Mission & Ministry Spring 2016

our merciful God

Living into the Lord’s Most Powerful Message Moments of Mercy in this Holy Year of Mercy · Spring 2016 · Vol. XIII

Table of Contents: 2

From the Prioress

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Moments of Mercy 3 Showing Mercy in Prayer

4 Merciful Presence 5 Sheltering People Who Are Homeless 7 Mercy to Those Without Hope 9 Working to Eliminate Racism 10 The Abiding Legacy of Mercy 11 Inflamed with Mercy 13

From the Development Office

14 Saying Thank You 15 Annual Report Introduction Dominican Center

17 for Spirituality 18

An Invitation for You: 800th Dominican Jubilee Speaker Series

This is a photograph of fabric art entitled “Tulips” by West Michigan Artist Doris Larson.

“Art is a response to the wonder of creation. It somehow connects the creative force within me to the awesomeness of God’s creation. I see potential artworks everywhere: in a flower, at a stone quarry, on a rock face, in footprints in the sand, in the beauty of a winter day.” – Doris Larson

For I was hungry and you gave me something Johnny "Q" Photography

to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Front Cover: Sister Cecilia Faber and Sister Kateri Schrems in the Chapel of the Word at Marywood Health Center.

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Matthew 25:35-36

Dear Friends:

Compare this to a cliché we use in our United States justice system: “throw yourself at the mercy of the court” in order to escape harsh punishment. But that requires one to first acknowledge guilt.

In our tradition of Dominican life we throw ourselves at the mercy of our Sisters. This requires us to acknowledge just one thing: love. Love which never measures – only forgives. That’s the thing: our God is not into the idea of measurement, or quid pro quo, or full cost, or end of season sales. If anything, our God is into deep discounts, because we receive far more than we give.

What do we need in order to live this legacy of mercy?

In a Vatican Radio interview, Pope Francis told the story behind his selection of his episcopal motto, “Miserando atque eligendo.” Meaning lowly but chosen, the literal translation in Latin is “by having mercy, by choosing him.”

We extend mercy by preaching the Risen One and sharing the messages Jesus left us: forgiveness, not judgment; love, not sin; mercy, not punishment.

In this year of celebration of 800 years of Dominican life, and the Year of Mercy, we gratefully acknowledge that God sees us with merciful understanding and chooses us. How could we do less for each other, for humanity, for all of creation?

In this issue of Mission & Ministry, we offer you moments of mercy, examples of living into the Lord’s most powerful message.

Show mercy. Sow mercy. Beg mercy. Be mercy.

What is needed to live this legacy?

The mercy of God, and yours.­

Sister Maureen Geary Prioress

from the prioress

Imagine the boldness of such an exchange: I give my life, entrusting myself through the vow of obedience to God and to the goodwill of the one into whose hands I make profession, and to my Dominican Family. And God gives me: mercy. That is all I ask.

That is all I need.

“Have charity for one another; guard humility; make your treasure out of voluntary poverty.” From this wisdom emerges the tradition of each new member of the Dominican Family asking for mercy, and in turn extending mercy to all in the community.

Johnny “Q” Photography

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t’s an ageless ritual. For 800 years in our profession of vows, Dominicans have asked simply for “the mercy of God, and yours” when offering our lives as a gift to God and God's people.

He quoted the Venerable Bede who wrote that in the calling of Matthew, “Jesus saw the tax collector and by having mercy chose him as an apostle, saying to him, ‘Follow me.’” Pope Francis describes this as Jesus “mercying him and choosing him.” Still today Jesus gives the gift of mercy and chooses women and men to follow him.

It is said that Saint Dominic’s last testament was:

It is said that Dominic’s last testament was “Have charity for one another...” www.grdominicans.org

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A Holy Year of Mercy When Pope Francis announced an extraordinary Jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy, he emphasized that no one is excluded from God’s mercy. The Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids have long embraced this message, remembering that mercy is the gift shared with us that we are asked to share with our neighbor. How we respond is evidence of God’s action in our lives.

In the coming pages, you will read stories of God’s mercy in action – moments of mercy. In this Holy Year of Mercy we remember that Jesus, our Mercy, shared the sinner’s table, cleansed the leper’s flesh, and chose to walk the dusty roads of life. He broke the chains that bind us and freed us from all that would hold us captive.

We are glad that you have joined us in these encounters with mercy.

Showing Mercy in Prayer: Sister Ada Puts Prayer in Action for Immigrant Families and Children

Prayer is a vital part of each Sister’s ministry. Every year when all members of the Congregation are missioned, each Sister also affirms her prayer ministry. This typically reflects something close to her heart and can change annually or remain the same for years.

“I spent 21 years in the public school here and often witnessed the struggle firsthand as my students and their parents sought to unite their families here,” said Sister Ada, who recently retired from the Albuquerque Public Schools where she served nearly 40 years as both teacher and principal. “I was drawn to welcome every immigrant, accept them, help them to get educated and have their physical needs met.”

Sister Ada believes in prayer, and she believes that God listens to us if we open our hearts. But, she cautions that we can’t stop with prayer. We must take steps to help 3

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those prayers be answered. “After school many evenings I would call my contacts seeking resources for my students and their families,” Sister Ada said. “Acting and praying. Praying and acting.”

During this Year of Mercy, Sister Ada notes the poignancy of her ministry focused on praying for struggling immigrants. While she has prayed for this same issue for many years, it seems that the idea of mercy toward those entering our country has taken on new meaning.

