The Religious Formation Conference (RFC) seeks its next Executive Director to lead the National Office. Full-time position to begin January 1, 2023. Intention is to fill the position by early fall of 2022.
The Conference is an animating resource for initial and ongoing formation in religious life on a local, national, and global level for both women’s and men’s congregations. The RFC boldly creates spaces for discernment that shape and inform formation now and into the future.
Benedictine Sisters from 17 monasteries across the United States and Mexico gathered at Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas, from June 15-19 for the Federation of St. Scholastica Chapter. Besides the Sisters conducting their regular meeting, held every four years, to discuss matters of concern, plan for the future, and elect new leaders for this union of autonomous monasteries, they also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Federation’s official approval by the Vatican on February 25, 1922.
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release: June 7, 2022
Sisters of the Holy Cross celebrate jubilee anniversaries
Notre Dame, Ind. – Five Sisters of the Holy Cross will celebrate their jubilee years of consecrated life during a virtual ceremony on July 16, 2022. One sister is celebrating 50 years since her initial profession, and four are celebrating 25 years.
The Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph elected four Sisters to lead them during the next four years, including two who have previously served in office.
Sister Sharon Sullivan was elected congregational leader, a position she filled from 2010-16. Sister Sharon is celebrating her 40th year as an Ursuline Sister, with most of her time in ministry serving at Brescia College/University in Owensboro, Ky. She is currently coordinator of special education and a professor at Brescia.
By Katie Mahon, Communications Manager
For 21 years, Cathy McCann has been a Blauvelt Dominican Associate.
On the most recent episode of the Hearts Afire Podcast, she reflected on what the program means to her and its connection with the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York.
The Wheaton Franciscans, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, an international congregation of women religious, are hosting a Celebration of Presence in recognition of their 75th year of presence in Wheaton, Illinois, and their 150th year of presence in the United States.
May 25, 2022, Adrian, Michigan – The General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters issued the following statement, calling for common sense gun safety laws in the wake of the May 24, 2022, mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas – the third mass shooting in 10 days.
By Katie Mahon, Communications Manager
1930 was a difficult time for the United States as it marked the beginning of the Great Depression, which would lead to an unemployment rate of over 24.5%.
Even with the turmoil during that time, the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, managed to reach a milestone.
Saint Benedict’s Monastery will welcome two new members when Sister Bridgette Powers and Sister Laura Suhr make perpetual monastic profession on Monday, July 11, 2022, the Feast of Saint Benedict. Making perpetual monastic profession means that S. Bridgette and S. Laura will commit to a lifelong journey of seeking God according to the Gospel and the Rule of Benedict in community, including commitment to stability, the monastic way of life, obedience, celibate chastity, and monastic poverty.
Adrian Dominican Sisters Support
LCWR Statement on Buffalo Shooting
May 18, 2022, Adrian, Michigan – As members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), we Adrian Dominican Sisters strongly support this statement deploring the racial hatred and gun violence that led to the devastating loss of life in Buffalo, New York, with the mass shooting of May 14, 2022. The LCWR statement follows.
Violence and White Supremacy Cannot Stand
School Sisters of Notre Dame host online conversation about religious life
(April 22, 2022) – The North American Vocation Team (NAVT) of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) is hosting an online “Joyful & Alive Conversation” Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST). Single women ages 18-45 interested in how to discern God’s will for their life and/or who are curious about religious life are invited to attend and bring questions. More information and registration for the Zoom link is available at ssnd.org/events/6-7-22/.
May 17, 2022, Adrian, Michigan – The following is a statement issued by the General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters in response to the tragic mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, on May 14, 2022.
The Franciscan Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary from around the world elected a new leadership team. “Our hearts are filled with joy in making this announcement,” said Sister Melanie Paradis, Regional Directress for the Wheaton Franciscans, the United States region of this international congregation.
80 years
Sister Marie Julie Fecher ministered as a music instructor in Kentucky for almost 50 years. From 1976-94, she was a music instructor at Brescia College/University in Owensboro, Ky.
70 years
Sister Eva Boone served as an educator for 23 years in Kentucky, Nebraska, Missouri and Indiana, then served in parish ministry for 14 years.
Sister Ruth Gehres served as an English professor and later president of Brescia College in Owensboro.
Sister Michael Ann Monaghan spent nearly 50 years as a teacher in Kentucky, Missouri and her beloved New Mexico.
After being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, a very special Eucharistic celebration took place in St. Scholastica Chapel at Mount St. Scholastica on Sunday, May 15.
The perpetual profession of vows as a Benedictine for Sister Jennifer Halling had originally been planned for September, 2021. In order for Sister Jennifer’s family to attend, the liturgy was rescheduled.
The DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards are given annually by the Religion Communicators Council for excellence in religious communications and public relations. The following were announced as winning entries for work done in 2021 at the awards presentation on May 11:
80 years
Sister Shirley Ann Simmons, a native of Heartwell, Nebraska, taught for 55 years at Catholic parish grade schools in Louisville, and St. Elizabeth, where she served as principal.
Sister Shirley also taught in Cumberland, Maryland and Omaha, Nebraska. She served as principal at St. Patrick school and St. Luke parish school in Ogallala, Nebraska.
75 years
Sister Antonine Biven, a native of Louisville, is an accomplished musician, and taught music for 24 years. She also served as a pastoral associate and minister of music at several parishes.
By Katie Mahon, Communications Manager
For nearly 50 years, the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, have been serving the children of farmworkers in Orange County.
Located in Goshen, House on the Hill has served as an early childhood and migrant seasonal headstart center that provides education, family engagement, health, nutrition, and community partnership services.
DAYTON, Ohio — Sister Mūmbi Kīgūtha, CPPS, professed final vows as a member of the Sisters of the Precious Blood during a liturgy held April 23 at the chapel at Salem Heights, the religious community’s central house in Dayton.
“Benedictine spirituality is the spirituality of the 21st century because it deals with the issues facing us now...its currency lies in the fact that Benedictine spirituality offers more a way of life and an attitude of mind than it does a set of religious prescriptions,” writes Sister Joan Chittister.
By Katie Mahon, Communications Manager
Sr. Maggie McDermott, OP’s impact through her ministry on the most vulnerable communities in the Bronx and throughout New York City has been remarkable.
In her ministry as Executive Director of Tolentine Zeiser Community Life Center, Sr. Maggie, a Sister of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, oversees Susan’s Place, Sammon Build Center, Tolentine Early Learn Program, Paradise Transitional Housing, and Siena House.
Join in this interactive, one-hour, virtual workshop. We'll experience brief historical overview of the Doctrine of Discovery and engage in small group reflective conversation before sharing insights in the large group.
Sister Mary Anna Euring, OP, who grew up in Lynbrook, is having this solo exhibit of “On the Journey”, her Asian Brush paintings, at Melo Beauty Bar, 953 Franklin Avenue, Garden City starting in April 2022.
By Katie Mahon, Communications Manager
When asked to sum up her ministry, Sr. Alice Kirk, OP, a Sister of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, believes her role with the Archdiocese of New York is one that supports educators.
During a recent episode of the Hearts Afire Podcast, Sr. Alice shared, “I am supporting teachers in something that will help their students, and to me, you can’t get anything more important than education.”