Dominican sisters mission and ministry fall 2013

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Dominican Days 2013 · Marywood Legacy Campaign Update · Fall 2013 · Vol. VIII

Living in a Sustainable Way

SponsorshipsAssociate Life

Dominican Center at Marywood

Dominican Chapel Marywood

Retreats/Conferences/Seminars/Workshops

Spiritual Formation Program

MinistriesAquinata Hall

Education/Health Care/Chaplaincy

Marywood Health Center

Marywood Home Health

Maternidad, Chimbote, Peru

Parish and Diocesan Ministry

Partners in Parenting

San Pedro Sula Ministry, Honduras

WORD Project · ESL Program

AdvocacyAdvocacy for Justice

Care of Earth

Culture of Peace

Ending Homelessness

Global Partnership

Front cover: Sister Lucille Janowiak often is found nurturing the developing prairie on the Marywood campus. She also volunteers in support of other prairies as she works toward a Master Naturalist certificate.Photo by Patricia Pennell.

Our very name, Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids,

Reflects the rushing waters of the region where we settled.

Water is part of our physical being,

Our theology, spirituality, and connection

to our past and present reality.

With our name containing RAPIDS, pouring fast to slow

Rapidly moving one level to another

Splashing, rushing, blissfully moving

The Rapids have carved their rippled crevices

So deeply into our name of who we are

And who we have become.

Crossing the Atlantic by boat

Sent by Mother Benedicta to the new world

Our origins were of the great divide

Of the Old World to a new frontier

Leaving all behind

Landing in New York Harbor

Being sent to be reborn in the New World.

Then over dry land across to the midwest

To Traverse City, our lake, Lake Michigan

Then to the River, the Grand River

Where the Rapids formed

As we did carefully, slowly,

Making our way with natural force

To become today, carved of our past

To grow fully and more deeply along our river, Grand.

~ Lucianne Siers, OP

3www.grdominicans.org

Have you ever made a Holy Day of Observation? Poet and Preacher Annie Willits, OP, encourages each of us to add

this practice to our litany of spiritual and liturgical observances. On a Holy Day of Observation we just might see or experience something of the love with which God – in the guise of Earth – wraps us each day. And having experienced such beauty with our own senses, we might act to extend the gift.

Our roots as Dominicans of Grand Rapids come from rural Prouille, France; to Ratisbon, Bavaria, Germany; to Traverse City; to Grand Rapids; and to other parts east, west, north, and south. Many of our Sisters claim rural heritage. Some came from enormous wheat farms in far west Canada, others from fruit farms in northern Michigan, and still others from family farms in many parts of Michigan or the Good Earth of New Mexico. And if a Sister wasn’t a farmer by birth, being missioned in a small community in Michigan or New Mexico often meant living close to the land since some compensation for teaching came in the form of fresh eggs or vegetables or a canned food roll!

Parts of our history converge in two stories about onions: One, the story that for some weeks in the 1930’s the Sisters at Marywood ate onions in the morning, onions in the evening, onions at suppertime, concocted in every recipe imaginable. That was just about all there was to eat. Secondly, on a visit to Chimbote, Peru in 2009, I met a Peruvian woman in the barrios who had nothing but onions in her home to feed her children and herself. These reflections remind me that we Dominican Sisters know something about the joys and hardships of living close to the Earth, just as our sisters and brothers living in poverty do.

Our current location on Fulton Street, site of our Motherhouse since 1922, originally marked the outskirts of the City of Grand Rapids. In more ways than one we were laborers in the vineyards of the Lord, farming this parcel with fruit trees, grape vines, chickens, and large vegetable gardens.

Today our discipleship as women who cherish the sacredness of all creation leads us to many other observations and actions: construction of our Marywood Health Center to LEED standards; use of prairies and other on-campus environments for the flourishing of native plants and grasses with a reduced use of mowing and pesticides; studying and seeking to comprehend the magnificent new universe story with its astonishing implications for the height, breadth, and depth of God’s creation; embrace of the Seventh Principle of Catholic Social Teaching (Care for God’s Creation ~ www.usccb.org) in our Direction Statement on Care of Earth; stewardship of creation as one of the elements of our Socially Responsible Investments values; the Economicology and Sustainability focus at Aquinas College; our professed commitment to live simply as vowed women religious; and our insistence that human life vivifies God’s creative impulse.

The Psalmist tells us: The Earth and everything in it is the Lord’s (Psalm 24). We Dominican Sisters pledge to encounter our created world as women who are inflamed with contemplative love. Won’t you join us, take a day, and observe the goodness of creation, treasuring everything as the Lord’s?

