2010 - Dominican Sisters of Amityville - Development Office

More documents

Recommendations

Info

2Our PreachingFromthedeskofMary Hughes OPPrioressDear Friends,On September 22nd I was privileged to participate in theprivate ceremony for the Women & Spirit: Catholic Sistersin America exhibit as it opened on Ellis Island. Althoughthe exhibit space is smaller than that which was availablein the Smithsonian, the exhibit is wonderful. It captures the vision, the courage, andthe determination of the many Sisters who responded to the needs of the people theyserved. Archbishop Dolan was there to offer personal words and to actually cut theribbon. It is significant, I think, that in this space the lives of the immigrants and thelives of Catholic Sisters intersect, as they have so often done through the years. TheWomen & Spirit exhibit will be at the Ellis Island Museum until January 22. If youhave the opportunity, I would urge you to treat yourself to this historical exhibit.Another place that the lives of immigrants and the lives of our own Dominican Sistersintersect is in our Opening Word Program. With the vision of Sister Mary Ryan, theprogram opened in Wyandanch, aimed at furthering the education of women whowere economically poor. With the individual teaching and the encouragement ofSisters Mary Ryan and Sister Margaret Briody, the initial five students progressedtoward achieving their GED, the recognized alternate to a high school diploma. Asthe immigrant population of Long Island grew, so did the need. The Opening Worddeveloped a second site at our Motherhouse in Amityville and a third was recentlyopened at St. Hugh of Lincoln in Huntington Station. As the 20th anniversary of thiswonderful program approaches, The Opening Word population of students has grownfrom the initial five women to a current total of 220 women. The greatest need forthese women is English language instruction.In order to keep the student teacher ratio small, the program is staffed by many of ourSisters, including a number of retired Sisters who welcome the opportunity to keeptheir teaching skills in use. There are an additional 80 retired teachers, female andmale, who assist us in the work of educating the women who seek our assistance. Theprogram, now under the able direction of Sister Lenore Toscano, is entirely funded bygrants and donations. During the Spring Recognition Ceremonies, many of thewomen walk down the aisle with their babies and young children in hand. Over andover again they speak about how happy they are to be able to help their children withtheir homework and how proud they are to be able to speak with their children’steachers. Whole families are impacted by this educational opportunity.So if you hear anyone say, “The Sisters aren’t in teaching any more,” please tell themhow the teaching continues. These women of spirit, like the many others cited in thisnewsletter, continue to respond to the needs of the poor and the immigrants. They arefaithful to the mission that impelled us to come to this country in 1853.Thank you for the many ways in which you assist our Sisters in doing this importantwork. We are ever grateful for your support. Please know that you and those you loveare ever remembered in our prayer.Prayerfully and gratefully,Mary Hughes OPPrioressVol. 8, No. 3 Fall 2010The American Congregation of the Holy Cross,Dominican Sisters of Amityville, is a Congregationof more than 500 women religious. Our Motherhouseis in New York but our Sisters minister in six otherstates, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Weare a preaching/teaching Congregation always seekingcreative ways to minister in the present moment.Excerpt from the Vision Statementof the Dominican Sisters of AmityvilleWe Dominican women religiouscalled to be signs of joy and hope,commit ourselves to incarnating the Gospel,deepening our life of prayer, searching for Truth,discerning the needs of the Churchand ministering to the people of God.COUNCILPrioressMary Hughes OPAssistant PrioressElaine Jahrsdoerfer OPCouncilor for Ministry & StudyAlice Byrnes OPCouncilor for Stewardship & TreasurerTheresa Gallagher OPCouncilor for Common LifeJudith Golden OPCouncilor for Health & RetirementElizabeth McGarvey OPProvincial of Puerto RicoLuz Selenia Quinones OPOur Preaching is a publication of theDominican Sisters of Amityville.For information on articles in this issue or onany programs or events, please contact theDevelopment Office at 631-842-6000, ext. 269.DEVELOPMENT OFFICEDirector of DevelopmentPatricia Chambers Daly ext. 241pchambersdaly@amityop.orgDirector of Special ProjectsAnn Marie Ellingham ext. 238aellingham@amityop.orgDirector of Donor CommunicationCarol Hansen ext. 269chansen@amityop.orgDevelopment AssistantShalyrie Fields ext. 246sfields@amityop.orgDominican Sisters of Amityville555 Albany Avenue, Amityville, NY 11701-1197Website: www.dsaopdev.org