“Build bridges and not walls. That is what Pope Francis has said from the beginning. Build bridges so that there can be an equality among people,” she said.  ~ Maureen Fitzgerald Penn

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When Ada Dominguez, OP bows her head every day, she prays for immigrant parents and children seeking legal status in our country. Then she puts her prayers in action and works to help these families.

Sister Ada Dominguez cautions that no one person can take on the challenge of praying and acting effectively on every issue. Rather, she invites everyone to take one specific prayer ministry, much as the Dominican Sisters do.

MOMENTS OF MERCY

Merciful Presence: Sharing the Love and Kindness of Jesus One of the most merciful things a person can do is share the love and kindness of Jesus, and the hope of the Gospel.

Kateri. “It is a gift to be called upon and so I approach each person I meet with reverence, honoring all that they are.”

The Sisters on the Pastoral Care Team at Marywood Health Center deliver the gift of mercy to those who are healing, and to their families. Marywood Health Center, a partnership between Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids and Porter Hills, provides skilled nursing care and holistic rehabilitation therapies in an environment enriched by the faithful presence of the Dominican Sisters.

“Family members are the main support when someone is ill, but sometimes a person has nobody nearby – and a Sister’s presence is an important addition to the excellent medical care they receive. Other times, the Sisters support family members who may be struggling with the illness of their loved one,” Sister Kateri said.

Team members may be joined by other Sisters from Marywood, who dedicate themselves to encouraging patients, family members, and employees – and to assure them that Sisters are remembering them in prayer.

“We are allowed, not just asked, to become a part of people’s lives when they are most vulnerable,” said Sister

“In some cases, we are honored to accompany people living their final days on Earth,” Sister Kateri said. “I draw on my understanding and acceptance of the life journey to companion in final days.”

“Our presence here comes from the presence of God in the world; what a blessing that each of us is able to be that.”  ~ Stacy Spitler

I was ill and you cared for me.

Matthew 25:30

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“I think of the Gospel where Jesus asks, who is my mother?

My brother? My sister? This ministry is the daily lesson in living the family of God,” said Kateri Schrems, OP, one of the five Sisters currently on the Pastoral Care Team.

“Sometimes our presence may be a nod, eye contact, sharing a thought, or sharing moments in prayer,” she said. “Sometimes all that is needed is someone to share silence with.”

Sister Kateri Schrems visited regularly with Tom Valle, a patient from Kalamazoo, recovering from knee surgery at Marywood Health Center earlier this year. www.grdominicans.org

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Johnny “Q” Photography

MOMENTS OF MERCY

Tommy FitzGerald was just four when he met Sister Judith Ann Barber. Here, they get reacquainted as Tommy shows her his quilt, made for him by the Dominican Sisters. The quilt was one of a set made for the beds of the FitzGerald family during the months they lived with the Sisters at Marywood after a fire destroyed their home.

Sheltering People Who Are Homeless: Welcoming a Family of Nine to Marywood “I was standing on the street watching their house burn down. The fire was dreadful,” Judith Ann Barber, OP reminisced recently about October 9, 1974, when a home on Lakeside Drive NE, across from Marywood, belonging to Mike and Linda FitzGerald and their seven young children, was destroyed. “Mr. FitzGerald was out there with their children talking to another neighbor about not having anywhere to live now. I told him if they couldn’t find a place where they could all be together, I would check with the Prioress, Marjorie Vangsness, OP and see if they could live in one of the vacant spaces in our building.”

So began an act of mercy that continues to have a rippling impact on those most intimately affected – the children who found themselves sheltered by the Dominican Sisters.

“It definitely put a stamp on my spirit to recognize that we are one community, and we are here to bring each 5

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other up,” said Tommy FitzGerald, who was four years old at the time of the fire. “The Sisters were amazingly accommodating.”

Today, Tommy is founder and executive director of Kitchen Sage, a culinary leadership program working with young people from all backgrounds who seek to build life skills in a fun, food-centered atmosphere. “My commitment to hospitality as a career has to do with lessons learned when my family home burned down and we were taken in by the Dominican Sisters. Look what I do for a living, I’m here to take a young person and offer him or her opportunities,” Tommy said. “I learned from the best.”

Recalling the aftermath of the fire, Linda, mother to this brood of seven children, said: “They took us into their home. They included us. They didn’t have to invite us in.

But they did. They welcomed us.”

MOMENTS OF MERCY Linda was out of town for an uncle’s funeral the day of the fire. She recalled hearing Mike say over the phone that the fire took everything. She was devastated, thinking that meant all of her children. Once Mike could clarify that the children were all safe, Linda was able to focus on the immediate task at hand – finding shelter for a family of nine.

“It is so hard to put into words. It wasn’t just that they gave us a home. They gave us spiritual guidance and, most of all, love,” Linda shared. “It was such a special time in our lives; we had nothing and the Sisters offered us mercy and hope.”

Sister Judith Ann remembers that people thought it was very unusual for the Congregation to host a family with children ranging in age from 3 to 12 within the walls of the Dominican Sisters’ Motherhouse. “At the time it seemed like the natural thing to do. Here were the neighbors of whom Jesus speaks. We had the space; it would have been cruel to say no, you can’t come in,” she said.

