November 08 Index

“The Only Thing We Have to Fear . . . ”
As I began to write this article it was a bright and sunny day, but even with the sun shining the day was gloomy. Yesterday, Sept. 29, 2008, the stock market took a wild swing, with stocks plummeting in value by almost 778 points. Read more . . .

Sr. Marie Joanna’s Life Leads Her to Chaplaincy
Becoming a Sister was always a possibility in my mind. In 8th grade, I announced I wanted to join the Carondolet Sisters in Kansas. My parents were very firm in saying, “No, not yet. If you want to join after high school, you may.” Read more . . .

Cultural Transformation
Culture is a direct reflection of the society in which we live. We can observe aspects of the culture by getting in touch with language, communication, core beliefs, values, traditions, history, celebrations, rituals, and symbols of the community. Read more . . .

Grand Raffle 2008
The Grand Raffle was held Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008. Sisters and employees waited to see if they would know any of the winners. Prioress Patricia Mulcahey, OP, drew the tickets, and the crowd anxiously listened as Director of Development Mary Ellen Green, OP, announced the winners. Read more . . .

Organ Refurbishing
For the first time ever, significant renovations are being made to the Queen of the Rosary Chapel’s Casavant Organ. Read more . . .

‘Thick’ Talk in Initial Membership
Many of us have come to treasure opportunities we have for “thick” talk! The Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process and Community Days provided us with a chance for some of those good conversations. We also look for other opportunities to share thick talk in our regions and other community settings where we engage with one another. Read more . . .

Prayer Circle Sustains Dominican Spirit
One lights the candle. Another tones the prayer bowl, and we begin with these words: Lord, we are called to study. Read more . . .

Switching Sisters: Living with Another Community
In an effort to learn more about one another’s community, three Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters recently spent a week at Siena Center, motherhouse of the Racine Dominicans, while three Racine Dominicans stayed at Sinsinawa Mound for the week. Read more . . .

Dominican Volunteer Enjoys Living in Community
Working at St. Leonard’s Ministries does exactly what the mission of the Dominican Volunteer USA (DVUSA) program sets out to do. The mission asks us to “respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers, especially those who are poor and marginalized,” and these are the people who I get to work with and see on a daily basis. Read more . . .

Praying for Peace
Dominicans around the globe participated in a day of praying for peace Sept. 21. Read more . . .

Birthday Celebrations Sinsinawa Style
Birthday celebrations have long been a part of our Sinsinawa tradition. The warm, time-honored, Italian custom of hosting one’s own birthday thrilled the students and Sisters at Benton and Sinsinawa as Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, marked each Nov. 4. Read more . . .

Cochabamba’s INFANTE Program Celebrates 20 Years
Appalled by the conditions in the orphanages I visited in Cochabamba, Bolivia, I had facilitated the adoption of three children to the United States, one with a hearing problem and one with paraplegia and her brother. Read more . . .

Visioning Dominican Retirement
Ten years ago Germaine Hietpas, OP (Racine), and Mary Hopkins, OP (Sinsinawa), were having a conversation about retirement that led to their inviting Sisters of other Dominican congregations to come together to engage in conversation around the topic of retirement. Read more . . .