Dominican Young Adults Gather in ChicagoIn July, seventeen members of Dominican Young Adults, USAand four other members of the Dominican Family gathered atthe Cenacle Retreat Center in Chicago to set goals, plan eventsfor the upcoming year, share their love of the Dominican charism,pray together and just enjoy each other’s company. The theme was:“I am Under Obligation, That is Why I am Eager to Preach theGospel” (Rom 1:14-15).The gathering began with a commitment ceremony, duringwhich everyone present was invited to either commit for the firsttime or re-commit to DYA for one year. This gathering of youngadults, representing chapters throughout the United States, was achance for the group to discuss successes from the past two yearsand make suggestions for meeting the challenges associated withsuch a young organization.Originally, the DYA chapters were based around the collegesand universities, but many members have now graduated. Thegroup discussed ways to retain those members, while attractingyoung adults attending colleges/universities as well as youngadults from parishes and other venues. There is a need to developbetter formation materials for new members and chapters, andraise awareness of DYA in other places where the DominicanFamily is present. They also hope to establish national projectsthat would involve thesimultaneous participationof all local DYA chapters,promoting solidarity andunity in the organization.In true Dominicanfashion, the group prayed,discussed, and debatedthe tenets of restructuringthe DYA board, thenvoted on a new structure.Fall 20102010 DYA Board (from left): Kevin Sullivan,Sean Mundy, Allie Jeffs and Andrew Vivian.The new board consists of four young adults (above) mentored byfour Dominicans (Friars, Sisters, Associates, Laity, etc.)Overall, the weekend offered a valuable time to re-evaluatethe present workings of DYA, revitalize passion for Dominicancharism, and plant new and interesting seeds of thought that willhelp DYA grow and blossom in its mission to build the Kingdomof God. National Coordinator Andrew Vivian (Wisconsin)summed up the experience by saying, “The members showedcommitment and dedication by coming back in 2010 to look atthe strengths and weaknesses of the current system and, inmoving forward, have renewed hope for the future of DYA.”Young Dominican Mission Teams By Sister Gina Fleming, OPOh to dream… When some of the Dominican Young Adultscame to me and said, “Sister Gina, we want to take ourshow on the road. We want to tell other young people about ourDominican experience,” I was taken aback. I remember thinkingto myself, how would we ever make that happen? Well, I am afirm believer that if it is of God, anything is possible!So, during the first week of August, six young adults, allmembers of DYA USA, and I came together at the MercyhavenCenter in Brentwood to begin training for what we are calling“Young Dominican Mission Teams.” With the help of somewonderful women from the Dominican Sisters of Amityville,once again these young people were immersed in the foundationsof Dominican life.S. Diane Capuano, OP opened the week by asking the teamto contemplate, “Who is this man Dominic to me and why am Iso attracted to his message?” Later that day, S. Diane Morgan, OPaddressed the topic of Dominican mission focusing the team on thefact that, “You will be undertaking a ministry which is a part ofthe mission of the Order, but more importantly a ministry that ispart of the Church’s mission, the mission of Jesus.” The next day,S. Pat Duffy, OP came to speak about Dominican Spirituality. Aspreachers, she said, they need to “contemplate the Word, and letit soak into their very being. Then get out of the way and let Goddo the rest.”Finally, Suzanne Richards, a Dominican Associate, came togive the Team some tips on public speaking and group dynamics.This workshop allowed the preachers to really get a sense of theirstrengths, which they can build on, and weaknesses, which theycan work on.Our thanks go out to all who came to be with these youngpeople and assist them in their new venture. The team had theopportunity to visit the Amityville Motherhouse, where theyintroduced themselves to the retired Sisters and spent some timetelling them about their new ministry. Thirty-five Sisters cameto meet them and hear about this new program, as they sharedstories of their own years of ministry.With the financial support of the women’s congregations,these Mission Teams are prepared to go out to places across thecountry to provide a half-day Dominican Experience. Their targetaudiences will of course be young adults, but these experienceswill be open to everyone, including high school students,Associates, and vowed Dominicans in the area.These young adults have a message to bring to their audiences.They are on fire with the Dominican charism and want to spreadthat fire to others. Through the use of scripture, personal witnesstalks, music, and drama, they have worked hard creating a programthat will hopefully bring their message across. They don’t claim tobe scripture scholars, or know everything there is to know aboutDominican spirituality, but they have caught something and arecompelled to let others know about it!If you would like to schedule a presentation in your area,please contact me at domsis@aol.com.3
Page 1: A publication of the Dominican Sist
Page 5 and 6: Dominican Business Partnership:A Gr
Page 7 and 8: Dominican Sisters of AmityvilleTo P

2010 - Dominican Sisters of Amityville - Development Office

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?