With shared regard for God’s blessed Earth,

Maureen Geary, OPPrioress

The Earth and everything in it is the Lord’s. (Psalm 24)

Dear Friends:fro

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4 mission ministry • Fall 2013

OuR AnnuAL GAtHERinG…

Dominican Days 2013The Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids gather every year in early August to celebrate, pray, study, and reflect on our lives together. This year Sisters and Associates arrived from Peru, Honduras, New Mexico, California, Wisconsin, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, and the North,

East, South, and West of Michigan.

Sisters and Associates came from near and far to pray together and plan for the coming year as Dominicans. They also blessed the newly renovated Aquinata Hall.

Pre-meetings on July 31 at Marywood reflected on our justice commitments of

immigration, trafficking, and Care of Earth, as well as the annual input on car safety. the official gathering began on August 1. Centered in prayer, our voices soared with the love divined from the past year of ministries and outreach to so many people. this gathering renews our energy with a common commitment based in prayer and presence.

Our study this year focused on the Call to Religious Life/Vocation allowing us to remember our own unique stories of being called to Grand Rapids Dominican life and mission. the question before us during these days together was how we might embrace new members and welcome them into our congregation. As a result of our discussion we are eagerly exploring new ways to share our commitment with those interested in religious life.


Celebrating Longevity of ServiceCommemoration of 50 years of

presence of our sisters in Chimbote, Peru highlighted the efforts of dedicated ministry to the people there. Sister Lillian Bockheim, currently missioned in Chimbote, carried home the Resolution of our prayer and support as both Sr. Lillian and Margaret Mary Birchmeier continue their ministry at the Maternidad de Maria as nurses.

We blessed Aquinata Hall and rededicated our commitment to serving those who come for assisted

living in this newly renovated building. the renewed space is now refreshed with larger rooms and is fully licensed to provide for the needs of Sisters and laity. Delight with the new space is apparent from the smiles on the faces of the residents.

Sixteen Jubilarians were blessed and celebrated by the congregation, family, and friends through Eucharistic Liturgy and delicious food. Guests arrived from far and near to honor their loved ones who celebrated anniversaries of 25, 50, 60, 70, and 75 years.

in addition, we were blessed with the presence of more than 75 of our 131 Dominican Associates during several segments of our Dominican Days celebration. the Commitment Ceremony of 15 new Dominican Associates was certainly one of the highlights of Dominican Days. We welcome them to Associate Life and pray that they will grow in their living of the Gospel’s truth and joy.

~ Lucianne Siers, OP

Highlights of Dominican Days 2013 include commitment of new Dominican Associates, solemn remembrance of those Sisters and Associates who now rest in peace, blessing of our Jubilarians, celebration of 50 years serving families in Peru, and time for relaxation and community with Sisters who work in missions all over the globe.


St. Paul had it right – we truly are many parts and one body. And that body is the

body of Christ, the Christos, the entire cosmos still evolving because God’s love is ongoing and never ceases to exist.

today, St. Paul might add that the many parts and the one body have but one Earth; we need to take care of it because “God found it very good.” (Genesis 1:31) this Earth provides enough; actually more than enough, for everyone to have what she or he needs to live if we share.

Jesus taught us that we are connected, not only to each other, but to Jesus himself. “Whatever you do for the least, you do for me.” Paul and Jesus remind us over and over again that we all are connected to each other and to Christ in Jesus, the new Creation.

Tracing the RootsOthers also have reminded us

of this truth. Julian of norwich, the 14th century mystic had a vision of this wholeness: “God showed me a little thing, the size of a hazelnut, on the palm of my hand, round like a ball. i looked at it thoughtfully and wondered; what is this? And the answer came. it is all that is made... it exists both now and forever, because God loves it. in short, everything owes its existence to the love of God.” (Chapter 5 Julian’s Showings)

Another mystic and great theologian of the Middle Ages, St. thomas Aquinas, understood the connection between cosmology and theology. “if we do not understand creation correctly,” he said. “We cannot hope to understand God correctly.”

And still another mystic from that period, the Dominican Meister Eckhart, has a poetic metaphor for God’s involvement with creation. “What does God do all day long? God lies on a maternity bed giving birth all day long,” he said.

A contemporary man of prayer and current leader of the Church, Pope Francis, sees the connection and has spoken of it many times. “i would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political, and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: Let us be protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment,” he says.

