What's Happening

May 19, 2026, Santa Cruz, California – Sister Mary Ellen Leciejewski, OP, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability for CommonSpirit Health, dedicates her time to ensuring that the departments in all of the system’s 2,200 care sites – including 142 hospitals – are striving to make their departments more environmentally sustainable.

Sister Mary Ellen oversees sustainability program development and implementation across the 24-state healthcare system. Part of her ministry is discovering ways that each care site is working toward sustainability and whether their practices can be successfully duplicated at other sites, so all of the sites “can share the best practices and the challenges,” she said in an interview for the April 2026 issue of Catholic Health World.

Many of the sites have found creative ways to make their work sustainable in large and small ways, Sister Mary Ellen said. For example, to reduce the use of plastic by hospitals, CommonSpirit worked with a company to develop a “mostly biodegradable version” of the single-use plastic needle counters used during surgery, she said.

Sister Mary Ellen appreciates the enthusiasm of the employees in their sustainability efforts. “Our collective dedication to these duties and responsibilities is driven by a singular purpose: to cultivate a more sustainable and healthier environment for our patients and communities,” she said.

Read the entire article by Valerie Schremp Hahn.

Caption for above feature photo: Sister Mary Ellen Leciejewski, OP, works in the community garden at Dignity Health-Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz.
Adrian Dominican Sisters File Photo

By Eleanor Schmerler-Rich '09
Vice President of Growth, Regina Dominican High School

May 4, 2026, Wilmette, Illinois — Regina Dominican High School joyfully celebrated its annual St. Catherine of Siena Feast Day Mass on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and special guests in a meaningful expression of faith, community, and Dominican tradition.

The school was honored to welcome more than 100 grandparents to campus for this special celebration, creating a beautiful opportunity to share in the faith life of the Regina Dominican community across generations. Regina Dominican was also thrilled to be joined by Adrian Dominican Sisters, the founding order of the school, whose presence made the liturgy especially meaningful and reflective of the school’s rich heritage.

The liturgy honored St. Catherine of Siena, a model of truth, courage, and deep faith, whose legacy continues to inspire the Regina Dominican community. A highlight of the celebration was the presentation of the prestigious Veritas Award, recognizing individuals who embody the spirit and values of a Dominican education.

This year’s Veritas Award recipients are senior Grace Stadler and Campus Minister Dr. Meghan Toomey. Both honorees exemplify the Dominican pillars of prayer, study, community, and service, and have made a lasting impact on the Regina Dominican community through their leadership, compassion, and commitment to truth.

The Veritas Award recognizes members of the community who demonstrate a strong belief in God, proclaim the joy of God’s Word, and share a message of hope. Recipients are individuals who encourage prayerfulness, respect the dignity of all persons, and are “afire” with love for God and others. They exhibit a balance of truth and charity; speak with moral authority; and are committed to fostering a spirit of peace, compassion, and community.

Additional qualities honored through the Veritas Award include a love for learning and pursuit of truth; the ability to communicate wisdom and knowledge; and a dedication to service, leadership, and integrity. Student recipients, in particular, are recognized for their positive influence on others through a love of study and a strong commitment to academic excellence.

The Feast Day Mass and Veritas Award presentation serve as powerful reminders of Regina Dominican’s mission to form young women of faith, purpose, and leadership, grounded in the enduring values of the Dominican tradition.
 

Caption for above feature photo: From left, Dr. Kassie Porreca, principal; Veritas Award recipients Grace Stadler '26 and Dr. Meghan Toomey, campus minister; and Krista Gallagher, president.