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August 5, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – A pilgrimage to places in France where St. Dominic lived and ministered was an inspirational and, for some, life-changing experience for two Adrian Dominican Sisters and three Co-workers. 

Attending the Deepening the Dominican Experience pilgrimage were Co-workers Jennifer Hunter, Chief Operating Officer; Lisa Schell, Archivist; Sara Stoddard, Chief Financial Officer; and Sisters Mariane Fahlman, OP, and Carol Jean Kesterke, OP.

The pilgrimage took more than 30 Dominican Sisters, Associates, and Co-workers from various U.S.-based congregations of Dominican Sisters to places of interest in France. These included Carcassonne, the walled medieval city where St. Dominic preached; Fanjeaux, a village where he lived; Prouilhe, the site of the first monastery of nuns founded by St. Dominic; and Toulouse, where the first Dominican Friars gathered. 

The experience was meant to help the pilgrims to “enter more fully into Dominican history” and reflect on the Dominican spirit, individually and with one another. It involved tours of the various areas, presentations, discussions, formal sharing, and informal sharing at meals and other times.

Team members leading the pilgrimage were Sister Mary Ellen O’Grady, OP, a Sinsinawa Dominican Sister; Sister Jeanne Goyette, OP, a Caldwell Dominican Sister; Father Rick Peddicord, OP, Director of Catholic and Dominican Mission at Fenwick High School, Oak Park, Illinois; and Suzanne Wong, a friend of the Caldwell Dominican Sisters who has been a team member for the tour about 15 times.  

Lisa was impressed by the knowledge and presentations of the team members. “The information that they were giving us was delivered with such heart and such expertise. We definitely benefited from all those years of experience,” she said.

Jennifer appreciated meeting others during meals and the pace of the program. “We did a lot of walking, and had a lot of conversation,” she said. “It forced [us] to decompress, not being in the hustle and bustle” of a daily work life. 

Sister Mariane said she found the entirety of the program intriguing and knowing that I’m walking, I’m staying where Dominic founded the first female monastery.” 

Lisa agreed and was impressed by the opportunity to “be on sacred ground and learn about St. Dominic and walk on the same paths he walked, go to the same places where he ministered.”

Sister Carol Jean was especially taken by sitting in the same chapels as Dominic and Thomas Aquinas were in ministry. She said she was moved by the opportunity to “be in places where so many greats of the Dominican Order were, and to see how close Dominic was to the Sisters.” 

Lisa said she had been “steeped in history” since she began her work with the Adrian Dominican Sisters in 2018, “but there’s something different when you’re in the place.” The experience brought her to the “depths of commitment to the Dominican way, the values, the charism.”  

The experience “gave good context to what we’re doing” in the day-to-day ministry at the Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse, Sara said. “I know who we are and what we do, but [the experience] made it more real. That’s where all this comes from and why we’re doing what we’re doing today.”

As pilgrims, Sister Carol Jean noted the group listened to and immersed themselves in what’s before them. For example, the experience brought home to her the itinerancy of the Dominican Order and the desire of Dominicans from the first days to be with the people they were serving. St. Dominic brought the Friars out of the monasteries for that very reason, she said. In later years, after Vatican II, she said, “we stepped out of the habit to identify more with the people.” 

The group also learned about the present as much as the past as they got to know Dominicans from other congregations and experienced the French culture and people. Jennifer was surprised by how many people in France could speak English. “It put it into perspective how we Americans don’t make efforts to learn cultures,” she said. “I was nervous about the language barrier, but I never felt it.”

Sister Carol Jean, who had attended the Deepening the Dominican Spirit pilgrimage 21 years ago with only Dominican Sisters, was surprised at the number of lay Associates and Co-workers who attended this year. She was impressed with “how we’ve expanded the mission to partner with Co-workers and Associates and how engaged and eager they were.”

Both Sisters Carol Jean and Mariane were also impressed by the Co-workers who accompanied them this year. “I was deeply touched by the three women, their commitment to the mission and love for the Congregation,” Sister Mariane said.  

“Co-workers for us aren’t just people who come in and do a job and leave,” Sister Carol Jean said. “They’re really brought into our Dominican vision, our Dominican values, our Dominican mission.”

The participants also reflected on how the experience in France has affected their daily lives. 

“I feel that I have been transformed,” Lisa said. “Every time I go someplace new and I don’t understand the language, it calls on [me] to be more flexible.” She said she has also learned about the meaning of the Dominican charism, or spirit. “I felt like I was on the receiving end of the charism.”

