What's Happening

May 28, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – Like many other people throughout the world, Adrian Dominican Sisters expressed joy, hope, and a sense of connection after the election on May 8, 2025, of Pope Leo XIV, a native of Chicago and the first U.S.-born pope. He has ministered largely in Peru and has dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship.

Sister Xiomara Méndez-Hernández, Executive Director of the Dominican Sisters Conference (DSC), an organization of U.S.-based congregations of Dominican Sisters, happened to be in Rome during the conclave of Cardinals who elected the pope. 

“It was truly a remarkable experience for me to be in Rome during the election of Pope Leo XIV,” wrote Sister Xiomara. “Receiving his blessing in person at St. Peter’s Square was such a special moment.” She said the election of the Augustinian also “deeply resonates with our Dominican Order’s spirituality, especially as we follow the Rule of St. Augustine, just like the Augustinians.”

Sister Xiomara also has a special connection to Pope Leo XIV: both are graduates of Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago. She said the name of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, sounded familiar. “Later that night, I reached out to an Augustinian friend and classmate from CTU who immediately confirmed my suspicion. It was indeed the same Bishop Robert Francis Prevost who came from Peru to preside over [her friend’s] ordination nine years ago.” She added that she had been impressed at the time by his “gentle presence, simplicity, and his ever-present smile.”

A native of the Dominican Republic, Sister Xiomara noted that “hearing him ask for permission to speak in Spanish brought me immense joy. His call for peace, justice, unity, and love has truly renewed my hope, not only for the Church but for the entire world.”

Some 4,765 miles away, several Adrian Dominican Sisters and Co-workers gathered in the lobby of the Dominican Life Center at the Motherhouse in Adrian to await the revelation of the new pope. They also responded to this revelation with great joy.

Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, who attended this watch party, found the election of a cardinal from the United States to be “very exciting and extraordinarily surprising.” She described Pope Leo XIV as a “highly educated Friar … a global citizen, having traveled broadly, linguistically gifted … a missionary to the core, a citizen of the U.S. and Peru and a proponent of Pope Francis’ environmental agenda.”

Sister Linda also saw particular significance in his name. “The name he chose speaks clearly to the importance and relevance he has and will continue to place on Catholic social teaching.” Pope Leo XIII, in his 1891 encyclical (document) Rerum Novarum, is credited with beginning the modern tradition of Catholic social teaching by addressing the social issues arising from changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. Some of the principles of Catholic social teaching include the dignity of the human person; call to family, community, and participation; option for the poor and vulnerable; the dignity of work; solidarity; and care for creation.
   
“I trust that our pope will guide and encourage us by his living, teaching, and preaching, so that, with our focused engagement, all persons will live in just and peaceful societies, and all creation will flourish,” Sister Linda concluded.

Some Sisters spoke to their connection to Pope Leo XIV through their own roots or involvement in Chicago. “Not only is he the first pope from the United States but also someone with whom I share common roots in Chicago,” Sister Mary Flan Fleischaker, OP, said. “In addition, Pope Leo XIV seems to have the heart of a shepherd and holds many of the same priorities as Pope Francis. All of this gives me great hope.”

In her response to the election of the pope, Sister Jean Tobin, OP, reflected on her own background in Chicago, growing up in a middle-class neighborhood where neighbors looked out for one another. She described a similar spirit in Pope Leo XIV. “I loved seeing him on that balcony, taking it all in and waving and accepting the love and joy emanating from the crowd,” she said. “I can also appreciate his missionary spirit, love of people, willingness to learn their languages and sense of justice.”

Perhaps one comment by Sister Mary Fran sums up the feelings of many of the Sisters and of many people throughout the world: “We have been given a surprising and timely gift in Leo XIV.” 
 

Caption for above feature photo: Sisters and Co-workers gather in the Dominican Life Center lobby to watch the announcement of the new pope.

May 21, 2025, Detroit – The site where children once attended St. Matthew School in Detroit will now be home to another group of children and their families. 

Representatives of the City of Detroit, the Archdiocese of Detroit, Catholic Charities leaders, and civic leaders attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Residences at St. Matthew in early May. 

“It was a great gathering, manifesting the importance of people and organizations working together,” said Sister Nancyann Turner, OP. She ministered for more than 20 years at the Rosa Parks Children’s and Youth Program at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit.

“I was able to watch this project, along with projects in [four other cities] develop from ground-breaking to opening and move-in,” said Sister Donna Markham, OP, former President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA). “It was a thrilling experience to see moms and children literally moving from the streets, or from living in their cars, into beautiful, fully-equipped, safe apartments. It was a great day in Detroit!”

Construction began in November 2023 for the apartment complex, slated to include at least 46 apartments, including 36 one-bedroom apartments, four two-bedroom apartments, and six studio units. Healthcare and other services will be provided to the residents through Catholic Charities of Southeastern Michigan, Henry Ford St. John Hospital, and other partners.

To qualify, households had to earn no more than 30 percent, 50 percent, or 60 percent of the median income for the Detroit area. 

Sister Donna noted that the project took shape with the assistance of Archbishop Allen Vigneron and his team, Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, and Ascension Health. “St. Matthew’s parishioners and the pastor, Rev. Duane Novelly, were key to the success of the project,” she said. “Generously, the Capuchin Friars fully furnished and equipped over 20 apartments, down to the fully stocked kitchens and bedding.”

Seven years ago, CCUSA began the pilot of the Healthy Housing Initiative with five dioceses across the country. Detroit was one of the cities that Sister Donna and her team chose, along with Las Vegas; Portland, Oregon; St. Louis; and Spokane.

“Many groups and individuals worked together to make this happen,” Sister Nancyann said. “It took tremendous work and cooperation among the many participants in this endeavor – including national and local Catholic Charities agencies, Mayor Michael Duggan and his many Detroit offices of housing, Henry Ford Medical Services, the Archdiocese of Detroit, construction companies, finance companies, and of course the people and pastor of St. Matthew’s Parish.”

Sister Donna noted that three requirements for participation in the CCUSA pilot program were “a bishop who was willing to make available underutilized church property, a Catholic Charities agency with a director who could lead housing development, and a Catholic health system that would assist with medical support services.”

The Healthy Housing Initiative “was one of the many beautiful things I was involved in during my nine-year tenure as president of CCUSA,” Sister Donna said. She encouraged anybody who has the opportunity to stop by and see Residences at St. Matthew. “It is well worth witnessing this little miracle in Detroit,” she said.

Read more about Residences at St. Matthew in this Detroit Catholic article by Daniel Meloy.
 

Caption for above feature photo: Sister Donna Markham, OP, back left, watches as, from left, Paul Propson, CEO of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan; Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda; and Msgr. Charles Kosanke, Chairman of the Board of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan cut the ribbon for the new Residences at St. Matthew. 
Photo by Valaurian Waller, Courtesy of The Detroit Catholic