And now science is telling us the same thing that poets, mystics, and religious leaders have known for centuries. Friend and colleague of Albert Einstein, the theoretical physicist David Bohm, made this observation after probing the depths of quantum physics and the nature of all things: “As human beings and societies we seem separate, but in our roots we are part of an indivisible whole and share in the same cosmic purpose.”

Contemporary scientist-theologian, ilia Delio, OSF, PhD, explores the meaning of Christ emerging as the life-giving power of the universe. Dr. Delio provides the teachings of scientist-mystic Pierre teilhard de Chardin, Hindu scholar, Raimon Panikkar, as well as two contemplatives, Bede Griffiths and thomas Merton, in her recent writings on Christ and employs these contemplatives as guides to support a theology borne out of experience and global consciousness. She

One Body – One Earth

Sisters, Associates, and friends joined in a volunteer effort to clean up the Grand River this fall during an event organized by the City of Grand Rapids.


integrates spirituality, theology, and science and emphasizes the need for a more contemplative approach to understanding the meaning of Christ in our world today.

One Body Taking ActionSt. Paul’s image of many parts and

one body may have seemed like a metaphor to us for many generations. now we realize that it is much more than a metaphor; it is actually a good description of reality. When one part of the body, be it finger, person, nation, or waterfall, is cut off, hurt, tortured, degraded, or destroyed then the whole body suffers. We are one body.

the Dominican Sisters acknowledge this astonishing web of relationships and have worked to mend, to heal, to care for the Earth and all of its inhabitants – human, sentient, and non-sentient alike.

the Care of Earth Committee has studied and observed, reflected, and acted on several specific issues. the members brought the Earth Charter to the congregation for study and endorsement during the General Assembly of 2005. they sponsored speakers on climate change and the sacredness of water.

the work of the Care of Earth Committee always includes both study and action. For example, they learned both the philosophical connection between Lake Michigan as the origin of the tap water we drink, a source renewed by streams, rivers, and rains borne on western winds, as well as the practical necessity of providing clean drinking water for people dying for lack of just that provision. Formal presentations of the committee are always followed by a practical action, such as collecting money to purchase sand filters for impoverished peoples in a place like the Dominican Republic where fresh water is a scarcity due to ecological degradation. Another common action of the committee is joining the national effort to clean up our shorelines. in the fall, members join hundreds of others to clean up Marquette Beach in Muskegon.

the Prairie Restoration Committee works with neighbors and interested others to restore a small plot of prairie on the Marywood grounds (see related story on page 9). the

committee also teaches how the native, drought resistant plants flourish without pesticides or watering to provide habitat and food for birds, insects, and mammals in this miniscule, yet intricate web of life.

the Grounds Committee studied the care of the Marywood grounds and advised the appropriate departments on methods of maintaining the beauty of the acreage while minimizing the use of petroleum fueled equipment and excessive watering. the Marywood grounds staff observe ozone days, providing a good example to the neighbors by not using gasoline powered equipment on those days.

in both renovation and construction, architects and contractors are sought who maximize both natural and economical methods for heating, cooling, and maintaining the buildings on the Marywood campus. in addition, we seek construction solutions that highlight our natural resources. For

All creation is a complicated,

glorious, astonishing web

of relationships.

Continued on page 8


example, our newly renovated Aquinata Hall has a solarium/atrium on the south side. this is the perfect place for residents and visitors to easily welcome sunlight with its incumbent capacity to boost both vitamin D and human spirits during the cloud covered days of Michigan winters.

these efforts and others might lead to a positive rating from environmental organizations, or to a feeling of self-satisfaction about what we do, but this is not the reason why the Sisters and Associates put effort and financial resources into Care of Earth. We do it because we have prayed with Scripture; we have

studied the writings of Church leaders on ecology; we have studied the book of nature and contemplated our own experiences. We have concluded that there is really no other choice for the Christian today.

A Calling to CareCare of Earth truly is caring for one

another. Earth is abundantly sufficient to fill our human needs if we share the resources and refuse to exploit the gifts of nature, remembering that all life is sacred. if we live knowing that we have enough, really more than enough, to live well and if we choose to live simply, then we make it possible for others to live at all. By joining together to care for Earth and share her bounty, we are joining with God in birthing new life, in expanding compassion, in appreciating beauty in the abundant creation that is God’s glory.

We have evolved in our understanding of God and creation; we see the connections now and we know that we are all genetically related. All creation is a complicated,

glorious, astonishing web of relationships. Franciscan Sister ilia Delio reminds us that in our vocation of giving birth to God’s presence in this world, we don’t have to solve all the problems. We do have to deepen relationships; we have to recognize that we are all part of one cosmic family. Every person, every single thing that is created, is a unique, distinctive reflection of God’s love. St. Paul was right when he said, “…we are many parts; we are all one body.”

