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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.
June 24, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – In a spirit of joy, homecoming, and happy reminiscence, the Adrian Dominican Sisters welcomed to the Motherhouse Campus 46 Jubilarians – Sisters celebrating milestone years of commitment to religious life. The June 19-21, 2025, celebration marked a total of 3,080 years of commitment to religious life by two 80-year Jubilarians; 10 75-year Jubilarians; 20 70-year (Double-Diamond) Jubilarians; 12 60-year (Diamond) Jubilarians; and two 25-year (Silver) Jubilarians.
While many Jubilarians and guests came a few days early to reunite with friends and celebrate their lives of ministry, the formal Jubilee celebration began on June 19, 2025, when the Jubilarians met with the General Council and later broke bread with them.
The event took on a thoughtful yet grateful tone on June 20, 2025, when the Jubilarians, guests, and other Sisters, Associates, and friends gathered to honor the deceased members of each crowd (class) of Jubilarians.
“We are here today to remember the 113 Sisters from those celebrating crowds who are no longer with us in the body,” said Sister Andrea Balconis, OP, a 60-year Jubilarian. “This is not a sad day,” she added, noting that the Sisters were celebrating in heaven.
The Liturgy began with the solemn, respectful recitation of the names of the 41 deceased 80-year Jubilarians, 46 deceased 75-year Jubilarians, 23 deceased 70-year Jubilarians, and five deceased 60-year Jubilarians.
In her preaching, Sister Marilyn Winter, OP, a 70-year Jubilarian, reflected on the mysteries of life and death. “We … know the transient nature of physical reality and that we need to aspire to lead good lives, to prepare to come before the judgment seat of God,” she said. The words of the readings of the Mass helped to make sense of death and gave a sense of hope in Jesus’ promises, Sister Marilyn said, adding that she was left with a desire for more.
She reflected on the ways that rituals help the survivors, recalling her recent experience at cemeteries on Memorial Day. The people who gathered “gained strength to continue their journeys from the stories of the past lives, not just of those who gave their full measure,” but of mothers, grandfathers, teachers, and coaches. In the same way, she said, the 2025 Jubilarians remember those who have gone before them: teachers, housemates, travel companions, and “those only known to us by their silent presence.”
In gatherings of Adrian Dominican Sisters and Associates, “we see the face of God,” Sister Marilyn said. “We recommit each day to this life we have been given. We relish the time to share with those with whom we live and minister and those who have supported us through it all, and we value the precious times and spaces we have remaining.”
The Jubilarians, their guests, and other Sisters and Co-workers spent the rest of the day sharing time and building memories together: through a special lunch for Jubilarians and their guests; a happy hour in which the Jubilarians mingled with the Sister residents of the Dominican Life Center; a barbecue dinner; and a concert of classical piano music, performed by Sister Magdalena Ezoe, OP.
Sister Rosemary Finnegan, OP, 60-year Jubilarian, welcomed fellow Jubilarians, guests, Sisters, family members, and friends to the Jubilee Mass on the morning of June 21, 2025. “It’s a privilege to walk with these women as we journey down many changes, praising God and touching hearts along the way,” she said. “All of us feel privileged to spread the Gospel graces by our Creator, nurtured by our lives together.”
Sister Elise D. García, OP, Prioress of the Congregation, noted the fitness of the focus of the day’s readings on the Holy Spirit. “How else would you have responded to the call if it were not for the presence of the Spirit?” she asked. But, she added, they responded not only to the initial call to enter the Adrian Dominican Congregation, “but to each of the calls that have summoned you over the years, calls that took you to places near and far, to ministries you thought were beyond your reach, to a multitude of challenges and opportunities you never imagined.”
Sister Elise delineated the specific ways that the Jubilarians served the people of God through the years: through various ministries in education, parish and diocesan services, religious education and faith formation, healthcare, community and congregational leadership, justice and peace advocacy, and advocacy with marginalized groups. She noted that they served in 22 states and numerous countries.
“You have given witness to the depth of love … at the heart of the Spirit who animates us all,” Sister Elise concluded. “Wisdom’s radiance shines upon you.”
The Jubilarians demonstrated their willingness to continue their call to religious life and the Adrian Dominican Sisters as they renewed their vow of obedience “to Almighty God, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to our holy father, Saint Dominic,” and to Sister Elise and her lawful successors “according to the rule of St. Augustine and the Constitution of the Sisters of St. Dominic of the Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary until death.”
LEFT: Father James Hug, SJ, Priest Chaplain, watches as Jubilarians, from left, Sisters Joan Leo Kehn, OP (70), Joy Finfera, OP (60), and Ruby R. Lumanlan, OP (25), offer the gifts. Sister Judith Benkert, OP, a 60-year Jubilarian, watches in the background. RIGHT: Sister Ellen Kennedy, OP, left, a 75-year Jubilarian, poses with her blood sister, Sister Esther Kennedy, OP.