Busy Blessings in Early December!

Thanksgiving (Posted late)

National Catholic Vocations Awareness Week

Two National Vocation Events

Come and See Weekend

The weekend started with an early arriver, who flew in on Thursday from Albuquerque, New Mexico and joined the Sisters for evening prayer and supper.  After supper the two of us attended a presentation entitled Armor of Light at Dominican Center Marywood.  On Friday she helped me get last minute preparations for the weekend – setting up the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids banner, C&S Reserved signs, etc., while getting a quick tour of Marywood.  She even had time to take a quick tour to Aquinas College with Sister Doris Faber.

Friday night we met in the DCM chapel lobby for introductions, followed by Compline in the Meditation Chapel.  We even chanted the Salve Regina!  Afterwards we continued our conversations at Ratisbon with a late snack before retiring to our rooms.  The weekend offered the women time for prayer, study, recreation, story sharing, touring, and of course, getting to be around many of our Sisters at Marywood.  The presentations throughout the day were focused on the Four Dominican Pillars, which were presented by several of our Sisters – who live on and off campus.  The Sisters at Marywood were assigned seats at the table during the noon meal at Ratisbon, while Sisters living in the Grand Rapids area were invited to eat with the participants at Sunday’s brunch after Liturgy.  The women, as well as Sister Ann Mason and I, ate with the Sisters at Aquinata Hall on Saturday evening.  This gave the women an opportunity to meet and chat with several of our Sisters. 

Saturday was a packed day, and I assumed they were probably tired.  I know I was!  …but it was a good day, and after night prayer we had an engaging conversation – in which I received some positive feedback about the day.  During my morning session we were already running behind schedule and did not get a chance to completely view a documentary DVD (entitled Sisters), and to my amazement, they chose to view it together (on their own) before they retired that evening.  Such energy!

We wrapped up the weekend on Sunday with a brief tour of Marywood Health Center, Morning Prayer and Liturgy with our Sisters and Sunday Assembly, followed by brunch.  Our participant from New Mexico had a later flight, so she spent some time with our Sisters at Aquinata Hall. 

The weekend schedule was full, which included many conversations, presentations, laughter, recreation, prayer, Liturgy… and I owe the positive feedback to the prayer, participation and support of all our Sisters! 

Below are some pictures of the weekend:

Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids

Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids 

Featured on “A Nun’s Life Ministry”

Are you familiar with “A Nun’s Life Ministry?”  It is an online web site with all kinds of information about Sisters and Nuns.  I have been following this web site almost from the time it was founded (in 2006) by Catholic Sisters Maxine Kollasch and Julie Vieira.  It reaches out with a pastoral presence to thousands of people worldwide each day, and is a place where you can chat, discern your vocation or ask questions to various Catholic sisters and nuns about community, religious life, ministry, spirituality and more.

Last month two of our Sisters (Sister Orlanda Leyba and Sister Joan Williams) were featured on a pod cast.  In a short video clipping, Sister Orlanda shares her joy of being a Dominican Sister!  You can hear/watch these by clicking the following links:

For the Podcast of Sister Joan Williams and Sister Orlanda Leyba: 

https://www.grdominicans.org/joan-williams-op-orlanda-leyba-op-answer-questions-nuns-life/

For the Video Clipping with Sister Orlanda Leyba:

          https://tinyurl.com/y9lx9ut9

To visit A Nun’s Life Ministry:

https://anunslife.org/

yet another reminder!

Our next Come and See Weekend is less than 3 weeks aways!

Even if you have already told me that you will be coming to the Come and See Weekend,

please register online, and I will reserve a room for you! 

Remember, there is no charge for the weekend. 

As of today, we have 6 women registered!

We will begin at 7:00 pm on Friday, October 5

and end after brunch with the Sisters on Sunday, October 7. 

You may come early if you want, but please let me know when you’re arriving.

To register, click on the following link:

https://dominicancenter.com/programs/come-and-see-weekend/

Other Events happening that weekend at Marywood:

Every Sunday we have Adoration at

St Catherine of Siena Chapel (Aquinata Hall)

from 1:00 – 4:00 PM.

You are welcome to spend some time before your departure if you wish.

There will also be a recital at Dominican Chapel Marywood

on Sunday afternoon performed by one of our

Dominican Associates. 

You are welcome to stay for that, if you wish.

Happy Feast Day!

https://dominicancenter.com/programs/come-and-see-weekend/

Save the Date!