But it was from Jesus that we learned this boundless truth, “What you do to one of these, the least of all, you do to me.” We all are in this together and we earnestly invite you to join us in this grand adventure of caring for God’s unfolding work of art.

~ Mary Navarre, OP~ Lucianne Siers, OP

One Body – One Earth Continued from page 7

We earnestly invite

you to join us in this

grand adventure

of caring for God’s

unfolding work of art.


From stopping hydraulic fracturing to keeping Earth’s water clean,

the Dominican Sisters foster a contemplative stance that all Earth is sacred and interconnected. “When we recognize that Earth is the creation of God and we’ve been given the chance to live here and use the Earth for food, clothing, and housing, then it follows that we want to keep Earth as fruitful as possible,” says Katrina Hartman, OP, PhD.

By committing to keeping Earth a safe, clean place, the Dominican Sisters also look inward and focus on their daily lives. As Sister Katrina points out, one of the first people who entered the Dominican Order was Saint Albert the Great. He studied nature and wrote about the plants and animals that he encountered in his home region. “For our own congregation, a great many of our Sisters come from farming communities where there has always been an association with the land,” continues Sister Katrina. “the whole

Care of Earth Starts in Our Own Backyard

LiVinG in A SuStAinABLE WAy

The Freshest Food PossibleBuying food and products locally

is a large part of our commitment to sustainability and promise to lead by example regarding Care of Earth. Buying locally provides many

environmental and economic advantages that not only benefit the Earth, but also support local families and businesses.

When purchasing from local farms, the Sisters help sustain

local food systems, which often ameliorate the environmental damage caused by industrial farming.

not only are the Sisters buying locally, but they have opened communication with larger food suppliers to promote environmental sustainability. “We have added our voice with other local venues to encourage large food suppliers to purchase more of their goods locally… and it is working,” says tim Pirochta, Food Services Director for the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids. “Big food vendors like Gordon Food Service are now making a significant effort to buy from Michigan farms.”

By eating locally and buying in bulk, there is much less packaging to contend with. this elimination of waste has become a major part of the day-to-day lives of the Dominican Sisters. “We try not to purchase items with excessive packaging,” says Mr. Pirochta. “in fact, how and what an item is packaged in is one of the factors used to determine if we will buy the product or not.”

For the Sisters living in community in Baltimore, Maryland, the pledge to eat locally means that they grow much of what they need and share their bounty. “We planted a variety of plants, grasses, trees, and an orchard of fruit trees, along with extensive vegetable and herb

Continued on page 10

idea of our caring for Earth comes from both our Dominican history and the background of our Sisters.”

in 1992 the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids formally committed themselves to a deeper relationship with Earth when they adopted the following Direction Statement:We commit ourselves to foster the contemplative stance that all the Earth is sacred and interconnected; respect and accountability for the Earth are necessary to the survival of life. We affirm that actions which impact the environment will be preceded by the question: Is this action which I (we) are performing supportive of the environment?

today’s Sisters and Associates, those living at Marywood and across the country, make every attempt to live a sustainable lifestyle, including eating locally, using green sanitizing chemicals, reducing use of paper products, relying on captured rain to water their gardens, and nurturing native plantings wherever possible.

A student tending the garden at Jonah House. Right: Sister Carol Gilbert.


gardens,” says Ardeth Platte, OP, who moved to Jonah House with Carol Gilbert, OP, in March 1995. the Jonah House community shares a small caretaker house located at St. Peter Cemetery, an irish Catholic, twenty-two acre, burial ground begun in 1851 in Baltimore.

“We preserve our own food for the seasons by drying, canning, and freezing fresh produce and we distribute food weekly through a food pantry,” continues Sister Ardeth. “Our own meals are mainly vegetarian.”

Minimizing Waste Everywhere

the volume of paper and packaging used by the Sisters has dramatically decreased in the past five years. they participate in simple everyday changes that reflect their Care of Earth promise. By communicating using email rather than printed memos, using recycled paper, and buying products in bulk, the Sisters’ have not only saved money, but diverted waste from local landfills.

“We purchase biodegradable ‘plastics’ made from corn oil and nearly all of our paper products are made from recycled materials,” says Mr. Pirochta. “We compost ALL of our food scraps and paper products, and recycle all metal and glass.”

this is a theme that is commonplace for the community in Baltimore as well. they brought grazing sheep, goats, donkeys, and llamas into the cemetery to limit the use of gas for lawn mowers. they also find the animals a great help for natural fertilizer in the gardens!

