Dominican Sisters of Peace

Recall the words of Karl Rahner: "Each of us is an event (a happening) of the absolute, free, radical self-communication of God." All the forms of religious life before the Reformation were founded not so much for doing something but for living a certain way. Again, being a certain form of the Gospel was the primary reason for their existence. Dominic, as we know, set up a way of life consonant with the mission of preaching. Everything about our way of living is for the preaching of the Gospel. Dominicans are to be embodied truth - living words of truth. Each of us is to be for God's people what God is for each of us. We are therefore yoked, wedded to God - we are called to have the same mind as Jesus: to live in his heart, see with his eyes, act in his Spirit. Jesus' teachings are only learned when we become the teachings.

This is a day the dream of Martin Luther King is celebrated BIG TIME with the inauguration of President Obama for his second term, and I write today to celebrate St. Dominic's dream still alive and growing in our Dominican Associates and Volunteers.

"Dominican Volunteers USA searches for new frontiers for the faith by inviting men and women to walk with us in mission as volunteers. Together, we respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers, especially those who are poor and marginalized. We live out the Dominican mission of proclaiming the gospel through our ministry, common life, prayer and study within a diverse intergenerational community."
- Mission of DVUSA from http://dvusa.org

The recent killing of 20 young children, teachers, and administrators is a chilling reminder that gun violence is a chronic threat to the safety of all of us. Our voices must be heard by members of Congress. Vice President Biden's committee on gun violence will soon present a proposal calling for common sense, responsible gun control legislation. While we continue to pray for the families of those who died, we must support with action to bring about positive change. 

Recently, the Dominican Sisters of Peace Leadership Team, along with 43 other religious organizations, signed a letter to members of Congress calling for responsible gun control legislation. This will be shared at a news conference on January 15.  

Winter is a wonderful time of year to travel south! So where is the best place to have a gathering in the middle of January? Ponchatoula, Louisiana, of course (about an hour away from New Orleans)! At the request of our Prioress, Sr. Margaret Ormond, OP, more than 40 Dominican Sisters of Peace will gather with the Leadership Team and the Ministry of Welcome - Vocations Team at Rosaryville Spirit Life Center in Ponchatoula to discuss the important topic of religious vocations, especially to the Dominican Sisters of Peace. The group will gather January 11-13 with vocation ministers Srs. Cathy Arnold, Pat Dual, and Pat Twohill, who will lead the gathering in a process developed by the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC).