Come and See - Spring Break 2020

Merry Christmas!

December 17 – 23 O Antiphons: I love Advent!  I enjoy celebrating/praying the “O Antiphons” at Marywood.  We gather every night for Vespers and sing the prophesies, chant the psalms, reflect on a preaching from a member in the community, followed by the Magnificat.  An impressive group of people join us each night regardless of the very cold weather we’ve been having.  Apparently, the O Antiphons is enjoyed by many others too! 😊

The O Antiphons, also known as “The Great ‘O’s” are Magnificat used at Vespers of the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. They are also used as the Alleluia Verses on the same days in the post-1970 form of the Catholic Mass.

They are referred to as the "O Antiphons" because the title of each one begins with the vocative particle "O". Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture. They are:

·         17 December: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)

·         18 December: O Adonai (O Lord)

·         19 December: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)

·         20 December: O Clavis David (O Key of David)

·         21 December: O Oriens (O Dayspring)

·         22 December: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)

·         23 December: O Emmanuel (O God is With Us)

The first letters of the titles, from last to first, appear to form a Latin acrostic which translates to "Tomorrow, I will be [there]", mirroring the theme of the antiphons.  "According to Robert Greenberg of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one - Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia - the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, "Tomorrow, I will come". Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, Tomorrow, I will come. So the O Antiphons not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.

Merry Christmas!

One week from today we will be well into the Christmas Season – celebrating the Second Day of Christmas!  I want to take this time to wish each of you a safe and Blessed Christmas.  I hope you get to spend it with family and loved ones.  May the New Year guide you in your discernment to God’s Dream for you!  Count on my continued prayers for you!

Advent and Other (International Celebrations

Advent and Other (International) Celebrations at the Motherhouse

You know that saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun”?  Well, my brother says, “Time flies when you’re old.”  As for me I must be both having fun and getting old!  Here we are already 10 days into Advent – Happy Advent!  – and feeling (falling) behind or catching up.  …but all is good!

The month of December seems to quickly get filled up with all sort of events.  Fortunately, the Church has Advent, a time of awareness of the true Reason for the Season and can pull us from the commercialized hustle and bustle of Black Friday sales and shopping crowds.  

We, of course, celebrate the Advent Season with the Church here at Marywood, but we also celebrate each of the following Feast Days one way or another.  As I was gathered information and a summary on each one of these, I noticed how international these are.   Below is a brief summary of December Feast Days (Source: Wikipedia):

December 6 – Feast of St Nicholas:

Very little is known about the historical Saint Nicholas. The earliest accounts of his life were written centuries after his death and contain many legendary elaborations. He is said to have been born in the Greek seaport of Patara, Lycia in Asia Minor to wealthy Christian parents.  In one of the earliest attested and most famous incidents from his life, he is said to have rescued three girls from being forced into prostitution by dropping a sack of gold coins through the window of their house each night for three nights so their father could pay a dowry for each of them.  We left our shoes out on the Eve of the Feast of St Nicholas and we were not disappointed, as we each received a nice treat! 😊

December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception: In 2008 we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Blessed Virgin’s apparitions at Lourdes, France where she identified herself to St. Bernadette as the Immaculate Conception. In 2004 we observed the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s solemn definition of this dogma on December 8, 1854.  Because December 8^th fell on a Sunday this year, the Feast was celebrated on Monday, December 9^th.

December 9 – Feast of Saint Juan Diego: Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, also known as Juan Diego (1474–1548), a native of Mexico, is the first Roman Catholic indigenous saint from the Americas.  He is said to have been granted an apparition of the Virgin Mary on four separate occasions in December 1531 at the hill of Tepeyac, then a rural area but now within the borders of Mexico City.  Juan Diego was beatified in 1990 and canonized in 2002. As mentioned above, this year the Feast of the Immaculate Conception took precedence.

December 12 – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: If you do not know the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, she appeared to Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531, and this is the only apparition of Mary in which she has left an image of her appearance on his tilma (a cloak made of cactus fiber). Similar cloths tested have become ruined by the local moist and salty air in a period of 10 years. The original image is in Mexico City.  I was blessed to have the opportunity to visit her at the Basílica in 1980.  There are several books written about Our Lady of Guadalupe.  We will have ‘Las Mañanitas’ at Aquinata Hall in St Catherine of Siena Chapel this Thursday, December 12^th following by Liturgy of the Eucharist.

December 16 – 24 Posadas: Las Posadas is a novena (nine days of religious observance)

celebrated chiefly in Latin America, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, and by many Hispanics in the United States  Beginning 16 December and ending 24 December, two people dress up as Mary and Joseph. Certain houses are designated to be an "inn" (thus the name "Posada"). The head of the procession will have a candle inside a paper lampshade. At each house, the resident responds by singing a song and Mary and Joseph are finally recognized and allowed to enter. Once the "innkeepers" let them in, the group of guests come into the home and kneel around the Nativity scene to pray (typically, the Rosary).  Latin American countries have continued to celebrate this holiday to this day, with very few changes to the tradition.  In some places, the final location may be a church instead of a home.  The people asking for posada travel to 1 house each night for 9 nights. 

Earlier this month, Sr. Angelina Gonzales gave a wonderful presentation on Los Posadas at Aquinata Hall.

December 17 – 23 O Antiphons: The O Antiphons, also known as “The Great ‘O’s” are Magnificat used at Vespers of the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. They are also used as the Alleluia Verses on the same days in the post-1970 form of the Catholic Mass.

They are referred to as the "O Antiphons" because the title of each one begins with the vocative particle "O". Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture. They are:

·         17 December: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)

·         18 December: O Adonai (O Lord)

·         19 December: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)

·         20 December: O Clavis David (O Key of David)

·         21 December: O Oriens (O Dayspring)

·         22 December: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)

·         23 December: O Emmanuel (O God is With Us)

The first letters of the titles, from last to first, appear to form a Latin acrostic which translates to "Tomorrow, I will be [there]", mirroring the theme of the antiphons.  "According to Robert Greenberg of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose.

If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one – Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia – the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, "Tomorrow, I will come". Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, Tomorrow, I will come. So, the O Antiphons not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation but bring it to a joyful conclusion. At Dominican Chapel Marywood, each evening begins with a contemplative candlelight procession, then moves into the singing of hymns and psalms; the proclamation of scripture; and a reflection on the theme of each sacred evening. Join us in union with the global community, as we wait in holy anticipation.  Free to the community - all are welcome. Come to one or all evenings. For more information, go to this link:

https://dominicancenter.com/programs/antiphons/

Do you celebrate any of these with your family or at your parish?

Advent Blessings! 

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

 www.grdominicans.org

El Paso Border Ministry

Greetings!  …and Happy Fall!  I love this colorful season, and already the days are getting cooler in Grand Rapids, even though bits of Summer still lingers.  Yet I read this morning that Montana is buried under a couple of feet of snow while still in the month of September!  As a fan of snow, I’m ready for Winter, but I’ll enjoy the colors of this season as we move into Winter.

Along with this e-newsletter, I’m sending one last shout-out for our upcoming “Come and See” Weekend – this Friday, October 4^th – Sunday October 6^th!  You may still register online by clicking on the following link:

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

El Paso Border Ministry

Four weeks ago today, five of us (4 Dominican Sisters and a Paulist priest) returned from our mission in El Paso.  This week the four of us will share a PowerPoint presentation with our Sisters at Aquinata Hall.  Later this month and within the next few weeks, we will share a similar presentation and conversation with the Sisters in the Congregation when they come to Marywood for congregational meetings as well as with the students at Aquinas College and a couple of parishes who have invited us to share our experience.  For me, it has been the most moving experience I have had in my many years in ministry.  Below I’m including some pictures, which are only a few of the pictures (50 slides!) I included in the PowerPoint.

Fall's Around the Corner...!

Come and See Weekend - October 4 - 6, 2019

…here we are just a month away from the next Come and See weekend!  Remember: there is no charge for the weekend, and you can register online.  Just get yourself here!!!

The registration link is: https://dominicancenter.com/programs/come-and-see-weekend/   While I was gone, I received the first registration online! 

 

Feast Day of St. Dominic

Today, August 8, the Dominican Family celebrates the feast of Santo Domingo de Guzmán (or St. Dominic), the founder of the Order of Preachers.   Dominic is the patron saint of astronomers. 

The Order of Preachers is composed of men and women of four branches:  friars, who may be priests or brothers; cloistered nuns; sisters; and laity.  Dominic de Guzman was called to ministry in the universal Church. His followers have proclaimed the Gospel around the world to peoples never known to the founder, including those of the Americas.

Dominican Sisters in the United States are a diverse, vibrant and colorful mosaic of the Church. Their mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ is carried out in countless ways. The Gospel is brought to life through their teaching, care for the poor, advocacy for justice, their art, music, care of creation, spiritual enrichment ministries, housing advocacy, and much more. Collaboration and building relationships are the hallmarks of their work.

Prayer, Study, Community and Ministry, the four pillars of Dominican tradition, find their home among Dominican sisters in over 30 congregations in the U.S. Sisters reflecting a broad spectrum of experience and searching out God’s hopes for the world. They can be found in the halls of Congress, in rural farmlands, in universities, in prisons and in neighborhood centers.

Throughout the history of the Order, women have responded to Dominic’s vision in numerous ways. Some have gathered in monasteries; others have formed into groups devoted both to prayer and social outreach. In time, some of these groups remained lay Dominicans, others became secular institutes, while still others became congregations of Dominican sisters. These congregations, recognized as belonging to the Order by the Master of the Order, retain various degrees of independence and autonomy. Almost all of them belong to Dominican Sisters International (DSI), "an international movement of Dominican Sisters which seeks to create links between all Dominican Sisters of Apostolic Life throughout the world for the sake of the mission of the Order."                                                                    (SOURCES: Wikipedia; Domlife.org; OP.org)          

Born: August 8, 1170, Caleruega, Spain

Died: August 6, 1221, Bologna, Italy

Full name: Domingo de Guzmán

Feast: 8 August (4 August in the pre-1970 General Roman Calendar)

Buried: Basilica of San Domenico, Bologna, Italy

Canonized: 13 July 1234, Spoleto by Pope Gregory IX  

Dominican Days 2019

I would like to share some pictures of our Dominican Days, which took place August 1 – 4.  Dominican Days are Community Days when all our Sisters come ‘home’ to Marywood, our Motherhouse.  I love Dominican Days – It’s always so good to see our Sisters and to catch up with what’s going on in their ministries!  Some have asked me what happens during Dominican Days.  Below is a very brief overview.

Some of us started on Wednesday, July 31 with committee meetings and/or gatherings with friends or classmates, while some of our Sisters and Associates arrived during the week.  A Sister who is a close friend of mine arrived on Tuesday, so she, another sister and I went out for ice cream that evening.  

Thursday was “Sisters Only” for congregational meetings, dialogue, etc.  We ended the day with a social joined by some of the Associates. 

Friday was our day of retreat for Sisters and Associates.  That evening we received 10 new associates among us – making that 152!  Friday was also the day when we had our missioning: Each one of our names is called as we are commissioned to our ministry for the next year.  (No surprises here!  In the past, Sisters would receive an envelope on August 15^th with a ticket to the place of their next mission!  Now we meet with our Leadership Team before Dominican Days, and together we discern where our next ministry will be.  So, I will continue to serve as Vocation Director – which I really enjoy! 😊) A beautiful reception for the new Associates was held at the end of the day.

Saturday morning, we had our annual Remembering Service – we remember each of our sisters, associates, and former members who have died this past year, as well as family members, benefactors and friends.  It is always a very moving experience!  In the afternoon we did a procession on campus in solidarity with other justice and prolife walks that were taking place around the country.  (Sadly, this walk took place just hours away from the mass shootings in El Paso, TX and Dayton, OH.) 

Saturday afternoon Sisters were invited to take part in Hula Hoop Challenge – not what you might expect – as a fundraiser for the poor.  We raised $400!  Not everyone was available since this took place during choir practice and other events that some Sisters were committed to, but those who participated had a lot of fun doing it.  I was asked to videotape the event, which will be posted on our Facebook page! 

The Jubilarian Dinner was held before Compline, where we continued to recognize our Sister and Associate Jubilarians: 85 years, 75 years, 60 years, 50 years and 25 years!  Each group had a short PowerPoint presentation that shared their combined 1350 years as Dominicans living the 4 pillars: Community, Prayer, Service and Study.

Border Ministry

Last, but not least…I ask that you keep us in prayer – Five of us: Sisters Janet Brown OP, Joyce Ann Hertzig OP, Mary Kay Oosdyke OP, Fr. Joachim Lally CP, and I (Sr. Chela Gonzalez OP) will be going to do Border Ministry in El Paso August 17 – September 2.  Also keep in prayer all immigrant families who are fleeing their countries. And, pray for PEACE!