With the help of Linda Schoenborn, OP, then Executive Housekeeper and Hostess for the Motherhouse, the family was settled into the room now known as Ratisbon Dining Hall. Tommy remembers the seven single beds lined up along the wall with pipe and drape to form a dormitory for the children. His parents had two single beds pushed together at the end of the same large room. A small area was set up for homework and meals. The family shared a bathroom but had to travel to the lower level to use what was at that time the postulant shower room.

“Ratisbon was not being used and we went into our attic and found enough beds and dressers for them to use, even a table and chairs,” Sister Linda said.

Tommy’s mom, Linda, shared that she was surprised and pleased to see that each child’s bed was covered by a handstitched quilt crafted by one of the Sisters and each child received a rosary made by one of the Sisters. Tommy noted with teasing laughter that he is the only one of his siblings who still has his quilt. For him, it has become a symbol of treasured memories. “The Sisters showed us love before we even got there by making everything ready to go,” Linda said.

“The children thought it was great. To them it was home.”

“I never felt that we were homeless. We were never without hope,” Tommy said. “Because of the way the

Sisters treated us all, we never lost our dignity. I never felt like we were poor. I just wanted to live there forever.”

Tommy is full of stories from his five months of life at Marywood. He recalls some of the Sisters baby-sitting them; the family simply walking upstairs to Sunday Mass; trick or treating through the convent, knocking on doors and being rewarded with treats from the Sisters; sharing Christmas services and a meal with the Sisters; and sledding with some of the Sisters on the property.

Even today the Dominican Sisters support sheltering the homeless through their collaboration with the Grand Rapids Coalition to End Homelessness and the Congregational Partnership Program.

In the past decade, the Congregation has also opened other Marywood spaces, welcoming people to the Sisters’ home through long-term care at Aquinata Hall and rehabilitative care at Marywood Health Center. “We invite people in all the time,” Sister Judith Ann said.

“The Dominican Sisters, what they’ve done for our community and for my family is amazing. It’s all about that spirit of glorifying God through our actions for our neighbors,” Tommy said. “Nothing has changed here; the buildings look different, but the Dominican Sisters are doing exactly what God tells everybody to do.”  ~ Maureen Fitzgerald Penn www.grdominicans.org

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MOMENTS OF MERCY

Mercy to Those Without Hope: Compassion for Those Who Are Impoverished DSGR Archives

The United States of America has more people living in jails and prisons than any other developed country in the world. Department of Justice statistics state that one out of every 37 adults in the U.S. is living in prison, jail, or on probation. Many who are imprisoned came into the system having lived impoverished lives from birth, wanting for food and shelter; needing education and opportunity; desperate for health care.

Those are more than just unfortunate statistics for Ardeth Platte, OP. Sister Ardeth has ministered to people who are imprisoned – living beside them, as one of them.

“Pope Francis speaks often of the relation between mercy and justice in his preaching and writing. It has been a privilege for me as a Dominican Sister to be able to walk with the poorest, with prisoners and former prisoners, with people who struggle to be whole and holy,” said Sister Ardeth.

She is one of three Dominican Sisters from Grand Rapids who have served time in jail and prison. Their personal efforts to bring attention to injustice through demonstration, study, and prayerful intention are tied to their deep conviction that they must work to end war, nuclear arms, and poverty.

Sisters Ardeth, Carol Gilbert, and Jackie Hudson are very candid about the life lesson they have learned: Oppression is not the way. Mercy is the way, and it is the Lord’s most powerful gift.

Their ministry of activism and accompaniment has allowed them to extend, and receive, deep mercy. “I’ve learned that it is inside the walls where I’m closest to the poorest and where my sense of compassion is nourished,” Sister Ardeth said. “It is in that ‘world’ without material things, where powerlessness, dehumanizing strip searches, lack of medical care, oppressive regulations and punishment, slave labor, oppressive overcrowding, few or no treatment programs – it is in that world where compassion is needed desperately.”

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Sister Carol Gilbert and Sister Ardeth Platte minister from Jonah House. Here they stand next to the Peace Pole in their garden, holding a sign for their food pantry and the International Peace and Justice Award, given at the 2013 Archdiocesan Justice Conference.

Sister Jackie fought cancer while imprisoned. She died in 2005 soon after her release. Sister Ardeth and Sister Carol now live in an impoverished neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland. They live a simple lifestyle in a community house, till the soil of a community garden, and work with others intentionally to care for God’s Earth and feed God’s people with food and the spiritual gift of presence. “Here, we offer grace and the fruits of the Earth by the bushel, and we labor to be merciful, representing those who have no voice,” said Sister Carol.

They operate the Jonah House Food Pantry, stocked with fresh and canned items from their orchard, vegetable and herb gardens. The pantry serves about 130 neighbors every week.

“Providing for basic human needs – food for the hungry, pure water for the thirsty, clothing, medical care, homes for all, restoration for the prisoners – that is the merciful world on Earth that we labor for,” said Sister Carol.

And what of the women left behind in prison?

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MOMENTS OF MERCY

Neighbors visit the Jonah House Food Pantry once a week.

“We do what we can outside witnessing for all who are incarcerated,” said Sister Ardeth. “We also do what we can to provide resources and support to our friends inside. We speak up for justice, sometimes we extend reconciliation requests to estranged family members. Sometimes we stand in their stead at funerals of loved ones, being present when they cannot.”

“Whether living in ‘prison neighborhoods’ or poor neighborhoods in cities like Baltimore, New Orleans, or Grand Rapids,” Sister Carol said there are masses of people who are devalued in the eyes of society. “They have value in the eyes of God,” she said. “The Bible says, help the least of these; we do that by challenging the status quo that devalues generation after generation of people.”