“to limit the use of water, we use rain barrels for watering flower beds and we constructed a compost toilet within an inside greenhouse. We use downed trees from the cemetery for our winter wood supply, as wood stoves are our only heat in the community house,” says Sister Ardeth. “We recycle everything possible including using compost bins. A hybrid car shared by the Jonah House community seemed essential and over the past ten years it has given 40 to 70 miles per gallon.”

Environmental strategy through minimizing waste is a core idea on the Marywood campus. in 2005 the Marywood Health Center was built to meet the LEED (Leadership Energy & Environmental Design) nC-Silver Criteria. natural cork flooring for some areas, carpets made with plant fibers and backing from other natural products were chosen. Conservation of water is

accomplished by re-circulating water throughout the building.

Planting Nativethe five Sisters sharing a home

in Albuquerque, new Mexico for the past 17 years find that the restraints of drought in the desert make water conservation a necessity. “it is really important that we conserve all the water that we can,” says Bernice Garcia, OP.

their need to conserve water drove the Sisters in new Mexico to transform their landscaped (and formerly watered) yard from green grass to what they refer to as zeroscaping. “We now have an assortment of totally native plants that require very little maintenance and water. they are surrounded by colored rocks,” says Sister Bernice. “For over a year we did not pay a water bill because of our zeroscaping; the city rewarded us!”

that same practical commitment spurred on the development of an organized approach to land

“…we consider the land a gift from God.”

Continued from page 9

Sister Jean Reimer in the kitchen at Marywood.

The Sisters’ home in New Mexico.


management throughout the Dominican Community. “When we first formed the Grounds Committee we focused on grounds management for Marywood. We considered how we managed the land without great expense and without harming our Earth,” says Alice Wittenbach, OP. “the basic motivation is that we consider the land a gift from God.”

One outcome of the intentional work done by the Grounds Committee was to recommend reduction in size of an overgrown bioswale created in 2005 during the construction of Marywood Health Center. “in 2011, we solicited a few experts from around the area and learned what plants we needed to remove and what we should add to create a sustainable native prairie,” says Mary Lucille Janowiak, OP. “Along the way we were introduced to the River City Wild Ones who volunteer to help us manage the prairie and educate others.”

today, Sister Lucille chairs the Prairie Restoration Committee. the group consists of six people who steer the development of the one acre natural habitat on the Marywood campus along Fulton Street near Lakeside Drive. “People don’t understand why we would develop a prairie,” says Sister Alice, discussing why the plan to reduce the bioswale was reworked into a strategy to establish a strong prairie feature for the sustainability of the property. “Essentially we are trying to restore

something native to the area. it does take a long time to develop, but eventually it will require little support.”

“Developing this prairie is a small effort to address global climate change because we do not have to mow the lawn in this area. these plants also purify and slow the runoff water from our impervious surfaces and purify the groundwater as it seeps down through the deep, deep roots that are a part of the prairie; and it provides a wildlife habitat for native species,” says Sister Lucille. “We are trying to manage it as organically as possible, by not using herbicides.”

Sister Lucille also points out that the prairie is a contemplative space for people to meander or to sit on the benches donated by an Eagle Scout and placed around its circumference. Part of the circle of life for the prairie occurs with a controlled burn. the burn cleans up debris so that flowers do not get smothered by thatch or tree seedlings and the black ash absorbs heat providing native plants a faster start while curbing the invasive species. “it is very reminiscent of the dying and rising to bring about new life. the whole prairie reseeds itself,” says Sister Lucille. “it is a whole new world

caring for a prairie!”“there is no way for us to keep

up with Meijer Gardens,” laughs Sister Alice. “But, we too have a wonderful natural landscape that keeps our home beautiful while remaining a place of meditation.”

Additional attention to native species and minimal use of mowing and pesticides is provided in the Sculpture Garden that is being created and tended in the wetlands areas of the campus by instruments of Hope, a local non-profit entity that celebrates creation in the spirit of St. Francis.

Passing Along a Well Cared for Earth

“Our stewardship is intentional consciousness in order to give everything to the next generations intact,” says Sister Ardeth.

With their choices regarding day-to-day living, global justice stances, limiting each person’s carbon footprint, and the very buildings they live in, the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids live a dedicated and contemplative life with great attention to Care of Earth and its sustainability. Join in.

~ Matt Bergevin~ Maureen Fitzgerald Penn

“We compost ALL of our food scraps and paper products,

and recycle all metal and glass.”


