What's Happening

February 3, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – Ever since the Dominican Sisters of the Our Lady of Remedies Congregation, based in Pampanga, the Philippines, merged with the Adrian Dominican Sisters in November 2011, the Sisters in both countries have sought ways to get to know one another and to experience one another’s culture and country. Recently, an exchange was initiated in which Sister Nancy Jurecki, OP, was to spend about eight months in the Philippines and Sister Abegail Santos, OP, was to spend about three months in the United States. Below is Sister Abegail’s story.

Thanksgiving, snow, U.S. football – these are some novelties that Sister Abegail Santos, OP, has experienced since she came to the United States on November 25, 2024, to integrate with Adrian Dominican Sisters at the Motherhouse in Adrian, Michigan, and in Chicago. She reflected on her experiences, ways of being involved at the Motherhouse, and love for the Sisters as she prepared to return to the Philippines on February 19, 2025.

During her time in Adrian, Sister Abegail has been living in community in the Regina Residence with Sisters Lorraine Brennan, OP, and Victoria Dalesandro, OP. The small community has helped her to feel at home, making sure among other things that she has rice, a staple in the Philippines. 

Back home in Mining, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines, Sister Abegail ministers as the treasurer and auditor of the Dominican School of Angeles City. She has used those skills in volunteer work with the Motherhouse’s Finance Office. She has also expanded her skills, serving as sacristan during Mass and helping the Resident Services Department present activities for the resident Sisters. “When they have activities like a birthday celebration, I join the staff in serving the Sisters,” she said. “I really appreciate being with the Sisters, knowing them a little bit. I’m so grateful for that.”

Sister Abegail also joins the Sisters in daily prayer – Mass in St. Catherine Chapel and the Divine Office, Dominican Praise, and the rosary in a small group every afternoon in the Regina Residence Hall. “What I like and really appreciate with our Rosary is, we pray it bilingually,” she said. “When it’s my turn to lead the mysteries, I pray in my dialect [Kapampangan] and they respond in English.” Other Sisters lead the rosary in Spanish and German.  

Highlights of her time in Adrian have included the Christmas liturgy. “It was sad missing my family and my Sisters [in the Philippines], but the Liturgy was so beautiful” in Adrian, she said. She particularly appreciated events she had never experienced in her home country: from Thanksgiving to snow. “We don’t have the experience of winter in the Philippines,” she said. “The snow made me thrilled. During my first snow experience, I took a picture and sent it to my family.”

Sister Abegail has also been exposed to a U.S. ritual – watching football. “I watch it with the Sisters and am starting to learn about it,” she said.

Sister Abegail has also taken the opportunity to visit other parts of the United States. Before arriving in Adrian, she spent time with family in Haywood, California. She also traveled to Chicago with Sisters Kathleen Nolan, OP, and Bibiana “Bless” Colasito, OP, General Councilor who is also from the Philippines, to visit Sisters Mary Priniski, OP, and Mary Soher, OP.

“Sister Kathy toured us around the City of Chicago, particularly Navy Pier,” Sister Abegail recalled. “When we were there, it was raining, but we were able to see the city, the downtown. It’s a big place, with a lot of beautiful buildings.” 

Sister Abegail said her greatest challenge in the United States has been the difference in language. Although she speaks English well, it is not her first language. “You can’t spontaneously express yourself, what’s on your mind” in English, she said. “When I don’t know how to say something, I just keep quiet. It’s not as spontaneous as speaking in your own language.” She is grateful for the time she can spend with Sister Bless, speaking in her dialect, she said.

Still, Sister Abegail said, she has been inspired by the Sisters at the Motherhouse. “I love our liturgy – the Sisters sharing and preaching,” as well as the remembrances of the Sisters who have died. “They were so inspiring,” she said. “You want to be good and kind and holy. I love how our Sisters take care of our [elder] Sisters, and also the staff – so kind with the Sisters.”
 

Caption for above feature photo: Sister Abegail Santos, OP, serving as acolyte and sacristan, accepts a ciborium of hosts from Sister Lenore Boivin, OP, after Communion during the 2024 Christmas Liturgy at St. Catherine Chapel at the Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse.

November 19, 2019, Chicago – Sister Xiomara Méndez-Hernández, OP, was one of more than 34,000 people to become United States citizens in mid-September during 316 Naturalization Ceremonies nationwide in celebration of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. She participated in the Naturalization Ceremony at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Field Office in Chicago.

“People were in tears,” Sister Xiomara recalled. “I saw a lot of gratefulness and a lot of accomplishment. For me, it was a commitment.”

Sister Xiomara met the Adrian Dominican Sisters in her home country, the Dominican Republic, and was an Adrian Dominican Associate for three years before she entered the Congregation in 2008. At that time, she had her own fashion design business. She now ministers as a chaplain at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois.

Sister Xiomara receives her Certificate of Naturalization.

Deciding to become a U.S. citizen was a “discernment,” Sister Xiomara said. She had been a resident of the United States for seven years – that was two years beyond her eligibility for citizenship. “For some reason I was comfortable being a resident.”

“Not many people have the blessing and privilege of going to the next step” of citizenship, Sister Xiomara said. “It was a long process,” Sister Xiomara recalled. “The Congregation had to send a letter saying I’m part of the Congregation and a resident in good faith ... and also proof of work, that I was working full-time and was an asset to this country.”  

Sister Xiomara had her fingerprints and picture taken in January and was given information on the test she would take in August. “I had to memorize 100 questions – a lot of history of the United States.” She studied for the test while driving, with the help of a CD and an app. “I could recite every answer,” she said. She received word right after taking the test that she had passed and waited to learn the date of the Naturalization Ceremony.

Sister Xiomara recalled the kindness she received from immigration officials during the process of becoming a citizen. “They greeted me with so much dignity and respect,” she said. “It was a very good experience.”

Being a citizen makes it easier for her to travel overseas, Sister Xiomara said. Before, she had to apply for a special visa every time she traveled to Europe. “If you are a North American citizen, you don’t need a visa for so many places,” she added.

But Sister Xiomara sees an even greater advantage to being a U.S. citizen. “Being a citizen gives me a chance to have a full voice in this country.” She recalled being hesitant to speak out as a resident. “Now I have a voice for the voiceless who don’t have a pathway to citizenship,” she said. “I’m praying so hard and consistently so the [immigrants] don’t have to be afraid any more. This is my hope and my dream.”

“I feel a part of all of you – all of my Sisters who are native citizens,” Sister Xiomara added. “We are united for justice, for peace, and for reverence of life. I see more power to do this now as a citizen.”