The Sisters constantly ask themselves what more they can do. “We continue to keep in contact with many women with whom we’ve been incarcerated. We visit each other, share life, encourage and lend support, block their recidivism through ongoing love and support.”

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Sister Ardeth offered some final thoughts. “People who are incarcerated and people who live in poverty are the product of injustice. I am convinced that the most just and merciful response within our prisons is creation of a restorative system that would provide opportunities for women and men to be treated as human. Programs to teach them to be better parents, good family members, excellent employees, consistent faith practitioners, and restored members of society.”

… I was in prison and you visited me.

– Matthew 25:35-36

Praying for Restorative Justice There is no cable television or Netflix in her home, but Sister Ardeth overhears conversations about a show, Orange is the New Black. She served in prison with the author of the book and writer and producer of the Netflix show, Piper Kerman. Sister Ardeth is named in the book and believes her character on the written page is far more realistic than the one she hears about on television, who goes by a different name. “From what I hear about some of the liberties taken for ‘good television,’ I recommend reading the book.”

She urges caution. “People tune in once a week to see their favorite characters in crime and prison dramas.

Then turn off the television and imagine what those characters will do next week. We pray that those who are watching take notice of the disparities, of the helplessness and hopelessness that denigrate human life far too often in our society.”

“I’ve witnessed a nation in desperate need of a system of restorative justice – which, in my mind and heart, is closer to Divine justice,” Sister Ardeth said.

She advocates a system that allows people to take appropriate and public responsibility for mistakes and criminal acts – activities that are healing and transformative.

“Keeping open the possibility of restored relationships should replace the present punitive and oppressive criminal (in)justice system,” she said. “So, so many are living impoverished, imprisoned lives in this nation.

I pray that people come to value the preciousness and sanctity of human life for all.”  ~ Stacy Spitler

The Sisters hold a banner marking 450 land-based missile sites located in the United States.

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Working to Eliminate Racism: Community Collaboration In 2014, the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids engaged with Partners for a Racism-Free Community to undertake the Institutional Challenge to Achieve Racial Equity (ICARE) certification process.

ICARE is a credentialing process for organizations that want to make a commitment to name racism in their organizations and eliminate policies or behaviors that may be oppressive to any person. It begins with reviewing and revising policies that might have originated during a very different time in our history. We are thankful to have an organization like Partners for a Racism-Free Community to guide us with this process.

You might ask, “But haven’t you been working for years to fight racism?”

The answer is yes. In fact, our Congregation’s pledge, made in 1999, states: “We pledge to see first the common ground of our humanity and to allow our differences only to enrich and not to disparage us. In all of our undertakings, we will notice first and foremost the human person before us.”

At that time, we acknowledged that racism was still a fundamental reality of our culture and social systems, and we committed to immerse ourselves in our concern for ending racism within ourselves, our community, and in our ministries.

“Partners for a Racism-Free Community exists to deconstruct racism and how it impacts society through education and policy change.”

– Lisa Mitchell, Dominican Associate, Aquinas College Graduate, and Former Director of PRFC

Before this, the Aquinas College Sisters joined marches for racial equality in the early 1960s. Others took active roles in addressing problems of inequality in education and housing.

It was the work of our Justice Committee (1970-1990) and, later, the Committee for Systemic Change/Healing Racism that presented us with study materials and experiences about institutional racism. Many Sisters participated in intense workshops on healing racism.

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Sister Barbara Hansen

Lisa Mitchell

Breannah Alexander

"ICARE is how we work to engage organizations seeking to implement meaningful change around racial equity in their workplace. The assessment in conjunction with people-centered explorations assists in addressing the structural elements that affect the greater community's ability to combat the stain of racism on the American fabric."

– Breannah Alexander, Program Administrator, Partners for a Racism-Free Community

Inclusion is to authentically bring traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, and decision/policy-making. With ICARE’s ongoing support, we have access to tools and programs for our directors and managers. We are recognizing proactive steps such as where we promote job openings and adjust hiring practices.

Having intentional conversations encourages everyone who lives, works, visits Marywood to challenge and change unconscious racist attitudes as we strive for an inclusive organizational culture. We seek collaborative relationships with like-minded persons and organizations, working with others to explore and develop new ways to bring about a racism-free community.  ~ Barbara Hansen, OP, Champion of the ICARE process for Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids Visit prfc-gr.org for information about getting your organization engaged in the work to eliminate racism.

MOMENTS OF MERCY

The Abiding Legacy of Mercy at Marywood: 800 Years Led Us to This Moment in Time Dominicans follow in the footsteps of patrons, St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena, who preached and lived the Word of God. These saints are among many women and men of history whose ideas, values, beliefs, and manner of living – during their time and place in history – changed humanity. These spiritual giants courageously questioned systemic thinking and behaviors, and in doing so, changed history.

We celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the Dominican Order of Preachers from November 7, 2015 to January 21, 2017. What an amazing legacy our Dominican Family is living as we share the glory of the Gospel around the world.

Highlighted on this page are some of the ways that our Congregation lives our commitment to teaching and preaching the Word of God in what we say and what we do. We preach the Gospel of love, mercy, and hope. We stand in solidarity with those who live on the margins of society. We affirm the need for collaboration and community so that all may flourish.