In 1978, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published the document

“Environment and Art in Catholic Worship,” as a way to “provide principles for those involved in preparing liturgical space for the worship of the Christian assembly.” The Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids took this document to heart and renovated the worship spaces of the Marywood campus to reflect these ideas while also infusing nature into these sacred spaces.

There are three chapels on campus: Dominican Chapel Marywood (in the Marywood Motherhouse), Chapel of the Word (in the Marywood Health Center) and Chapel of St. Catherine of Siena (in Aquinata Hall). Each of these chapels highlights and helps reveal the greatness and glory of God, and places the gathered community in a sanctuary marked by simplicity.

Organic Design of Dominican Chapel

This simplicity is clearly noted in Dominican Chapel Marywood, which was designed in the mid-1980s by two Adrian Dominican Sisters, Rita Schiltz, OP, and Barbara Chenicek, OP. At the chapel’s entrance is the holy water font crafted by Celeste Bourke,

“…you can see the hands of the artist on the outside.”

~ Sr. Mary Navarre

Infusing Nature into Every Liturgy

OP (Adrian Dominican). The Bishops’ document states the art work in a renovated chapel should be “…not far removed from the print of the human hand.” Nowhere is this truer than in this holy water font.

“You can see the hands of the artist on the outside,” says Mary Navarre, OP. The finger-sized grooves on the outside of the clay pot run along the base in a complete circle. “On the inside, there is a pearly finish. Sister Celeste wanted everyone who used the holy water to remember that he or she is a pearl of great price.”

The large, heavy entrance doors are Michigan White Oak, relaying the idea of locality and the weightiness of mystery. Much of the chapel is wood, including the platform on which the altar sits, also made of Michigan White Oak. The platform timbers are greenwood having been allowed to dry naturally, rather than in a kiln. Over time they achieve the beautiful patina of age. The platform also appears to float 1.5 inches above the floor reminding us of the fact that we are of Earth, but not entirely mired in the mud.

Because of the placement of Chapel skylights and windows, natural light is pooled in different locations based on the movement of the sun each season. These changes reflect the Church liturgical calendar and focus the eyes of chapel participants on elements such as the altar where the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Sacred Eucharist takes place or toward the person proclaiming the Word from the ambo.

Peaceful PaletteThe colors of the chapel are muted,

using soft earth tones. Some color is found in the giant fabric tapestries behind the altar, which change with the Catholic liturgical seasons. These were sewn by many of the Dominican Sisters over several months.

Additional accents of color and texture come from the people attending the chapel. “Every Sunday morning the voices of God’s people gathering can be heard welcoming all to come together as one community in praise,” says Sister Mary. “Profound preaching, meaningful ritual, and prayerful presider converge to make the Sunday Eucharistic celebration an experience to nourish all for the week ahead.”

This reverential reflection of nature in the celebration of the Word and Eucharist within our campus chapels is yet another expression of the Sisters’ unique approach to Care of Earth in a contemplative manner. All are welcome – please join us.

~ Matt Bergevin

Join us in celebration of Mass every Sunday at 10am in the

Marywood Chapel



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God’s love sustains us. It is what gives us the strength and the courage to do all that we are called to do as Christians and as humans on this planet that has been so dearly entrusted to us.

You sustain us. Your support provides the necessary resources to give our ministry wings to reach out to those in need in our community and around the world.

The work our Sisters do day in and day out – our daily mission-driven efforts – is only possible because our faithful friends, like you, so generously and regularly donate, especially through our Annual Appeal.

While we are incredibly grateful for the strong support we are receiving for the Marywood Legacy Campaign, these funds are designated to support specific capital/building improvements, an expanded health ministry on campus, and future planning. These goals are exciting and important, yet are only one piece of a very rich tapestry of service still offered by the Dominican Sisters today.

With your sustaining annual support, we continue to: • teach others as mentors to youth in the classroom and after-school programs, professors in

colleges and universities, and speakers at conferences and gatherings

• support families on their journey as new parents, new language learners, and new citizens

• nurture and heal the sick as hospital chaplains, nurses, and counselors in the medical field

• promote justice and advocate for those most marginalized through partnerships with area nonprofits

• encourage spiritual growth and an ever-deepening personal faith through our Sunday Assembly, Associate life, and Dominican Center programming

• praise, bless, and preach God’s love through all that we do

While many annual appeals serve to keep the lights on and the heat working, our Annual Appeal directly serves others. Sometimes we lead the programs. Other times we are a partner. But always, we are there – reaching out to help where it is most needed.

