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August 25, 2021, Adrian, Michigan – Five women were welcomed as Adrian Dominican Associates during Rituals of Acceptance via Zoom over two weekends in August.
As Associates, they make a non-vowed commitment to the Adrian Dominican Congregation, living out their unique vocation as Dominican women and men. While maintaining their own lifestyle and remaining financially independent, Associates participate in various spiritual, social, and ministerial experiences with the Sisters, with one another, and with Associates of other congregations of Dominican Sisters.
Mary Jo Alexander, a former Adrian Dominican Sister, became an Associate on August 15, 2021, during a ritual attended by some of the 78 Sisters with whom she had entered the Congregation, as well as other Associates, Sisters, and friends. Noting that she was attracted to the Adrian Dominican Sisters by her teachers at Bishop Hoban High School in Cleveland, Mary Jo said, “The Adrians have always been my North Star. This ritual … signifies a commitment I began in 1966 [and] the emotional and faithful connection I’ve always had.”
“Mary Jo is particularly drawn to those most in need,” Sister Mary Jane Lubinski, OP, said during Mary Jo’s introduction. “Deep grooves were carved in her caring heart when she spent a year teaching in Puerto Rico. The resilience, strength, and deep faith of the people found a home in her heart.” Mary Jo continued to make a difference as teacher of troubled children, advocate for human trafficking victims, and devoted mother and grandmother, Sister Mary Jane added.
Sister Ellen Burkhardt, OP, Mary Jo’s mentor, spoke of the energy and passion Mary Jo exerts in everything she does. “Mary Jo is an all-in person,” she said. “I don’t think she’s ever done anything half-heartedly.” At the same time, she said, Mary Jo is contemplative and “pays attention to and seeks out this beckoning silence.”
Four other women formally became Associates on August 22, 2021. Each became acquainted with the Adrian Dominican Congregation through unique ways: family, the pandemic, the Internet, and professional work.
Laura Boor – daughter of Mary Lach, Director of Associate Life, and wife of Associate Jacob Boor – was involved in Associate Life long before becoming an Associate herself. She frequently attended Associate events, playing the flute during Rituals of Acceptance or other prayer services and creating PowerPoint presentations for her mother’s programs.
Jacob, Laura, and their son Julian live in Clinton Township, Michigan, with Laura’s parents, Mary and Thierry Lach.
Laura teaches music and flute at her studio and in local high schools, is a marching band instructor, plays the piccolo and flute in ensembles, and transposes music. “Most of all, Laura mentors students and walks beside them as they negotiate life,” Jacob said, adding she is also active in various parish ministries. “We often share together about the Dominican Charism and pray together too,” he said. “It is with a sense of pride and awe that we welcome Laura into Associate Life.”
“I want to be part of the Adrian Dominican family because I hope to continue to grow spiritually as a person,” Laura said. “I believe in what you preach and I love the community between the Sisters and Associates.”
Megan Meloche, of Fraser, Michigan, came to know the Adrian Dominican Sisters during the pandemic lockdown, when she and her husband Dan watched the live stream Sunday Liturgies from the Adrian Dominican Motherhouse.
The Meloches began to spend Sundays with Laura and Jacob, sharing dinner and their faith. “Our families shared the same concern about global warming, systemic racism, and other issues,” Dan explained while introducing Megan. The couple is awaiting the adoption of a child.
A convert to Catholicism, Megan is a life-long learner who excels in both music and language. She majored in Japanese studies, spent time in Japan, and now uses her skills as an engineering analyst for Nissan.
“I seek to join the Adrian Dominican Associates because my growing spirituality seeks truth,” Megan said. “In an age of misinformation, the truth can be hard to find. I want to use that knowledge to aid whoever I can. I want to see each of them thrive.”
Mary Lach was mentor to both Laura and Megan.
Melinda Mullin, of northern California, met the Adrian Dominican Sisters and Associates on the Internet and learned more about Sisters from the 2012 documentary, Band of Sisters. “When I watched the documentary of the Sisters, I realized I wanted to be around people who do what they do,” Melinda said. “The social justice issues they were tackling were issues I wanted to help with.” She contacted Mary Lach and began the process of discernment.
Associate Connie Brady, Melinda’s mentor, spoke of Melinda’s dedication to her family and her eagerness to be part of Associate Life. “Melinda is a mother, caregiver, daughter and sister, and now I’m really proud to say she’s my friend,” Connie said. “She’s passionate about care for the planet. She’s even a beekeeper.”
Connie emphasized Melinda’s eagerness to learn more about Associate Life. “She jumped in with both feet,” participating in some of the Associates’ weekly Zoom meetings and writing profiles of Associates for a new series of Associate Life newsletter articles, Charism Carriers Connections.
“I’m so happy to be part of the Associates,” Melinda said. “I feel like I have found the family I didn’t know I was missing.”
Sheila Wathen was connected to the Dominican family long before she decided to become an Associate. A resident of Adrian for 20 years, she worked on the websites of both St. Joseph Academy and the Adrian Dominican Montessori Teacher Education Institute (ADMTEI), also helping the ADMTEI in 2014 with its reaccreditation with the American Montessori Society.