“In my job as Promoter of Justice for the Dominican Sisters, one of my goals is to promote learning opportunities and dialogues that continue the legacy of St. Dominic and St. Catherine. Annually, we welcome visitors to participate in dialogues and workshops that encourage learning about justice and injustice. These are powerfully transformative conversations and are open to everyone.” ~ Sister Mary Brigid Clingman, Promoter of Justice, Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids

“Paying attention to the words we use is important. We speak of ‘children who have refugee status’, NOT of ‘refugee children’. Likewise we refer to ‘people who are homeless,’ NOT ‘the homeless’. And the word ‘humankind’ evokes the full inclusion that ‘mankind’ misses in today’s society. We strive to use ‘people first’ language in the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids organization. It is just one way that everybody can show respect and influence a community that is inclusive.” ~ Maureen Geary, Prioress, Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids

“At Dominican Center at Marywood, we create programs for people of diverse faiths, cultures, and heritage. We host organizations with missions that run parallel to that of ICARE. We welcome organizations into our conference center to provide intentional teaching and training programs on topics that promote awareness and attitude and behavior changes that can help dismantle institutional and societal racism.” ~ Margarita Solis-Deal, Director of Dominican Center at Marywood

www.grdominicans.org

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Inflamed with Mercy A Brief Immersion in Scripture Barbara Reid, OP is currently Vice President and Academic Dean of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Sister Barbara holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from Aquinas College, and a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from The Catholic University of America. She is the author of many books and articles dedicated to the study, preaching, and teaching of scripture. Sister Barbara offered to share from the writings of some of history’s great teachers and preachers, as well as Pope Francis’ perspective on mercy.

When we receive divine mercy, it becomes possible for us to do likewise, as Jesus instructed, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). Thomas Aquinas defined the virtue of mercy as "the compassion in our hearts for another person's misery, a compassion which drives us to do what we can to help him” (Summa Theologiae, II-II.30.1).

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By proclaiming a Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis has shone a spotlight on what is the very essence of God, revealed most fully in the person of Jesus. Theologians and believers have long struggled to understand God’s mercy in relation to divine justice with questions like: If God is all merciful, how can God also be just? Doesn’t it re-victimize a person who has been hurt if the perpetrator is let off with mercy? What is the point of trying to live a good Christian life if God mercifully saves all – even the most egregious of sinners? Theologians through the ages have tried to work out answers to these deep questions, but it is never possible to fully explain the mystery of God. The Scriptures and our Dominican tradition help us to live into the mystery of divine mercy.

St. Dominic’s quest for truth went hand in hand with mercy. His commitment to study and preach truth was not an end in itself, but was motivated by his heartfelt compassion for those who had distanced themselves from God’s mercy. He was known to have spent many nights before the cross, pleading with God to have mercy on sinners. Another of his acts of mercy took place when a severe famine broke out: Dominic sold everything, including his precious books, to feed people who were starving.

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote of God’s mercy as “the primordial root and the prior element to which everything else must be traced back.”1 Mercy is not just one of God’s attributes. It is the very core of who God is.2 Pope Francis has put it simply: The Name of God is Mercy.3 Mercy is not only at the heart of God’s being.

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Many of the books and articles that Barbara Reid, OP has authored can be found in the libraries of seminaries and other academic institutions. We are fortunate that several of her books can also be found in our bookstore at Dominican Center.

St. Thomas Aquinas tells us of the “infinity of the Divine Mercy, which is greater than any number and magnitude of sins.” Moreover, “the mercy of God grants pardon to sinners through penance without any limits" (ST III.84.10).

But God will never force us to accept this mercy. One of Jesus’ parables illustrates this well. In Matthew 18:23-35, a king, moved with compassion, forgives the debt of a slave who owed him a huge amount. The slave, however, instead of doing the same for one who owed him a much smaller amount, exacted payment in full and threw him into prison when he could not pay. The king then demanded of the first slave, “Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?”

The parable ends with the king handing him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. The point of the parable is not that God is fickle and might revoke mercy. The constant biblical message is, “Mercy courts every human being to the very end.”4 But if we do not choose to “pay forward” the mercy we have received, the consequences are dire. When we do choose mercy – both to accept it and give it – we are set free.

As Pope Francis urges us to open ourselves more fully to receive divine mercy and to practice works of mercy, he also speaks of the relation between mercy and justice.

He reminds us that unjust structures of domination, including that of humankind over the earth, cut off the wellsprings of mercy: “Dominion over earth…. seems to have no room for mercy.”5 Further, he insists that mercy is not opposed to justice: it is God’s way of reaching out to the sinner, offering that one a new chance. “God’s justice is his mercy given to everyone as a grace that flows from the death and resurrection of Jesus.”6 Our sister, St. Catherine of Siena invites us, “If I were wholly inflamed with the fire of divine love, would I not then, with a burning heart, beseech my Creator, the truly merciful One, to show mercy to all my brothers and sisters?’”7  ~ Barbara Reid, OP

Salt + Light TV Interview Grand Rapids Dominican Sister Barbara Reid, OP was interviewed for WITNESS, a production of Salt and Light TV, that premiered February 28, 2016, on various Canadian cable and satellite channels. She was interviewed by Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB, who delved into her scriptural studies and teaching, as well as her personal vocation story including her formative years taught by Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan, and college studies among the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids at Aquinas College.

She spoke of being enthralled by Dominican Sisters since age six. “I had fabulous teachers.

They were the most intelligent, kind, and caring women, and they were very joyful. And that was very attractive to me,” responded Sister Barbara to an interview question about what led to her vocation.

