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September 10, 2019, Adrian, Michigan — Suzanne Duquet — a former student of the Adrian Dominican Sisters at St. Suzanne Elementary School and Bishop Borgess High School in Detroit and at Siena Heights College — recently formalized her long-time connection to the Congregation when she was accepted as an Associate. The Ritual of Acceptance took place September 4, 2019, in St. Catherine Chapel.
In opening the Ritual, Associate Mary Lach, Director of Associate Life, noted Suzanne’s past connections to the Adrian Dominican Sisters. “You will continue to deepen the bonds between you and the Congregation,” she told Suzanne. “May we all deepen our bonds as we journey together.”
Associate Trudy McSorley, her mentor along with Sister Betty Flaherty, OP, introduced Suzanne. “Not unlike many young girls at the time, she dreamed of becoming one of those happy, young, and spirited Sisters,” Trudy said of Suzanne.
The journey led her to Siena Heights College, now University, where she met Sister Betty and served for years as her administrative assistant, Trudy said. They have remained friends over the past 40 years. Sister Betty described Suzanne as a “model for women who carry Christ in their hearts and lives.”
While serving as teacher and principal at Boysville of Michigan, Suzanne met her husband, Michael. Together they raised three children. She retired after working with special needs children at Pinckney (Michigan) Public Schools for 25 years.
Suzanne is active at her parish, Holy Spirit in Brighton, Michigan, serving as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, a lector, and a member of the St. Joseph Guild. Her involvement in charitable activities includes serving as a trustee on the Board of Directors of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Livingston County, Michigan.
“You are indeed a faithful witness to the Gospel,” Trudy told Suzanne. “You do the preaching mission in your daily ministry. It is a blessing and a grace to have you be known as an Associate of the Adrian Dominican Sisters.”
For her part, Suzanne expressed her gratitude to her parents, her Catholic education, her long-time relationship with the Adrian Dominican Sisters, her friend Sister Betty, and her husband Michael. She said she desires to “share my faith through prayer and good works” and hopes to support the Mission of the Adrian Dominican Sisters.
The Ritual of Acceptance continued with Suzanne and her mentors signing the Agreement of Association, a formal document expressing her willingness to enter into a relationship with the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Trudy then presented her with the Associate Life logo.
Associates are women and men – married or single – at least 18 years of age and committed to sharing the Mission and Vision of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. While maintaining their independent lifestyles, Associates share in the Sisters’ mission and vision and participate in Congregational, spiritual, and social events with the Sisters.
For more information on becoming an 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 religious life – or know of a young Catholic woman who is – contact Sister Tarianne DeYonker, OP, at 517-266-3532 or [email protected] or Sister Mariane Fahlman, OP, a 517-266-3537 or [email protected].
Feature photo: Associate Suzanne Duquet, right, with Sister Betty Flaherty, OP, her long-time friend
July 19, 2019, Adrian, Michigan – Marci Hamilton, a retired registered nurse and former student of Adrian Dominican Sisters, was welcomed into Associate Life July 15, 2019, during a Ritual of Acceptance in St. Catherine Chapel at the Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse. She was mentored by Sister Barbara Quincey, OP.
Associate Mary Lach, Director of Associate Life, and Sister Patricia Harvat, OP, General Councilor, welcomed Sisters and Associates to the Ritual of Acceptance. Members of the Assembly also welcomed Marci. “You have journeyed with us for this time and you will continue to get to know us, deepen the bonds between us, and share faith and prayer with us,” they said in unison during the ritual.
After an introduction by Sister Barbara, Marci noted the reason for her decision to become an Adrian Dominican Associate. Her mother, Rose Todaro Hamilton, was taught by Adrian Dominican Sisters at St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, she said. A student at Queen of the Miraculous Medal School and St. Mary, Star of the Sea High School in Jackson, Michigan, she also was taught by Adrian Dominican Sisters. Two of the Sisters – Norma Dell, OP, who taught first grade, and Marilyn Francoeur, OP, who taught seventh grade – attended the ritual.
As a young woman, Marci joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and while still a member of that Congregation became a nurse. She continued as a nurse until her recent retirement. She and her husband Colin Baker – who died more than two years ago – raised a son, who lives on the West Coast.
Marci decided to become an Adrian Dominican Associate when, on the same day about a year ago, Sister Barbara and Sister Margaret Urban, OP, invited her to consider joining Associate Life. “Thus began my journey,” Marci said. “Thank you for inviting me. I belong here.”
The Ritual of Acceptance continued with Marci signing the Agreement of Association, a formal document expressing her willingness to enter into a relationship with the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Sister Barbara presented Marci with the Associate Life pin.
Mary Lach reflected on her own experience of having a DNA test and of seeing, on a screen, the blueprint of her genetic code. “We all have this unique blueprint which causes every cell in our bodies to be formed in a certain way in the image of God,” she said. In the same way, Dominicans have a genetic blueprint – a charism or spirituality – that characterizes members of their family, Mary said. Common characteristics of Dominicans are prayer, study of the signs of the times, and involvement in the Mission, Mary said.
“You’re joining a joyful group of people,” Mary told Marci. “We often laugh and enjoy life. We also help each other to become the best versions of ourselves. And finally, we offer one another signs of hope in a world that desperately needs it.”
Mary noted Marci’s lifetime work as a nurse, her desire to grow spiritually as an Associate, and her decision as a widow to live her life to the fullest to reach out to others. “We wholeheartedly welcome you to Associate Life and hope, as we journey together, you will continue to grow in holiness and happiness – and that you will find what we have here, a blueprint for your spiritual life.”