“I especially gained deeper understanding of the [Dominican] Charism in my work with the late Sister Pat Brady as a technology consultant for the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools,” Sheila explained. “Through that position I was able to meet Dominican Sisters from several other congregations, as well as students and staff members from other Dominican schools. This gave me a much broader vision of how the same Dominican Charism was lived out.” Sheila has served as Assistant Communications Director for the Adrian Dominican Sisters since 2015. She became intrigued by Associate Life and thought she might join some time in the future. During the past two years, she learned more about how Sisters and Associates were living out the General Chapter 2016 Enactments, experienced political and social turmoil in the United States, and began a deeper spiritual journey. “I was struggling with how to channel my strong feelings about justice, love, truth, nonviolence, and what it meant to be a Catholic Christian; suddenly it made more sense to [become an Associate] now,” she said.
“Sheila has been grounded in the Dominican Charism for years,” said Sister Barbara Kelley, OP, her mentor, who works with her in the Communications Office. “But more important is the way that she lives it out. She is extremely kind and patient, a natural teacher. She’s dedicated to her job, the Dominican family, her own family, the good of humanity, and all of God’s creation.”
After each new Associate was introduced and declared her reason for becoming an Associate, they were invited to light a special candle given to them, put on their Associate logos, and sign their documents of association.
For information on becoming an Adrian Dominican Associate, contact Mary Lach, Director of Associate Life, at mlach@adriandominicans.org.
Feature photo: From left, Dan and Megan Meloche and Laura and Jacob Boor participate in the virtual Ritual of Acceptance on August 22, 2021.
August 6, 2021, Westchester, Illinois – Sister Katherine Frazier, OP, renewed her vows with the Adrian Dominican Sisters for three years during a Vespers service August 1, 2021, in Chicago. Celebrating with Sister Katherine were Sister friends and the newly-elected leadership team of the Catherine of Siena Mission Chapter, Sisters Mary Jane Lubinski, OP, Mary Priniski, OP, and Mary Soher, OP.
During the ritual, Sister Katherine renewed her vows to Prioress Patricia Siemen, OP. Dominicans vow obedience to Almighty God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Dominic, and the Prioress and her lawful successors. The ritual concluded with the signing of papers by Sisters Patricia and Katherine and her formal witnesses, Sisters Mary Jane Lubinski, OP, and Dorothy Glaister, OP.
In a phone interview, Sister Katherine reflected on the grace of her Renewal of Vows. “There’s so much uncertainty right now,” she said. “It was very moving to be able to say that I have the path ahead of me, recommitting myself at this time. This is an invitation to keep on my journey with the Adrian Dominican Sisters and to continue to discover how God is calling me in my life.”
Sister Katherine said she was moved by Sister Patricia’s invitation “to continue to live into a brave space,” and by the presence of so many friends – Sisters who had been with her on her journey as an Adrian Dominican Sister. The use of the incense during the simple service was also moving, she said. “I really felt the prayers of everyone enveloping me.”
Sister Patricia Walter, OP, who has accompanied Sister Katherine on her formation journey since she entered the Adrian Dominican Congregation in 2015, said temporary vows and renewal of vows are important steps of initial formation into a religious community, giving the Sister and the Congregation the time to discern whether she is called to be an Adrian Dominican Sister. “The process of full incorporation into the Congregation is a lengthy one,” she said. “Religious life is not a common vocation.”
As Director of Formation, Sister Pat accompanies Sister Katherine in the initial formation process, helping her to understand the vows and shepherding her through the processes of renewal of vows and, ultimately, final profession. “It’s been a grace to accompany Katherine,” she said. “It affirms the relevance of the Dominican charism today because younger people still say, ‘There’s a call here and this is something I can give my life to.’”
A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sister Katherine was serving as coordinator of the Bishop Donald Trautman Catholic House at Gannon University, Erie, Pennsylvania, at the time of her entrance into the Congregation. Since her First Profession in 2018, she has ministered in Mission Integration at Regina Dominican High School, an all-girls high school founded and sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters and located in Wilmette, Illinois. Sister Katherine is beginning a new ministry: refugee resettlement in New Haven, Connecticut, which will involve helping refugees to find their way in their new homes and to meet their basic needs as they become adjusted to life in the United States. “I’m looking forward to learning a lot,” Sister Katherine said.
Sister Katherine describes religious life as an adventure. “If there’s anything I have experienced in these last six years it is that religious life is very full of surprises,” she said. “Part of the mystery of religious life is discovering where God is calling us out of the community, and how often it takes us to unexpected places. It can sometimes be hard, but it’s always a place that is full of grace.”
If you or someone you know is a single Catholic woman, age 19 to 35, who is discerning God’s call, please contact Sister Katherine Frazier, OP, or Sister Tarianne DeYonker, OP, Co-directors of Vocations, at vocations@adriandominicans.org. Registrations are also being taken for the next Come and See weekend, October 8-10, 2021, at the Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse campus in Adrian, Michigan.
Feature photo: Sister Mary Jane Lubinski, OP, one of Sister Katherine’s witnesses, embraces her as Prioress Patricia Siemen, OP, signs the Renewal of Vows document. Photo by Sister Durstyne Farnan, OP