“After having gone to an all-girls high school…

I chose Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, because it was a co-ed college, liberal arts, and a beautiful campus…”

She spoke warmly about meeting and getting to know the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids Congregation. “They were joyful, caring, smart, hospitable and before long I found myself inquiring about joining their community.”  Salt & Light TV is an award-winning digital network that offers a variety of programs, event coverage,

1

Summa theologiae pt. I, q. 21, a 1 ad 2 and 3.

2

Cardinal Walter Kasper, Mercy. The Essence of the Gospel and the Key to Christian Life (trans. By William Madges; New York: Paulist Press, 2013), 88-89.

3

See The Name of God is Mercy, published by Random House, 2016.

4

Kasper, Mercy, 110.

series, documentaries, and other hope-filled content.

You can see the full interview here: saltandlighttv.org/witness/?f=sr-barbara-reid

Pope Francis, Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Par. 11. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/ papa-francesco_bolla_20150411_misericordiae-vultus.html

5

6

Ibid., Par. 21.

7

Quoted in Kasper, Mercy, 110.

www.grdominicans.org

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Sister Regina Goeldel Moves As a Quiet Force

from the development office

There’s a quiet force in the development office at Marywood – a Sister with a dry sense of humor, a sharp mind, a compassionate heart and the ability to wrangle a complex database.

In her 57 years as a Dominican Sister, Sister Regina Goeldel has ministered through supporting roles. She has served as a secretary and administrative assistant at Marywood, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Aquinas College, St. Pius X, and years later she is back again at Marywood. She will tell you she's “being recycled.”

Every donation that is received by the Dominican Sisters is touched at some point by Sister Regina. And Sister Regina is touched by every donation that crosses her desk. She marvels at the generosity of donors and has a special admiration for each of them, whom she likens to giving the widow’s mite.

She relishes a challenge, she’s discreet, and she has an uncanny knack for effortlessly connecting with people. A donor who calls

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with a question will find a keen problem solver in Sister Regina. She makes connections that bring people together, listens to stories about Sisters whose ministries have been instrumental in someone’s life, and freely shares messages of gratitude.

Sister Regina also has stories to tell of being influenced by the Sisters. She looks with gratitude upon her formative years at Grand Rapids Catholic Central. “The Sisters there were a major influence in my life, not only as a student but in my three years working there after graduation. These faith-filled women seemed so happy, so knowledgeable, so ready to listen and help.”

Joyful and sharp, with a listening ear and a helpful spirit – these are qualities exuded by this quiet force. Sister Regina may choose to remain out of the spotlight, yet her willing presence and gracious voice are treasured for the incredible role she plays in making the ministries of the Sisters possible. 

~ Susan Halteman

Saying Thank You For Helping Shape Young Minds and Hearts The Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids are grateful for the memories and the support we receive from generous donors like Ann Gautraud. Thank you for sharing your family’s story, Ann. For a dozen years in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ann Gautraud and her late husband, Michael, sent their children to Sacred Heart Catholic School in Muskegon Heights, where many of their teachers were Dominican Sisters.

“There was something very special about the Sisters,” Ann, now 85, said. “I respected them very much. They were very dedicated women; they were very open and friendly to the parishioners in church and the children in school.”

They left such an impact on Ann and her family that she and her husband made the decision decades ago to support the mission of the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids. That support has been unwavering, a constant blessing that is greatly appreciated by the Congregation.

“I think it’s a way of saying thank you for all they gave us,” she said.

Ann and Michael, who died in 2012, had nine children – Richard, Patricia, Margaret, Kathleen, Ann, Robert, Daniel, Peter (deceased) and Michael J. (deceased). They moved to Muskegon Heights from Brooklyn, N.Y., for Michael to take a job as chief engineer at Brunswick Corp.

The couple became close friends with the Sisters, including Sister Mary Lee Pitre, who served as the school’s principal for many years.

Ann credits the Sisters with helping her children become such wonderful adults, including one of her sons who went through a stage of challenging the Sisters.

“He’s a hard-working, kind and generous young man,” she said. “I think that’s from how he interacted with the Sisters and how they accepted him.”

Ann, who now attends St. James Catholic Church in Montague with some of her children, also is thankful for

Ann shared this treasured 1965 photo of her family.

the impact the Sisters had on her faith. “It was a heritage... a line that connected us all together,” she said.

Throughout the decades-long relationship between Ann and Sister Mary Lee, there is one day that stands out in both of their memories – the day in the early 1970s when Michael invited Sister Mary Lee to go sailing with him. Michael was an avid sailor and life member of the Muskegon Yacht Club.

“Over the years, Mike always told Sister, ‘Someday I’ll take you sailing,’” Ann said. Finally, the day came, and Sister Mary Lee joined Mike on his boat, Full House, for a regatta on Muskegon Lake.

Boisterous Michael endured some teasing that day from friends who saw Sister Mary Lee with her habit blowing in the wind. “They told him he was going to have to keep his mouth shut,” Ann said. “But Sister said, ‘You don’t have to change for me.’”

“It was a great day. It was great to see Sister out having a good time,” Ann said. “Her charm was not lost on all the people she interacted with.” And that boat – the Full House?