God calls us to be good stewards of our Earth and the resources given to us. We remain committed to you as steadfast stewards of your generous support. It is what sustains our mission-driven work. It is what makes our daily service to others possible.

Because of you we’ve accomplished so much... and continue to do so. Thank you and God Bless You!

Annual Appeal Sustains Mission-Driven Work

More information about our

Annual Appeal is available

from Patrice Konwinski, OP,

Development Coordinator, at

[email protected]

or 616-514-3110.

Sustainability of Service

Annual Appeal in mailboxes mid-November.

Please prayerfully consider

how you can help us sustain

our mission-driven work.

We are grateful for every gift!


Defining the Marywood Legacyupgrading bricks, mortar, and grounds. Enhancing services and programs. Fostering mission for the coming decades. Forwarding shared blessings. the Marywood Legacy is more than just a fundraising campaign.

DEvELOPING A PLAN FOR MARyWOODContinued visioning of the future use of the Marywood Campus

Opportunities for enhanced programming and services become available as less space is needed by the Sisters

Collaborative process to invite broad dialogue and innovative ideas from others

Ensure that the campus remains a vital and vibrant community resource, and the rich legacy of Dominican service and mission-focused work will carry on forever

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We have long been accustomed to discernment of the signs of the times and good stewardship and sharing of the physical and natural resources with which God has blessed us.

now in this moment of our Marywood Legacy Campaign, we have started conversations with the Sisters, local foundations, and other community leaders to define the planning process and timeline. We know that our process will be democratic, studious, prayerful, thorough, and intentional. We know that our outcomes will respect the beauty and resourcefulness of our campus and our congregation. We also know that it will be mission-driven, seeking to continue our legacy of service and sharing the gifts with which we have been blessed.

With the help of Campaign funds, we will be a transformational presence in the Grand Rapids community, and continue to provide our ministries wherever needed from the solid foundation of our Marywood campus.

A legacy builds on the past to provide for the future. the Marywood Legacy Campaign supports the development of

the Marywood Campus for the coming decades based on our history and our mission-driven vision for diverse services that meet the needs of people today and tomorrow.

this Campaign supports the redesign, renovation, and licensure of Aquinata Hall and Marywood Health Center; funds investment in the healthcare services provided by Aquinata Hall, Marywood Health Center, and Marywood Home Health; underwrites the entry of the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids as a provider of healthcare services through their collaboration with Porter Hills; and provides funding for visioning new possibilities for the use of the Marywood Campus. As the dust settles on the renovation and the licensing steps are completed, renewed emphasis is being given to the use of the facilities for mission.

Crafting a Clear Planto add to the excitement, the work of visioning and then planning for future needs and services is coming to the fore. Some of the funds raised by the Marywood Legacy Campaign will be dedicated to the development of a comprehensive study and plan to ensure the continued good stewardship of this 34-acre green oasis in the heart of Grand Rapids.

Our campus has been a work in progress for more than 90 years as our home. new wings and floors have been added to the original structure, new buildings have been built, new uses found, new friends welcomed to campus as the Sisters’ involvement transformed itself over the decades.


“In an ever-changing world, the Dominican Sisters have remained true to the lessons of the gospels – feeding the hungry, comforting the sick, etc. Their work never stops. We stand in awe and gratitude.” ~ Nancy (Marywood Academy Class of 1967) and Brian Malone

Many donors to the Marywood Legacy Campaign are choosing to join together with other family members

to make a gift in memory or honor of a beloved relative or Sister. it is a wonderful way to recognize a special person. naming opportunities are available throughout Aquinata Hall and Marywood Health Center, including quaint gathering spaces, gardens, individual rooms, and more.

the Jackoboice Family, including Sarah and John, Barbara and tom, and Sherry Jackoboice, found a great match to honor their mother, Helen Gast Jackoboice, in the beauty shops located in both Aquinata Hall and Marywood Health Center. “For as long as i can remember, i recall Mom as she drove past Marywood saying ‘that’s my school!’ As she progressed in age and could no longer drive she still never missed an appointment at the beauty shop. it is with these memories that we are pleased and delighted to support the Marywood Legacy Campaign and honor Mom,” stated the collective members of the family in a note to the Dominican Sisters.

More information about the Marywood Legacy Campaign, upcoming campus tours, or naming opportunities on campus are available from yvonne Rackow – email: [email protected] or phone: 616-514-3106.

Like Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids on Facebook and stay in touch as our Marywood Legacy Campaign evolves.

