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September 11, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – The Adrian Dominican Congregation welcomed a new candidate during a prayer service at the Adrian Motherhouse September 8, 2025.

“I desire to grow in authenticity, speak my truth, share my gifts in service and prayer. I ask to walk together in community, in challenge that is mutual, caridad amistad, and to find friendships along the way,” said Elizabeth Guerrero during the Rite of Entrance into Candidacy. The rite is the first step in a formation process that could lead Elizabeth to taking her first profession of vows with the Adrian Dominican Sisters. 

As a symbol of her desire for entrance, Elizabeth knocked on the door of St. Catherine Chapel and was admitted by Sister Tarianne DeYonker, OP, Director of Candidacy. During a formal examination by Prioress Elise D. García, OP, Sister Tarianne attested to Elizabeth’s readiness to begin a year of discernment as a candidate. 

“In faithfulness you have listened to God’s call and have responded with a ‘yes’ to continue with us in a relationship of mutual discernment for vowed membership,” Sister Elise said to Elizabeth. “We welcome you into our midst to share faith and life in the mission of Jesus.” After accepting a copy of the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Mission Statement from Sister Elise, Elizabeth joined the assembled Sisters in proclaiming the Mission Statement.

Elizabeth will spend her candidacy year volunteering at the St. Mary Food Pantry and Dire Needs program of Holy Family Parish in Adrian, tutoring at the Adrian Rea Literacy Center, helping set up new art displays for the art gallery in Madden Hall at the Motherhouse, visiting Sisters living at the Dominican Life Center, and studying Spanish and the history of the Adrian Dominican Sisters.

The fifth of the six children of Jesus L. and Élida C. Guerrero, Elizabeth was raised in Crystal City, Texas. There, she attended school during the school year and, in the summers, was a migrant worker with her family, working on farms in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Indiana. She attended junior college and transferred to Minnesota State University in Moorhead, where she studied commercial art.

Elizabeth began her career working at a small boutique publishing agency; an advertising agency in San Antonio, Texas; as a freelance graphic designer and publisher; and for a small newspaper in her hometown. 

Eventually, that work “wasn’t fulfilling anymore,” Elizabeth said. “I was looking for something more.” She entered the Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence, a small congregation based in San Antonio. She was received into the novitiate in 2011 and made her first profession of vows in 2012. Her ministries included teaching, social services, and parish ministry.

Desiring a different expression of community life, Elizabeth left the Missionary Catechists and sought another congregation of Catholic Sisters. She visited several congregations before discerning her call to enter the Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Shortly before entering, Elizabeth completed her ministry as a lay woman as Executive Director of the Asociación de Hermanas Latinas Misioneras en América (AHLMA), a national organization, primarily for Sisters coming from Latin America and missioned to the United States. The organization is now open to U.S.-born Latinas and to U.S. Sisters who find themselves the only women of color in their community, Elizabeth said. As a representative of AHLMA, Elizabeth served on the Board of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), nominated by leaders from several congregations, including the Adrian Dominican Sisters, she said. She was involved in administration, but particularly enjoyed developing programs and meeting Sisters.

“I am very happy to be here with the Adrian Dominican Sisters,” Elizabeth said. “The welcome and reception have been warm and inviting, affirming that my gifts and presence matter. I see this community as a place where I can continue to grow in authenticity, service, and faith.”   
 

Caption for above feature photo: Prioress Elise D. García, OP, right, formally examines Elizabeth Guerrero about her intention to enter the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

By Sister Tarianne DeYonker, OP

July 23, 2025, Chicago – On a not-yet-so-sticky Tuesday afternoon in June, eight young women ranging in age from 18 to 43 began arriving in Westchester, Illinois, to meet with Dominican sisters for a service week advertised as “Preaching in Action, Igniting Hope.” 

Six vocation ministers representing various congregations of Dominican sisters welcomed them with hugs and smiles, a communal meal, prayer, and an overview of the week. Arriving for the most part as strangers, they were to become a close-knit community.
 
Service at a city farm, aptly named “Just Roots,” was the first event. Created on the grounds of St. James’ previous church building, the farm grows produce to be given to those who are hungry and shared with local food pantries. Staff could not have been more helpful or knowledgeable. 

The afternoon drew us to Aquinas Literacy Center, where the women shared a meal provided by Adrian Dominican Associate Alison Altmeyer, Director of the literacy center, and observe a class and one-to-one tutoring by young professionals who volunteer there. Two participants arranged donated furniture to make comfortable conversational settings for learners.
 
Thursday of the service week was Juneteenth, marking the day in 1865 that slaves in Galveston, Texas, finally learned two years later that they had been freed. A Sinsinawa Dominican Associate shared the significance of this new national holiday and spoke about some previously unknown Black saints and popes in Catholic history. A brief visit to the Du Sable Museum of African American History brought us to lunchtime and a brief tour of the museum. 

Our last service was at Brothers and Sisters of Immigrants, where the discerners prepared rooms for anticipated newcomers to the house. They also worked on other projects in the house that needed assistance. In between projects, volunteers had brief chances to play with the young children in the house.
 
By Friday, the week was coming to a close. Sister Connie Schoen, OP, a Dominican Sister of Peace, led a hearty, conversational exchange on restorative justice. This was followed by a fun afternoon trip to Navy Pier and back to Westchester for an outdoor Mass, presided by Father Jim Marchionda, OP, and a barbecue with sisters living and ministering in the area. 

The participants seemed to have had a wonderful time with each other and with the sites, where their service was both needed and welcomed.