It lives on today in full hearts that overflow with generosity in support of the mission of the Dominican Sisters.  ~ Alyssa Allen

Do you have a story to share? Thank a Sister. Share a Sister Story. Visit grdominicans.org.

www.grdominicans.org

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INTRODUCTION TO ANNUAL REPORT

Free to Answer God's Call Leaven for our World

Through our Congregation’s prayer ministry, we hold up those around us, including you. We are grateful knowing that you, in turn, hold up the Dominican Sisters, surrounding us with your love and support.

While all of the Dominican Sisters have yearly individual prayer intentions, 40 of our Sisters hold their prayer ministry as primary ministry.

Sisters gather in one of our Chapels for Morning and Evening Prayer daily.

DSGR Archives

from the development office

In this life, prayer holds us mercifully as we trust what we cannot yet see or imagine. We ask for freedom from fear. We ask to share our wisdom.

We ask for and trust in God’s loving presence.

We open ourselves to listen to the Holy Spirit.

DSGR Archives

The motto of the Dominican Family, To contemplate and give to others the fruits of our contemplation, is alive and well and guides our prayer.

It is in this way that we are Leaven for our World.

Every Sister has an individual prayer ministry and affirms it each year. Sisters Mary Jo Beckett and Donna Brown both pray for those with Alzheimers and dementia and their families. Sister Roxane Dansereau prays for cancer patients and their caregivers. Sister Constance Fifelski and Sister Marilyn Holmes pray for abused and neglected children. Sister Maribeth Holst prays for families in conflict.

Some Sisters hold close the same prayer from year to year, others re-focus their prayers. As Sister Ada Dominguez said about her prayers for the children and the parents of immigrant children, “I need to pay attention to only one thing right now. Even with all the problems that we have in the world, this is the one thing that I can focus on and pray on and act on.”

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Sister Peter Mary Korson’s attention to detail and organizational skills are invaluable as Manager of Mailing Services for the Communication and Development Departments of the Dominican Sisters. Her individual prayer ministry raises up Sisters in Catholic education.

For the Fiscal Year Ending August 31, 2015 View the full annual report online at grdominicans.org/annual-report-2015

Being a Prophetic Voice and Stewards of our Patrimony “…one of the compelling works of religious life today is to discern through the lens of our charisms the moral use of our influence, credibility and resources and to place those gifts in service to the Gospel of Jesus Christ…” ~ Mary Pelligrino, CST This was one of the messages our Congregation studied this year as together we reflected upon the future of our Congregation and our role as Stewards of our Patrimony: gifts past, present, and future.

We remain committed to accompanying people who have experienced oppression and support them through our resources, our presence, and our prayer. We speak out on critical issues and join our voices with others who are concerned with the same issues.

Many Sisters serve in multiple types of ministries. This chart is a summary of the number of Sisters serving in primary areas of ministry.

Primary Ministries of our Sisters 16

Advocacy/Social Service/ Peace & Justice

42

Spiritual Companions/Therapists

49

Congregational Service/Campus Ministries

28

Education/Literacy/Tutoring

15

Faith Formation/Parishes

11

Health Care/Elder Care/Chaplaincy

15

Artists, Musicians, Writers, Bakers

40

Prayer

Sharing the Fruits

hives Photos from DSGR Arc

As we respond to the fruits of our contemplation, we share our blessings and presence with hallmark ministries.

Aquinas College

Dominican C

enter at Mary

wood

Marywood Health Center

Aquinata Hall

www.grdominicans.org

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“That which you are seeking is seeking you.”

This quote from Rumi opens the Dominican Center for Spirituality section of our new Dominican Center website.

Mercy. God’s compassion and kindness, to us as favored, beloved children. Not getting what we deserve; receiving more than we can imagine. Mercy is a gift from God, surprising us with wonders that we do not deserve and yet that we realize we have been secretly desiring. As we acknowledge the chaos of our world and the inner messes that can harden our hearts, we know that only God can bring us peace. Jesus is the face of God’s mercy, a visible and living sign of love. Mercy is the gift shared with us that we are asked to share with our neighbor. How we respond is proof of God’s action in our lives.

Transformation is Personal and Communal Kim Mulder is a wife and mother of four who is very active in her own faith community in West Michigan and is a participant in Dominican Center’s spirituality programs.

Kim reflects that Catholic “things” like Lectio Divina and saints are new for her and yet she has found Dominican Center to be a great resource for her spiritual life. I recently spoke with her about her experiences here.

Sister Diane: How did you find us?

Kim: I’ve known about Dominican Center for quite a few years. I had a friend who had a spiritual director here, and my husband liked to come here for retreat days. They both encouraged me to contact you.

SD: Last year you enrolled in the Foundations in Spirituality program. What brought you here?

Kim: I was at a pivotal point in my life, deciding if I should pursue a Master’s in Social Work or become a spiritual director. Foundations is a course that many

DSGR Archives

The Dominican Center for Spirituality is a place where people of all faiths seek to deepen their spirituality: learning to be open to the sacred, the self, the other, and the whole of creation.

Kim Mulder and Sister Diane Zerfas people take to deepen their spirituality; it was a course that allowed me to explore my options.

SD: What did you find?

Kim: I made connections with a community that was both comforting and exciting. As we read the Christian mystics, I found words that moved me. The biggest change that blessed me was discovering centering prayer in the book, The Cloud of Unknowing. It made me much more contemplative.

SD: You went on to register for the Spiritual Direction Practicum; please describe your experience.

Kim: Transforming! I’m finding out more and more who God is and who I am. Learning that “everything belongs” changes everything. My inner journey is now deepening and scary and exhilarating. It’s activated a call to action within my heart, leading me to “do for others”. You know, there is always something more to do for God. 

