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Wilmette, Illinois – To celebrate the closing of the 800th Jubilee of the Order of Preachers on January 21, the Regina Dominican preachers invited Dominican preachers from the Chicagoland area and Wisconsin high schools to a Dominican gathering. 

After a welcome by Regina Dominican Principal Meg Bigane, the students participated in team challenges in the gym. After a tour of the school, the group met in chapel for a prayer which celebrated the four Dominican pillars: prayer, study, community, and service. 

In small groups, the preachers reflected on ways that the Dominican charism is lived out within their school community. They described their respective ministries, shared plans for second semester, and exchanged ideas for celebrating the feasts of St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. As a large group, the students discussed their ideas and thoughts. 

After lunch, the preaching team from Regina Dominican gave a presentation on the Dominican High Schools Preaching Conference, held in the summer of 2016 in Adrian, Michigan. They then fielded questions and led discussions on each of the Dominican pillars.

The closing prayer took place in chapel as spontaneous prayers from the preachers expressed gratitude for the opportunity to gather. Many expressed a hope that this gathering would become a tradition and were thankful for the opportunity to learn from each other.

The Dominican gathering had been proposed by those who attended the 2016 Dominican High Schools Preaching Conference. 

Attending the event were Father Dennis Woerter, OP, campus minister, and preachers from Fenwick High School, Oak Park, Illinois, and Sister Patricia Harvat, OP, General Councilor for the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Attending from Regina Dominican were Lisa Boris, campus minister; the preachers; Olivia Jamie, chaperone for the Regina Dominican preachers at the preaching conference; and Sister Jean Williams, OP, Director of Mission Integration.

Feature photo: Front row, from left, are Sister Pat Harvat, OP, Rachel Lucas, Grace Tamisiea, Olivia Jamie, Kaitlin Clancy, Lauren Murphy, and Kirby Weiland; and back row, from left, are Maria Ritten, Thomas McHugh, Charlie Dumon, Michael Keegan, Jack Gihl, Tess Shannon, and Tess Wagner.