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November 24, 2015, Adrian, Michigan – The Adrian Dominican Sisters formally welcomed five new Associates in November during Rituals of Acceptance that took place in two states. 

The St. Louis Associates gathered on Saturday, November 14, 2015, for a retreat day led by Sister Joan Delaplane. After a morning spent in prayer, quiet reflection, and sharing, Julie Jones made her commitment as an Associate of the Adrian Dominican Sisters.  

Julie Jones signs the commitment document, while her mentor, Associate Jo Curran,
looks on.

Julie, Vice President of Mission for the Mercy Health System, first visited the St. Louis Associates last January, looking for a group of women to share life and faith. As Julie stated, “I am better in community than I am alone.” She then began her formation for association with Associate Jo Curran as her mentor. After much study and discernment, Julie decided to become an Associate. She said her decision was finalized during her visit to the Adrian Dominican Motherhouse, where she saw a quote about contemplation. She knew then that this is where she belonged.  

Julie, from St. Louis, met Sister Joan Delaplane and the local Associates while receiving a master’s degree in theology from the Aquinas Institute of Theology, a Dominican graduate school. In her position at Mercy Health, Julie develops formation content and leads formation for board members and executives. She coaches executives to help them integrate faith and values into their leadership. In addition, Julie oversees the provision of pastoral care to patients served by hospitals and physicians in four states. She enjoys helping others grow professionally. 

Mary Lach, Director of Associate Life, presided over the Ritual of Acceptance on November 15 in Miami, where she had given presentations to the faculty and staff of Barry University. The four new Associates had been mentored as a group by Sisters Margaret Exworthy and Margot Ruiz.

The new Associates are:

  • - Nancy Medina, who, as a tutor, met Sister Margaret Exworthy in 2008 at DePorres Place, a literacy center sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Born in Puerto Rico, she has been married to Carlos for 12 years. They are both involved in parish ministries, such as Marriage Encounter. Along with tutoring, Nancy helps with the Knights of Columbus. Last August, she attended Partners III, a weekend gathering of Associates in Adrian. She has a deep love for our God.
  • - Sandra Pino: In 2002, Sandra came to DePorres Place to learn to speak English. She now manages the office and serves as a tutor. Sandra, a gifted artist, often expresses the Dominican charism through art. She was born in Cali, Colombia, the youngest of five sisters, and met her husband while earning her degree in engineering. A deep thinker, Sandra also has a deep love of animals and a care for Earth. 
  • - Nelson Pino was born in Cali, Colombia, and came to the United States in 2002 with Sandra. He brought his brothers and sisters, as well as Sandra, to DePorres Place to learn English. He and Sandra have become family to Sister Margaret. Nelson is an engineer, and when the company he was working for relocated, he decided to stay in West Palm Beach and work at the literacy center. He has a deep desire to help immigrants and those less fortunate. Nelson and Sandra have decided to live simply and embrace the Dominican charism.
  • - Peggy Rowe-Linn: Peggy’s Adrian Dominican roots go back to her attendance at St. Ann School and Cardinal Newman High School, where she was taught by Adrian Dominican Sisters. Now grandparents, Peggy and her husband Steve sent their four children to Rosarian Academy – also sponsored by the Adrian Dominicans. A lawyer specializing in family law, she works as a mediator for families in conflict. Peggy and Steve are very active in their parish, St. Rita in Wellington, Florida, which hosted the Ritual of Acceptance. 

Submitted by Mary Lach



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August 20, 2015, Adrian, Michigan – Five women were formally welcomed as Associates of the Adrian Dominican Sisters on August 15 during a special evening Ritual of Acceptance. The ceremony took place in St. Catherine Chapel at the Adrian Dominican Motherhouse during a weekend gathering of Associates, Partners III.

Participating in the opening hymn of the Ritual Acceptance are, from left: new Associate Carole Watters with her mentor Sister Jo Gaugier, OP, and Sister Rose Celeste O’Connell, OP, mentor, with new Associate Marge Coneset.

“We’ve had a joyous, Spirit-filled gathering up until this moment, and it will be even more exciting as we welcome these five new Dominican Preachers among us,” said Sister Lorraine Reaume, OP, Formation Director of the Congregation in her brief welcoming address to the assembly. “I just invite us all to join in celebration, to hear their words, to offer them our prayer and our support, and rejoice in our being together to celebrate this very special event.”

“It is with open hearts and minds and much love that we welcome these women to walk with us as Associates in spreading the Good News and living out the mission of the Dominicans of Adrian,” said Associate Mary Lach, Director of Associate Life.

During the ceremony, each new Associate’s mentor – an Adrian Dominican Sister or Associate – gave a brief introduction of the new Associate and lit a candle in her honor. Mary Lach then questioned each woman as to her willingness to be “named and known as an Adrian Dominican Associate” and invited her forward to explain her decision. Associate Janice Donner served as the ritual leader.

