Our Continuing Search for Truth
In the spring of 2001, the more than 800-year-old passion for the preaching charism inspired a gathering of Dominican educators to work together in order to strengthen the Dominican tradition in Catholic secondary education. In consultation with their peers, these Dominican school leaders formed a steering committee for the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools (DASS). By the spring of 2002, a group of 30 enthusiastic presidents and principals from 16 Dominican high schools met to revise preliminary by-laws and to discuss a proposed structure for DASS. Two major goals provide the focus for the organization: to develop and nurture leaders in the tradition of preaching, prayer, study and community; and to collaborate with others in carrying out the preaching mission through education. In October 2003, 100 participants from 28 Dominican-affiliated high schools gathered for the first national convocation, “Dominican High Schools, Spirit and Soul.” The Presenters were Ann Willitts, OP and Don Goergen, OP In 2005, Father Timothy Radcliffe, OP, former master of the Order, and Sister Margaret Ormond, OP, former director of Dominican Sisters International, were invited to be keynote speakers. This year, Fr. Charles Bouchard, OP was the main presenter and the theme of the 3rd convocation was “Our Continuing Search for Truth.” The theme was approached by looking at morality and ethics and how we help young people (and ourselves) to make ethical and moral decisions.
One by one the schools are called forth and someone from the school bears the placard with the schools name and shield imprinted upon it. As they came forth the refrain: “May we be your justice. May we be your peace. May we be your voice, O God, living what we preach.” by James Marchonda, OP. It was amazing to realize that these schools have founding dates back as far as 1850 and as recently as 2005.
Fr. Bouchard gave two presentations. The first, “What is morality in the Dominican Tradition” and “Morality, Spirituality and the Recovery of Virtue.” There were two responders to his presentations: Ellen Gaynor, OP (Sinsinawa) who is a medical doctor specializing in Oncology and Hematology at Loyola Hospital as well as Professor of Medicine at Stritch School of Medicine. The second responder was Angelo Collins, OP (Sinsinawa) who is currently the Executive Director of Knowles Science Teaching Foundation in Moorestown, NJ. Both women drew from Fr. Bouchard and approached it from their own field of expertise. The afternoon was spent with “A Classroom Model for Ethical/Moral Decision making” which was presented by Mary Carroll McCafferty, SSJ and Karen O’Neil. It was a very full day but by Saturday morning we were revived and ready for a presentation given by Robert Ludwig, Ph.D, Director of Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola (Chicago). His topic was “Youth and the Church: Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Promises.” After the convocation you leave with a tremendous sense of pride and awe of having the privilege to be part of this group of wonderful, dedicated faculties, staffs, and boards and believing that the legacy of Dominican education is alive and well and growing. Just a note Barbara Dausch, President of St. Agnes academy in Memphis was elected to the Executive Board of DASS. – Teresa Tuite, OP
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