          It's never too early to save a date for a "Come and See" Weekend!

What Owns You?

Meet Morgan!

What Are You Seeking?

IN GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE

         To read Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation online, click here

           

St Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church

The 50 Days of Easter

I have attached a copy of the doodle to color prayerfully can be downloaded online using the following links:

https://nrvc.net/ckeditor_assets/attachments/4449/wdpv_april_22_doodle.pdf

https://nrvc.net/ckeditor_assets/attachments/4450/wdpv_doodle.pdf

Oops! Shared Pictures:

Apparently the hyperlink to the Triduum pictures at Marywood shared above didn’t work, so here is the direct link if you wish to view these.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/AMql02eSEyZ2WaRt1  

The Alleluia Heart: Praising God’s Goodness

Another link I wanted to share with you (related to the “50 Days of Easter”), is the web page for Dominican Women Afire (DWA).  Here is the home link:

http://www.dominicanwomenafire.org/ 

If you scroll down on the home page, you will see Easter Reflections ("The Alleluia Heart:Praising God's Goodness!") These are written by Dominican Sisters who are a part of Dominican Women Afire.  I wrote the one for April 6^th.  Each day of Easter is posted daily if you wish to reflect on these. Or, there is also an option to sign up to receive these daily during the Easter Season.  (Read the “About” tab to learn more about who we are.)

Triduum at Marywood

Holy Week 2018

New Leadership Team

Chapter and Lent 2018

Are you discerning religious life?  

Do you wish to speak with someone about your discernment?

Call us!  Visit us!  Email us!

Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids

2025 Fulton Street East

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

MORE LOVE, LESS ASHES:

Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids

Are you discerning religious life?  Would you like to speak with someone?

Call us!  Email us!  Visit us!

SISTER CHATS WITH SISTER CHELA

If you wish to read the article by Sr. Christin Tomy, OP, go to this link:

                  http://www.globalsistersreport.org/column/horizons/spirituality/millennial-musings-51591

Call Us!  Visit Us!  Email Us!

Saint Thomas Aquinas Week!

 Am I Being Called to Religious Life?

How Will I Know?

Most of us who have ever wondered if the vocation to religious life was for us must have asked the question, "how will I know?" It comes in many forms. "What is God's will in my life?" "How do I find happiness and fulfillment in my life?" "What is the ultimate purpose of my existence?" "How will I know that God is calling me to live the religious life as a priest, brother, or sister?"

"How will I know that God is calling me to live the religious life as a priest, brother, or sister?"

An inherent part of life is the responsibility to make difficult, challenging, and sometimes even painful decisions. To make important decisions often requires time, prayer, and discernment. Perhaps today more than ever, we face a greater multiplicity and complexity of decisions in ordinary day-to-day living. In the discernment process, we consider the options, balance the advantages with disadvantages, and carefully examine the consequences. "How will I know . . . what is good, right, or best? How will I know what God is calling me to?"

Before the rainbow shown in the sky, perhaps Noah wondered, "How will I know?" Before John the Baptist sent his disciples from his prison cell to find Jesus he must have asked, "How will I know?" When Thomas heard from the disciples that Jesus rose from the dead, he must have struggled with the question, "How will I know?" As Mary Magdalene gazed into the empty tomb that first Easter morning, she must have pondered, "How will I know?"

Today, as in Jesus own time, God continues to give signs to help us to decide, to discern and to know what the Lord is asking us. In particular, there are four general signs which are often seen.

1.   Availability and Openness

§  Am I open-hearted to whatever God is calling me?

§  Am I disposed and free to respond to that call?

2.   Desire

§  Do I sense a degree of potential satisfaction, hope, or joy when I consider religious life?

§  If it is God's will, do I trust that it can be fulfilled?

3.   Proper Motivation

§  Is my primary motivation of a spiritual nature, such as serving and loving God and God's people?

§  Would I experience adequate happiness and fulfillment?

4.   General Disposition

§  Do I have reasonably good health, emotional stability, social ease, and spiritual-centeredness?

In a more specific way, there is a rather practical spiritual discernment process which can be a tool or guide to help us determine what God is calling us to. This discernment process combines reflection, prayer, dialogue, and Scripture.

(Resource:USCCB.org)

Are you discerning religious life?

Call us.  Visit us.  Email us.

Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids

2025 Fulton Street East

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

www.GRDominicans.org 

What are God's Plans for You in 2018?