Sara added: “You feel transformed and impressed, and you have a greater appreciation of Dominican heritage and history.” The experience also transformed her idea of her work with the Adrian Dominican Sisters. “It’s definitely a ministry and not a job,” she said. “This drove it home for me.”

Jennifer said the whole experience was energizing. “It makes me appreciate the fact that I’m here and I’m on this journey with all of you.”

 

Caption for above feature photo: Adrian Dominican Sisters and Co-workers who attended the Deepening Dominican Spirit experience were, from left, Sara Stoddard, Jennifer Hunter, Sister Carol Jean Kesterke, OP, Sister Mariane Fahlman, OP, and Lisa Schell.

By Sister Katherine Frazier, OP
Executive Director, Dominican Youth Movement USA

July 25, 2025, Sparkill, New York – The 23rd Annual College Preaching in Action Conference took place May 20-25, 2025, at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York. The conference brought together 25 students from participating Dominican institutions: Albert Magnus College, New Haven, Connecticut; Aquinas College, 
Grand Rapids, Michigan; Barry University, Miami, Florida; Caldwell University, Caldwell, New Jersey; Dominican University New York, Orangeburg; Molloy University, Rockville Centre, New York; Ohio Dominican University, Columbus; and St. Thomas Aquinas College, Sparkill, New York.

The students and their mentors learned about the Dominican Charism from different presenters, who highlighted the diverse ways that Dominicans live out their tradition in the world.

The conference opened with Sister Diane Capuano, OP. Throughout her presentation, students were encouraged to sing along to various Dominican hymns that introduced major themes and people.

These themes were expanded upon the next day by Sister Kathleen Tuite, OP, and Kaitlyn Tashjian, an Associate of the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, who led students in exploring the history of the Dominican Order, the four pillars, and some of the ministries that Dominican Sisters engage in throughout the United States. After their presentation, Sister Terry Rickard, OP, helped the students to explore their leadership and preaching skills.

On Thursday, students and mentors learned about the signs of the times. The day began with a keynote address by Dr. Walter Hidalgo, a Mission Program Director for the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. He introduced the students to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the See-Act-Judge Method of discernment, using examples from his ministry. His presentation set up a day in which participants learned more about the United States, racism, and missionary discipleship.

On Friday, participants served in the local community. At Harmony Hill, they learned about small-scale, environmentally sustainable farming and planted some tomatoes. At House on the Hill Head Start, founded by the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, students helped the children served by the program.

Other participants visited the Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic to learn about their global mission. Another group went to Brick It Again, a nonprofit that sells LEGO kits to support children, adults, and families with intellectual or developmental disabilities. 

The final group collaborated with Keep Rockland Beautiful to clean up Sparkill Creek. The group particularly enjoyed the waders they were given to wear and the work of picking up all the trash to make the creek a safer and cleaner place.

Saturday brought a change of pace as participants explored the Dominican tradition of preaching through the arts. In her keynote address, Sister Barbara Schwarz, OP, led participants through a lectio divina exercise using color, movement, and images to explore the Gospel message. Afterward, participants attended sessions of their choice, where they created mandalas, wrote poetry, participated in improv theater, and explored praying and journaling through artwork.

Throughout the week, participants came together for morning and evening prayers. Each student had the opportunity to plan prayer under the guidance of Sisters June Fitzgerald, OP, and Susan Olson, OP. This led to a wide diversity of prayer experiences, including using worship songs, praying with Scripture in different languages, and creating beauty within the prayer space.

The week concluded with Sunday liturgy celebrated at the Sparkill Dominican Sisters Motherhouse. The participating students read their preaching plans for their home college. The plans included everything from praying the Rosary as a community to creating more service opportunities and planting a community garden.

In reflecting on her experience, Kamryn Daniels of Ohio Dominican University wrote, “The Preaching in Action Conference is not only an excellent and immersive way to learn the Dominican Tradition, but also to connect with so many amazing people.”

“The conference provided me with so many connections and resources to become a better preacher,” Gionna Bean, of Aquinas College, wrote. “I can’t wait to take what I learned back to my campus.”

Many thanks to those who made this conference such a positive experience for Kamryn, Gionna, and all the students who attended the College Preaching in Action Conference. The hospitality offered by St. Thomas Aquinas College, and for the prayers of all the members of the Dominican Family also helped make this program a success. Gratitude is extended to the presenters, who shared their wisdom with the participants and generously gave their time. Finally, the mentors and the students created a joyful experience as they entered into the experience of this conference. 

 

Caption for above feature photo: Participants in the Dominican Colleges Preaching in Action Conference after helping to clean up Sparkill Creek in New York.