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December 15, 2016, Wilmette, Illinois – Students at Regina Dominican High School hosted the second annual Ugandan Fair Trade Market December 12 during lunch. All proceeds benefited Noté Karacel, an organization that supports the people of Alenga, Uganda. Noté Karacel means "Unite Together" in the local language of Alenga. 

One of the main goals of Noté Karacel is to provide tuition assistance for Ugandan girls and young women so that they are able to receive a quality education. Visit www.notekaracel.org to learn more about the work being done in Alenga, Uganda. Regina Dominican sponsors two girls in Alenga through the proceeds from notecards designed by National Art Honor Society students.

The same day as the market, Regina Dominican began its "Random Acts of Kindness Week." Students, faculty, and staff have been challenged to complete 701 random acts of kindness this week in recognition of the school’s address, 701 Locust Road. Random acts include buying lunch for a friend, helping someone with homework, shoveling snow for a neighbor, leaving a quarter in the vending machine, and complimenting someone. 

Members of the school community will fill out ornaments with a description of their acts; the ornaments will be placed on the "Kindness Tree" in the cafeteria. 

Feature photo: From left, Summer Rocha, Emily Becker, Rebecca Richards, Jenna Rozhon, and Mary Grace Stanton.

Article submitted by Sister Mary Jean Williams, OP

December 12, 2016, Boca Raton, Florida – Sister Carmen Álvarez, OP, received the Golden Rule Award from the Catholic Realtors of Boca Raton, Florida, in recognition of exemplifying and living out Jesus’ rule to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

The award ceremony was December 2 at the Royal Palm Country Club during a breakfast after the first Friday Mass. The Realtors gather for Mass on the first Friday of every month, and bestow the Golden Rule Award annually, usually in December.

“I was full of joy and surprise,” Sister Carmen said. “I did not know anything about this until I was presented with the honor. I became aware that I partner with the Catholic Realtors of Boca Raton in bringing the love of God to others.”

Sister Carmen was recognized for a life of service, beginning in her childhood years in the province of Havana, Cuba. She first worked with other children, and then, as she matured, felt called to minister to adults, said Sister Frances Madigan, OP, who gave a presentation on her life during the award ceremony. 

Sister Fran noted priests in Cuba were asked to minister to three or four parishes and communities were “fortunate to see a priest maybe once a week.” Sister Carmen became active in keeping her church open every day for prayer, meetings, and social events. She continued this work even after churches were threatened and closed under the rule of the late Fidel Castro.

After Sister Carmen was arrested and spent two weeks in jail with 300 other women, her family sent her to the United States for protection. While serving at an immigration center in Miami helping families find sponsors among their families and friends, Sister Carmen met the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de’ Ricci and became a member of the congregation. She transferred to the Adrian Dominican Sisters in December 2012.   

Sister Carmen spent some time ministering in the north before she was again called to serve the refugees in Miami. She later ministered at St. Hugh and St. Helen Parishes, training parishioners to be catechists. 

Sister Carmen’s last years of active ministry before retirement were spent at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Boca Raton, directing the parish’s Hispanic Ministry. The invitation by Monsignor John McMahon to serve at St. Joan of Arc has been among her favorite memories. “The people began to feel at home sharing their customs with others and being part of another culture,” she said.

Still active in her retirement, Sister Carmen serves St. Joan of Arc as co-director of the parish literacy center and, through her work with the Santa Ann Circle of the Council of Catholic Women, made up of more than 100 women who serve the parish through time, talent, and treasure. She also coordinates donations given to repair a leaky roof in her home parish in Cuba.

Sister Fran said that Sister Carmen offers “the gift of joy, the ability to forgive and forget, and to be a peacemaker in a world where this is much needed. She is a gift to this parish, the Adrian Dominicans and to all with whom she comes in contact.”

Feature photo: From left, Monsignor Michael McGraw, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Boca Raton; Sister Carmen Álvarez, OP; and Bishop Gerald Barbarito, of the Diocese of Palm Beach attended a ceremony in which Sister Carmen received the Golden Rule Award.