What's Happening

April 8, 2022, Adrian, Michigan – As organizations throughout the world are starting to open as the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly fades, a special exhibit that explores life during the pandemic through the artwork of eight Adrian Dominican Sisters, Associates, and friends is opening at INAI: A Space Apart's art gallery.
 
Art in the Time of COVID opens on Sunday, May 1, 2022, and remains on exhibit through Sunday, August 28, 2022. An artists’ reception is from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2022. The public is invited to both the exhibit and the reception.
 
All guests will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms at an outdoor tent before entering the INAI Gallery. Masks and social distancing are required. 
 
The exhibit features the artwork of Sisters Barbara Cervenka, OP, Mary J. Hickey, OP, Aneesah McNamee, OP, Suzanne Schreiber, OP, and Nancyann Turner, OP; Adrian Dominican Associate Judith Engel; and friends Debra Henning and Mame Jackson.
 
During the early months of the pandemic, Sister Barbara called together this group of friends to respond to the unique time through their art. They gathered monthly on Zoom to share their work and gave expression to their thoughts, feelings, and observations through a variety of media, including drawing, painting, collage, journaling, quilting, graphic arts, photography, and video production. “We wanted to recognize the singularity of [the pandemic], how unusual and how difficult this time is,” Sister Barbara said.
 
Art in the Time of COVID is dedicated to the memory of 14 Adrian Dominican Sisters who died of COVID-19 in the winter of 2021. Their names will be posted in the exhibit. Visitors are invited to write the names of loved ones whom they lost to the pandemic so that they can be remembered as well.
 
INAI (in-EYE), a Japanese word meaning within, is a place for quiet reflection and art and is open to the public. The INAI Gallery is adjacent to the north entrance of Weber Retreat and Conference Center on the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Motherhouse Campus. Enter the Eastern-most driveway to the complex and follow the signs to Weber Center.
 
Gallery hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and by appointment by calling 313-608-9181. 

July 7, 2021, Chicago – In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sister Xiomara Méndez-Hernández, OP, ministered as Chaplain at Loyola Medical Center in Chicago and was present when the hospital’s first patient died of the virus. Sister Xiomara is part of a group of graduates from Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago who discuss their role as Chaplains – Spiritual First Responders – who are present in compassion to patients, family members, and medical staff suffering because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Sometimes we cannot cure, but we continue to care,” Sister Xiomara said. Watch the CTU video on Spiritual First Responders.