Perfect Opportunity for Family Gifts

Peter M. Wege’s long-held love for the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids began with his Kindergarten

teacher Sister Mary Leonard, and has continued throughout his entire life. His experience with her helped shape the visionary and caring philanthropic leader he is today.

Mr. Wege, through the Wege Foundation, is ensuring that her legacy — the Dominican legacy – lives on forever through his generous support of the Marywood Legacy Campaign that includes a Matching Challenge Grant.

through April 2014, the Wege Foundation will match every gift made to the campaign up to $500,000 total. A donation of $100 becomes $200 for the Sisters; $1,000 grows into $2,000; $10,000 increases to $20,000; and so on.

Please consider gifting today. it has never been easier to make an even bigger impact on the lives of others!

The Wege Foundation is very proud to be part of the Marywood Legacy Campaign as it truly embodies Peter Wege’s favorite quote: “Do all the good you can, for as many people as you can, for just as long as you can.”

~ Ellen Satterlee, CEO, Wege Foundation

Act now to Double Your Gift

MARyWOOD HEALTH CENTER

MARyWOOD HOME HEALTH AquINATA HALL

MARyWOOD CAMPuS

PLAnninG FOR tHE FutuRE DEVELOPMEnt OF

Your Commitment to the Marywood Legacy Campaign

is an Investment in:

2025 Fulton St East

Grand Rapids, MI

49503-3895

T 616-459-2910

F 616-454-6105

www.grdominicans.org

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage

P A I DGrand Rapids, MIPermit No. 451

About usWe the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids are a community of 227 vowed religious women who follow the Catholic traditions of St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. Since 1877, we have taught children and ministered to the orphaned, partnered with nonprofit agencies and served in hospital ministries, social service agencies and hospice care. We have created works of art, helped lead liturgical reform and fostered life in parishes and communities. Today, based on the Marywood campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we engage in a wide variety of ministries throughout the United States and missions in Peru and Honduras.

by your donation you will participate

in, and make possible, many creative

and innovative responses to unmet

needs in our society.

MIssIon & MInIstry EDItorIAl tEAMMatthew Bergevin – Staff WriterMichael Ellen Carliing, OPJames Falk – Art DirectorMaureen Fitzgerald Penn – EditorMaureen Geary, OPRegina Mary Goeldel, OPPatrice Konwinski, OPMary Navarre, OPLucianne Siers, OP – Managing Editor

Follow us onlInE:Access chapel services and liturgy, upcoming events, and news at www.grdominicans.org

Like our facebook page at www.facebook.com/dominicansisters grandrapids

Check for articles on Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids at www.domlife.org and in the “Nonprofit Neighbors” section of the Grand Rapids e-magazine The Rapidian at www.rapidian.org

The Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids Care of Earth Committee offers these suggestions for ways to lessen our individual and collective carbon footprint by

saving electricity, saving water, recycling, etc. The intention of these links is to support our personal decision to lessen our impact on the environment.

The following websites help you calculate your personal or community CARBON FOOTPRINT:• www.footprintnetwork.org • www.go-green.com/node/21 • www.nature.org

If you type in the term “CLIMATE CHANGE CHECK SHEET” at www.michigan.gov, you will find a checklist of 50 items to help you reduce carbon emissions around the home, while shopping, at work and school, in the car, and in your life.

Explore both the NATURE CONSERvANCy WEBSITE AND MAGAzINE at www.nature.org

The ENvIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAM (EJP) calls Catholics to a deeper respect for God’s creation and engages parishes in activities that deal with environmental problems particularly as they affect people who are poor: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/environmental-justice-program/index.cfm

ECO-JUSTICE MINISTRIES is an independent, ecumenical agency that helps churches answer the call to care for all of God’s creation and develop ministries that are faithful, relevant, and effective in working toward social justice and environmental sustainability: http://eco-justice.org

SOURCES TO ASSIST yOU with Care of Earth

PREFER A DIGITAL COPy? In keeping with our commitment to Care of Earth, we invite you to begin receiving Mission & Ministry magazine digitally. Simply email [email protected] your preferred email address for receipt of the magazine link. We will remove your name from our mailing list for the magazine and only send you the digital version.

If you prefer to continue receiving a hard copy of the magazine in your mail box, that is fine as well. We continue to take steps to print in a conscientious manner, using vegetable-based ink on paper that is FSC® Certified. This means that the forests used to harvest the paper are well managed and environmentally conscious.

Dominican sisters mission and ministry fall 2013

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Transcript of Dominican sisters mission and ministry fall 2013