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March 9, 2020, United Nations – Women have seen great progress in their rights through the years, but much work still needs to be done toward gender equality and empowerment.
That was the assessment of Adrian Dominican Sister Durstyne Farnan, OP, Dominican representative at the United Nations, as she contemplated the status of women ahead of March 8, 2020, International Women’s Day.
Since being selected recently by the Dominican Sisters Conference to fill her new position, Sister Durstyne has been involved with the Commission on the Status of Women, a UN organization established by the Economic and Social Council to promote women’s rights and to monitor their status throughout the world.
The Commission’s annual two-week session – which includes official meetings and public “side events” of workshops, presentations, and other events to explore the status of women – was scheduled for March 2020. The session was canceled to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
The 64th session would have marked the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Conference, the fourth world conference on women, which set forth a platform and a number of areas of concern to be addressed worldwide. These included the “persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women,” unequal access to education and training, violence against women and the effects of war on women, and “lack of respect for and inadequate promotion and protection of the human rights of women.”
In the past few months, in preparation for the sessions, commissions of women have been studying the Beijing Platform to see if new language needs to be added, Sister Durstyne said. “Twenty-five years ago we weren’t talking about the climate,” but now the climate crisis needs to be discussed in light of its impact on women and their families, she said.
Sister Durstyne has seen progress in the status of women. “Just look at our political situation in the United States,” she said. “We don’t have a woman president yet and I’m not sure we will in 2020 – but maybe in 2024.” Yet, the performance of the female candidates for nomination by the Democratic Party showcased their “amazing abilities,” she added.
But Sister Durstyne sees the need for much more progress for women in the United States and around the world and noted that women have made varying levels of progress in different parts of the world. “I think all women want the same thing in many ways, but how far do they have to go? How close are they to getting gender equality in Vietnam or Latin America?”
Sister Durstyne hopes for a more sustainable world, including economic sustainability. “Economic sustainability will come from gender equality,” she said. “We still have to raise the level of women’s status in the world, wherever they’re coming from, and see that their hopes and desires are recognized and held up so that change can happen in our world. Change can’t happen with over half the population in the world excluded from engagement with civil society.”
Women’s overall status is affected by their economic status, Sister Durstyne said, noting that homelessness at the global level involves more and more women. “The fact that women have a responsibility for their families is a huge aspect” of their need for economic equality, she added.
Sister Durstyne also sees the need for women to be affirmed in their leadership roles. Women and men “have to honor one another’s leadership roles and competency,” she said. She gave the example of the Catholic Church, which “needs to strengthen its relationship with women and call on more women in leadership.”
The various congregations of women religious present at the United Nations – Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Sisters of Charity, Daughters of Charity, Dominicans, and Franciscans – are serving as a model of leadership development for young women, Sister Durstyne said. “We’re all here because we want to promote the leadership of women,” she said. “We’re doing it by inviting young interns to work with us, helping young women to see what contributions they can make to the sustainability and development of all people – not just women.”
February 13, 2020, Adrian, Michigan – Sisters, Associates, family members, fellow parishioners, and friends of Margaret Reyez gathered at St. Catherine Chapel at the Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse February 8, 2020, to celebrate her Ritual of Acceptance as an Adrian Dominican Associate.'
A retired librarian for the Westland, Michigan, School District, Margaret has been involved in her parish, SS. Simon and Jude in Westland, serving as youth minister and sacramental coordinator. It was there that she met Adrian Dominican Sisters Anneliese Sinnott, OP, and Cheryl Liske, OP. She was mentored by Associate Karen McDermott, Sister Cheryl’s sister.
Mary Lach, Director of Associate Life, presided at the ritual, welcoming the assembly and introducing Sister Patricia Harvat, OP, General Council liaison to Associate Life. Sister Patricia invited Margaret to a life based on the Dominican charism, “one of preaching, being one with the Word of God.” This gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church does not belong only to Dominicans,” Sister Patricia said, but to “the entire lay ecclesial community. … We all work together with the gifts that we have to live out our lifestyle.”
Karen, in formally introducing Margaret, spoke of the time they worked together to prepare Margaret for Associate Life. “Margaret is one of the kindest and most thoughtful women I know, and I believe she’s going to be an asset to Associate Life and to our community.”
Margaret said she chose to become an Adrian Dominican Associate through her year of formation with Karen, learning about the charism and what it means to be a Dominican. She spoke of the inspiration she receives from working with children, adding that “there are many other areas of service that I hope to explore as an Associate.”
Sister Cheryl preached on the Gospel that Margaret chose for the event, the story in Luke about the risen Jesus’ encounter with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35). She shared her own Emmaus story when she first attended Mass at SS. Simon and Jude Church and was invited to the parish’s “High Holy Day of Doughnut Sunday,” the first of many table celebrations she enjoyed at the parish.
Sister Cheryl focused on Margaret, whom she encountered at the parish: “Margaret, who has lived the reality of knowing Jesus in the Breaking of the Bread and the fellowship of doughnuts; Margaret, who has discovered Christ in the lives of people, especially young people that others have given up on.”
In speaking of the new Associate, Mary said, “Margaret’s life is a testament to her love of learning and her devotion to her Catholic faith. She has a deep spirituality grounded in the Dominican charism of study, prayer, service, and community.”
Margaret and her late husband, Francisco Reyez, have three children and several grandchildren. She established the Rainbows for All God’s Children, a support group for children who lost a parent through death or divorce, and worked tirelessly in the Red Wagon Literacy Program, which encourages students to read during the summer months. She continues to volunteer at Greenfield Village in Detroit, portraying a 19th century school teacher.
Associates are women and men, at least 18 years of age – married, single, widowed, or divorced – who make a non-vowed commitment to partner with the Adrian Dominican Sisters. While maintaining their own lifestyle and remaining financially independent, they participate in various spiritual, social, and ministerial experiences with the Sisters and live out the Dominican charism in their daily lives.
If you feel called to be an Adrian Dominican Associate, contact Mary Lach, Director of Associate Life, at 517-266-3531 or [email protected]. If you are a single Catholic woman interested in vowed life as an Adrian Dominican Sister, contact one of the Co-Directors of Vocations: Sister Tarianne DeYonker, OP, at 517-266-3532 or [email protected] or Sister Mariane Fahlman, OP, at 517-266-3537 or [email protected].
Family members, friends, and fellow parishioners of SS. Simon and Jude Parish in Westland, Michigan, offer the Dominican Blessing to Margaret.