The new Associates are:

Carole Watters, mother of four, grandmother of seven, and an active lay minister in the Diocese of Saginaw. She was taught by Adrian Dominican Sisters at Resurrection School in Lansing, Michigan, and attended Siena Heights College (now University), sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters and located in Adrian, as well as Aquinas College, founded by the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters. Sister Jo Gaugier, OP, her mentor, interviewed her for the lay ministry formation program in the Diocese of Saginaw. She noted Carole’s service at Saginaw’s Diocesan Service Center and her ministry as a Befriender Ministry leader for two parishes in that diocese. “Saying yes to this call is like coming home full circle,” Carole said. “For me, the mission of this community of Dominic says it all.”

Marge Coneset, sister-in-law of Associate Barbara Coneset. Her ministries include creating beautiful, uplifting greeting cards; crocheting prayer and healing shawls for people in need; reaching out to neighbors in need; and helping to organize a monthly bingo session for the Sisters at the Dominican Life Center. “Marge has a deep faith in God, extraordinary compassion for others and all creation, and is always available to help those in need,” said Sister Rose Celeste O’Connell, OP, her mentor. “I’ve been impressed by Marge’s joy, sense of humor, hospitality, kindness, and desire to grow spiritually.” Marge, for her part, spoke of her own feeling of home-coming when she first came to the Motherhouse of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. “It is a home of compassion, truth, justice, prayer, and community. …These charisms are in my heart and soul and they enable me to carry out God’s work.”

Mary Miller, the secretary at St. Patrick’s of Heatherdown Parish in Toledo, Ohio, as well as a lector and member of the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society. “I witnessed Mary’s deep devotion to God and her prayer life way back in our years at St. Joseph Academy together,” said her mentor, Associate Jacqui Richardson. “I invited Mary to consider the Associate Life program because I knew she would be faithful to the commitment of preaching God’s Word and living the Adrian Dominican charism.”  In her response, Mary noted that she had been inspired from her elementary school days by the “reverence and love of God” demonstrated by her Adrian Dominican teachers. “I want to continue the charism of St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena and be led by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel, not only by words but by daily living.”

Pamela Kyzer, a nurse who also volunteers as a parish nurse at her parish in Anchorage, Alaska. In her introduction, Pam’s mentor, Associate Susan Jayich, spoke of the 30 years they shared together in Anchorage. Pam and her husband, an orthopedic surgeon, had provided health care to Alaskans for many years before his retirement. She has also been involved in hospice; co-founded the Catholic Parish Ministers and Health Ministers Association of Anchorage; and volunteers as a dog handler for the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. Pam noted she was attracted to Associate Life for many reasons, including the example of the Adrian Dominican Sisters who once served in Anchorage – Sisters Lorraine Reaume, Jo Gaugier, and Ann Romayne Fallon, and former Adrian Dominican Sister Jacqueline Stoll. She has also been influenced by the Associates in Anchorage. “The support they offer me is invaluable to my spiritual growth,” she said.

Cynthia Lentine, also of Anchorage, who has been involved in teaching a faith formation class, completing a three-year Scripture and leadership program, and serving the community through such means as the Paws Therapy Dog training program. Her mentor, Associate Barbara Block of Anchorage, also noted Cindy’s work in helping to develop a local library, her gifts of compassion and hospitality, and her willingness to give her time for those in need. “Cynthia is a woman of deep faith, committed to passing on the faith,” Barbara said, adding that her circle of friends includes the Sisters who formally served in Anchorage, as well as Sisters Patricia Magee and Nancy Murray, who recently visited and ministered there. Cindy noted that she identifies with the mission of the Adrian Dominican Sisters to “seek truth, make peace, and reverence life.”

The ceremony continued with the new Associates’ signing of the Agreement of Association, noting their willingness to enter into a formal relationship with the Adrian Dominican Sisters through a non-vowed commitment to the mission and vision. The new Associates also received a special logo.

Associate Life is open to women and men, at least 18 years of age, who are married, single, widowed or divorced. While maintaining their own lifestyle and remaining financially independent, Associates participate in various social, spiritual, and ministerial experiences with Adrian Dominican Sisters and attend Congregational events.  If you are interested in Associate Life, please contact Mary Lach, director, at 517-266-3531 or associates@adriandominicans.org.

 

Sister Jo Gaugier, OP, right, explains the Agreement of Association to new Associate Cindy Lentine, while Cindy’s mentor, Associate Barbara Block, watches.

 

Signing the Agreement of Association are, from left: Associates Pam Kyzer, Jacqui Richardson, Mary Miller, Marge Coneset, and Sister Rose Celeste O’Connell, OP.

 


 

 

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