~ Diane Zerfas, OP, Coordinator of DCM Center for Spirituality dominicancenter.com

The hallmark programs at Dominican Center for Spirituality include: Foundations in Spirituality, Companioning, and the Practicum to become a Spiritual Director. It is wonderful to see how God’s mercy is at work in our participants’ lives as they experience our programs and contemplative prayer.

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An Invitation for You As Dominicans, We Advocate for Justice •

Care of Earth

•

Economic Justice

•

Human Trafficking

•

Migration/Immigration

•

Peace and Security for All Life

•

Ending Homelessness

Campus Ministries Liturgy - Dominican Chapel/Marywood - Chapel of the Word (MHC) - St. Catherine of Siena Chapel (Aquinata) •

•

Dominican Center at Marywood

Health Care & Spiritual Companioning - Aquinata Assisted Living - Marywood Health Center •

•

WORD – ESL (English as a Second Language)

•

Partners in Parenting

Overseas Ministries •

Maternidad de Maria, Chimbote, Peru

•

Centro de Obras Sociales, Chimbote, Peru

•

San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Mission & Ministry Editorial Team • Maureen Geary, OP – Prioress • Danny Lynn – Art Director • Stacy Spitler – Editor • Lucianne Siers, OP – Advisor

Prefer a digital copy?

Request to be added to our electronic mailing list for the next issue of Mission & Ministry at rmgoeldel@grdominicans.org.

If it’s been some time since you joined us for a program at Dominican Center at Marywood, please consider joining us for a very special guest speaker.

This year at Dominican Center at Marywood we have explored mercy through the Gospel of Luke, the Gospel of Mercy, as well as a series on Lenten Mercy.

We have also enjoyed several featured guest speakers as we celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the Dominican Order. We have one more speaker in our 800th Dominican Jubilee Speakers Series: Ann Willits, OP. Her presentation Meeting Mercy – Looking in the Mirror is not to be missed.

“When we look in the mirror, our prayer might be: Gracious God of laughter, help me to accept the truth about myself no matter how beautiful it is.”

– Ann Willits, OP MEETING MERCY – LOOKING IN THE MIRROR THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 8:30-10:30 AM Please join us for the program, followed by brunch. Tickets are $20. Bring a guest and receive two tickets for the price of one. Call 616.514.3325 to register or go on online at dominicancenter.com. If registering for two, use the coupon code “Mercy.”

Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids Essay Contest Please consider entering our essay contest or help spread the word.

The contest is open to high school, college, and lifelong learners.

ESSAY TOPIC: The Dominican Order of Preachers began 800 years ago in southern France. Since then all around the world, members of the Dominican Order, both women and men, have preached the Word of God with their very lives. St. Dominic’s vision of seeking the truth, preaching God’s mercy, studying God’s word, and serving those who are most vulnerable was unique in his day, and is still very relevant today in our quest for peace and justice.

In this essay, explore and explain the connection between St. Dominic’s vision and our world today. How might his legacy be a compass for today? How might it provide hope for tomorrow?

Submissions due October 1, 2016.

First, second, and third place cash prizes.

See contest details at grdominicans.org www.grdominicans.org

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Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage

PA I D Grand Rapids, MI Permit No. 451 2025 Fulton St. East Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3895

T 616-459-2910 F 616-454-6105 grdominicans.org

About Us The Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids are a community of vowed women religious and Associates who follow the Catholic traditions of St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. Since 1877, we have been leading efforts to educate children and adults, care for people who are sick, and advocate for vulnerable populations. We have established and staffed schools, a college, and missions in Michigan, New Mexico, and abroad. Today we are teachers, caregivers, spiritual companions, advocates for peace and justice, artists, musicians, authors, and poets. Together we praise, bless, and preach God’s love through all we do.

Marywood Campus Resources Information 616-514-3325 View Chapel services and upcoming events at grdominicans.org View programs at dominicancenter.com Dominican Center at Marywood Event Bookings 616-514-3335 Dominican Associate Life 616-514-3115 Marywood Health Center 616-588-1645 Aquinata Assisted Living 616-259-1702

Like us on Facebook Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids Dominican Center at Marywood

Dominican Sisters 2016 Jubilarians 75 Years – 1941

Carmella Conway Mary Eloysa Garcia Helen Jude Bernice Botwinski Jane Anthony Cherwinski Marie Andre St. Cyr

70 Years – 1946

Marie Bernarde Salazar Thomas Estelle Bryan Michael Anne Nic John Anne Paquette Viola Marie Henige Marie Eugene Charbonneau Anne Keating Mary Lee Pitre Jean Milhaupt Olga Mizzi Dorothy Giglio Phyllis Brown JoAn Brown

60 Years – 1956

Dolorita Martinez Roberta Hefferan Ellen Mary Lopez Joanne Toohey Bernice Garcia Wanda Ezop Joan Alflen Doris Faber Ann Porter Madelyn Hronek Mary Ann Cudzanowski Rosemary O’Donnell

50 Years – 1966

Susan Keller Nancy Brousseau Carol Gilbert Dorothy Ederer Phyllis Supancheck Deceased

We celebrate these 2016 Jubilarians, faithful Dominican Women preaching the Gospel. Their lives are a testimony of the Pillars of Dominican Life and Mission: Prayer. Community. Study. Service.

Make a Tribute Gift Today.

grdominicans.org/support