studying for a Masters of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry. This prompted me to move to parish ministry. I was a Director of Religious Education in a few parishes and studied to be a Spiritual Director. I then moved into the area of Spirituality and gave retreats and prayer days. At this time
I was also given opportunities for preaching. I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined myself as a preacher. But, I did continue preaching and am a member of a preaching team.
My dream come true was my ministry as staff at our congregation’s Spirituality Center. Again, I was invited to ministry that I would have never dreamed of. While there I learned T’ai Chi Chih and was encouraged to study for accreditation. When I left this ministry I free-lanced, offering “Spirituality and Wellness” Programs, integrating the T’ai Chi Chih with various prayer forms.
Now, as Vocation/Early Religious Life Minister, I strive to integrate all my past knowledge and experience while at the same time learning new skills and networking with other Formators. What is next? I have no idea. My guess is, that as in the past, it will be something I could have never imagined. Our God is a God of surprises!
Dominican Sisters of Hope
Someone once told me that “God’s ways are not our ways” but I have learned that God’s way usually turns out to be the best way.
Hello I am Sister Janet Marchesani, OP, a Dominican Sister of Hope. When I was in my teens I wanted to be a ballerina. I was dancing with the Delaware Valley Ballet Company in a small town in New Jersey and was very excited about moving to a large city to join a professional company. At the same time I felt God calling me to something more. It was a confusing time for me but I decided I had to pursue God’s call so I became a Dominican Sister. As I look back on that decision I realize that it was one of the best decisions I have ever made because it has brought me much satisfaction and joy.
During my years in religious life I taught for several years in elementary schools throughout New Jersey and New York and best of all I was encouraged to preach using dance. I have had many opportunities to do sacred dance bringing my love for dance to a deeper level and teaching others to pray with their whole being.
After teaching in elementary school I moved to a new Ministry, pastoral services with the Deaf. I believe that my training as a dancer has helped me tremendously to be able to become fluent in American Sign Language. I receive much joy when I interpret Mass or bring the Good News to Deaf individuals so they can more fully participate with the Catholic Community.
Truly God’s love has been guiding my journey.I grew up in St. Louis, MO, in the middle of our country. When I entered I was transplanted to New York in the late “50’s”, and lived here for about nine years, learning to be a Dominican teacher. Then I spent a large chunk of my life, ministering in the Midwest in elementary schools. I taught general subjects and then specialized in Music.
I have used music doing Retreats, liturgy in parishes, choir work, as music really is my love. While in St. Louis I took advantage of Aquinas Preaching Institute, and learned to preach.
I returned five years ago to do Vocation Ministry for our Congregation. Life is an adventure these days as I drive in NY, and try not to get lost!
God calls me again and again. There have been times that I remember being told I was staying with a sinking ship. I was feeling bitter, waiting for our congregation to make some changes, challenged by the times in which I was living. I was over-involved in my ministry, not taking time for in-depth prayer. Were it not for some truly good friends who questioned, and challenged—only the grace of God sustained me. Through grief, through burn-out, through the sudden loss of friends, through illness, I am called again, to follow unreservedly. This is a life-long pursuit, my God’s for me. My God does not count the costs—neither can I.
There are many ways to serve our God. Think about it!!
Dominican Sisters of Sparkill
It was the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, New Jersey that captured my heart. A wonderful spirit of joy and service exuded from all. I found their passion and thirst for justice to be evident in all the works they sponsored; high schools, a college, a school born of the civil rights riots, affordable housing for senior citizens and a learning center for Earth Studies. I have found that being open to the question and allowing God into my life helped me to recognize that something was missing. Today I live an authentic life as a Dominican Sister. This life has allowed me to discover the gifts and talents that were deep within me. Living a life of community where prayer and support are paramount, I’ve grown to love God in a deeper way and have discovered that love to be unabashedly reciprocal. I love this life, I love my sisters and I love God – why not! HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED RELIGIOUS LIFE?
I still remember it like it was yesterday – “have you ever considered religious life?” asked Sr. Regina. There I was, a recent college graduate, working for a major pharmaceutical company, building adult relationships with friends and family, and on the road to creating the future I had in mind for myself. Never did I think this future would include the choice of a call to religious life.
Today, eighteen years later, I happily say that was the best question anyone ever asked me. After the question or shall I say invitation to religious life was presented, I found my heart and soul never able to shake this thought. God was pursuing me, although at times I tried to run away, and I could do nothing about it. I finally decided to look at this invitation by attending some discernment days that different communities offered.
Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt
Dominican Sisters of Amityville
Dominican Sisters of Hope
Dominican Sisters of Sparkill
Dominican Sisters of Caldwell
Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de' Ricci
Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de' Ricci
I found a note at work one day inviting me to a bible study. I decided to go since I had always wanted to read the bible. It turned out to be a life changing, life giving decision. Somehow, in my Catholic upbringing I had not been given the insight of God as an unconditional loving being who invites us to choose a life of peace and freedom.
One transforming effect of choosing life was a growing restlessness in the corporate world. I began to pray that God would show me what was next. Four years later, at age 32, still in the corporate world, I made a weekend retreat at the Dominican Retreat House. I left with a confusing certainty about what was next. Since religious life had never entered my mind, it was quite a shock. We had quite a struggle, God and I, but I finally gave in. I made
a couple of day programs to check out those hospitable, joyful sisters and the amazing ministry they were doing for God’s people. Eventually, I inquired to see what my internal nudging was about. This, too, turned out to be a life changing, life giving decision.
Religious life has blessed me and given me the opportunity to journey with other sisters who are living out their own internal nudgings. I have found these nudgings to be ongoing and the creative impetus behind the many and various ministries for meeting the needs of God’s people. Currently, I am doing full-time ministry for my congregation after leaving a methadone clinic where I did individual and group counseling.
