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February 3, 2017, Wilmette, Illinois – Regina Dominican High School marked Catholic Schools Week, January 31-February 6, 2017, with a special Mass. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, presided at the Mass and took the opportunity to bless the school’s newly renovated auditorium, O’Shaughnessy Theater, where the Mass was held. Read the full Wilmette Life article by Kathy Routliffe.
Catholic Schools Week, organized by the National Catholic Educational Association, is celebrated nationally each year in late January to early February to call attention to the contributions that Catholic schools make to our society and to the lives of the students. This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service.”
Feature photo (top): Cardinal Blase J. Cupich pauses for a photo with Regina Dominican students, from left, Petra Kowalski, Lena Swabb, and Lily D’Agostino. Photo by Aidan Reedy
Sister Rosita Yaya, OP, a member of the Our Lady of Remedies Mission Chapter based in Pampanga, the Philippines, recently attended the Congress for the Mission of the Order, held January 17-21, 2017, in Bologna, Italy. She was appointed to serve on the Synthesis Committee for this Congress, and gave a presentation. As the conclusion to the Dominican family’s 800th Jubilee Year, the Congress aimed to “bring together Dominicans from various regions of the world and from different cultural and ecclesial contexts to reflect and spare experiences around the mission of preaching of the Order today."
The following is Sister Rosita’s presentation at the Congress.
By Sister Rosita Yaya, OP
February 3, 2017, Bologna, Italy – The different presentations and sharing in the workshops gave life to the theme: “Sent to Preach.” They portrayed how the Gospel became human and how our humanity became Gospel to the people the Dominican Sisters and Brothers encountered in their ministry.
Through the centuries, the Sisters and Brothers continued to drink from the rich well of Scriptures, Tradition and the teachings of the Church. They listened and responded to the needs of the humans of their own time. The Holy Preaching, offered in varied ways, gave flesh to the Gospel in the Church, in schools and hospitals, on the streets, at the farms, and with the migrants, refugees, women and children, and with care of creation.
In the process, the preachers – like Jesus and Dominic – suffered with the people they serve. This was concretely experienced by our Sisters and Brothers in Iraq and other war torn countries. They did not give up in the face of persecutions. They stayed with their people and gave hope.
The splendor and beauty of God’s word in creation was incarnated in preaching through art, music and the media.
As I listened to the discussions and sharing, I felt that the fire of preaching is enveloping us present in this stadium. I got new perspective, new learning, and most of all, my encounter with each Sister and Brother present in this Congress made me aware of the immensity of the Mission of the Order. Now I have the courage to face the challenges ahead of me.
As we are sent today, we need to continue to drink from the well of Scriptures, charism and values that St. Dominic, St. Catherine, and all the Dominican saints handed on to us. We are hopeful that we can make a difference. The Holy Spirit will strengthen us to discover new ways of preaching, to have fruitful encounter with people of different beliefs, with displaced persons, the victims of human rights violations and trafficking, people living in abject poverty. We know that what we will do is not our own mission. It is the Mission of Jesus, as He promised he will be with us until the end.
Feature photo: Sister Rosita Yaya, OP, gives a presentation during the Congress for the Mission of the Order.