PRIORESSES OF SEVEN
CONGREGATIONS
LIGHT THE FIRE OF A NEW CONGREGATION
DOMINICAN SISTERS OF PEACE
On Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009, the
Dominicans of St. Catharine, Kentucky, Prioress, Sister Joye Gros, OP, united
with six other U.S. congregations of apostolic Dominican Sisters to form one new
congregation. The members chose the name, the Dominican Sisters of Peace.
The other congregations are:
- Congregation of St. Rose of Lima (Oxford, Michigan)-- Prioress Sr. Gene Poore,
OP
- Dominican Sisters, Congregation of St. Mary (New Orleans, Louisiana) -- Sr.
Angeline Margo, OP
- Dominican Sisters of Great Bend, Kansas -- Sr. Rene Weeks, OP
- Eucharistic Missionaries of St. Dominic (New Orleans, Louisiana) -- Sr.
Dorothy Trosclair, OP
- Sisters of St. Dominic of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Akron, Ohio) -- Sr.
Mary Anne Wiesemann-Mills
- Congregation of t. Mary of the Springs (Columbus, Ohio) -- Sr. Anne Kilbride,
OP
This historic event was celebrated with a festive Founding Event in St. Louis on April 14, where guests from throughout the country and around the world joined to rejoice with the Dominican Sisters and Associates of the new congregation. Notable speakers included the Master General of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), Fr. Carlos Azpiroz-Costa, OP, who offered a reflection as part of the opening prayer ritual and presided at the Eucharistic Liturgy; former Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Albert the Great, Fr. Donald Goergen, OP, who preached at the Liturgy; and International Dominican Co-Promoter for Justice and Peace Sr. Toni Harris, OP, who was the keynote speaker. Simultaneous celebrations took place at six other locations for Sisters and Associates unable to travel to St. Louis. With the meeting telecasted to these locations, remote participants were able to see and join in the various events of the day.
The decision to form a new congregation was made through a formal discernment process begun in 2002, where the seven communities explored ways they could more closely collaborate in their common mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ through their many ministries. A petition was sent to the Holy See in 2007 and approval for the new congregation was received that fall. The official decree from the Rome, authorizing the establishment of the Dominican Sisters of Peace on Easter Sunday, was received this spring.
A pontifical institute, the Dominican Sisters of Peace includes more than 650 Sisters serving in 29 states and in Honduras, Nigeria, Peru, Tanzania, and Vietnam. The congregation also has more than 500 Associates (women and men from throughout the country who partner in mission with the Sisters). Central administration offices for the congregation will be located in Columbus, Ohio, with various other offices located in St. Catharine, Kentucky; Akron, Ohio; and Oxford, Michigan.
The
First General Chapter (canonical meeting for decision-making in religious
congregations) of the Dominican Sisters of Peace followed the Founding Event,
April 15-21, 2009, in St. Louis. Most of the Chapter similarly was broadcasted
to other locations for Sisters to view the proceedings. During the Chapter, the
following Sisters were elected to the new Leadership Team: (left to right)
Sr. Therese Leckert, OP - Third Councilor
Sr. Gene Poore, OP - Second Councilor
Sr. Margaret Ormond, OP - Prioress
Sr. Gemma Doll, OP - Fourth Councilor
Sr. Joan Scanlon, OP - First Councilor
This leadership team will be installed on August 8, 2009, at which time they will assume their responsibilities. Their offices will be in Columbus, Ohio. They will hold office until 2015.
In addition, the Chapter set direction for the Dominican Sisters of Peace, incorporating the deliberations into four commitment statements preceded by a prologue. As the members live into the new reality of the congregation, specific action steps will be developed for implementing the commitments.
The new website for the Dominican Sisters of
Peace will be coming soon! Stay tuned for updates....
the jonquil will take you back to What's New