OPAs Wearing "Special Glasses"

Several groups of Dominican Associates of Peace have local members who concurrently live their lives dedicated to their priestly responsibilities as well as their Dominican Associates commitment. Fr. Ron Kurzawa, "a priest-Associate," lives his life as a priest in the local community while ministering to the Oxford Motherhouse. He preached at the Associates August 12 renewal ceremony and suggested to them that they have the desire to see as God sees. "To do that, for us, takes 'special glasses' with one lens being the ability to see with faith and that enables us to see beyond the surface. God has invited Associates and candidates to look deeper than their own surfaces and to want to see deeper. In so doing, they come to discern that they are OPAs-Associates of the Order of Preachers. While they are ordinary folk, they can see themselves as preachers because they see one does not have to be a Fulton J. Sheen to be a preacher. To be a preacher is to develop a love for the Word of God and a hunger for others to come to know that Word. And this can be achieved through our words and even more effectively through our lives."

Associate Attorney Preaches a Commitment Retreat
Associate Larry Vuillemin, an attorney and co-founder of  the ministry, "Heart to Heart  Communications" in Northeast Ohio, preached during the Great Bend, Kansas, retreat "In the World But Not Of the World" on August 10-11. His themes of 'Be Peace, Build Peace, and Preach Peace' encouraged the 34 current Associates to renew their commitment and five Candidates to make initial commitment. The Candidates (Marlene Feist, Margaret Hamilton, Colleen McDonough, Judy McKee, and Marie Miller) traveled to Great Bend to participate in the Discernment Retreat and Commitment weekend.

Lousiana Associates Renew Commitment
Seventeen Associates in Louisiana joined Mentor Team members, Associate Jacqueline Mayo, Sr. Suzanne Brauer, and Sr. Angie Magro to joyfully renew their commitment to the mission of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP, presided at the Eucharist and celebrated the ceremony with scripture readings and preaching on the life of St. Dominic.