Appreciative Inquiry: Join a Discussion
At Community Days 2008, Sisters gathered to take part in the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process. A total of 22 topics surfaced. From these, we identified five topics for further discussion: collaboration, community, contemplation, ecospirituality/care of the Earth, and peace and justice. We appreciate your input and look forward to Community Days 2009, “Deepening the Conversation.” Join us in discussing these topics by going to www.sinsinawa.org and clicking on the “Blog” text at right. Then, click on a topic that interests you and comment on the blog.
Collaboration
by Laura Goedken, OP
The richness of collaboration is all around us. Each of us has experience working with many different groups of people―those with whom we minister, boards, lay staffs, other congregations, consultants, etc. The outcomes of collaboration shared on our blog include rich experiences of ending up with a better final product, being enriched spiritually, having a new articulation, and thinking more deeply about our own beliefs. The formation of the Churches’ Center for Land and People and our merger with the Dominican Sisters of Spokane are examples of collaboration.
Peace and Justice
by Stella Storch, OP
Building a “holy and just society” can seem like an overwhelming task. However, we already have various groups, such as the Anti-Racism Training Team (ARTT), working to challenge members, Associates, and coworkers to view their efforts through the lens of peace and justice. The ARTT is an example of making anti-racism part of our way of life, which shows that peace and justice is more than a project. We may focus on one issue or another, but the totality of our individual and group efforts will lead the Congregation in forming that “holy and just society.”
(Yearning for) Community
by Mary Ann Nelson, OP
We believe community is important, and not just for future membership. It’s essential for us as well. In our conversations, we have explored questions such as these: What do you mean by community? What is necessary for vital community? We have reaffirmed our conviction that community is at the heart of Dominican life and that we create community in a diversity of forms, sometimes under one roof. We encourage you to join our conversation by visiting and adding to our blog. We are eager to hear your ideas and dreams for community!
Contemplation
by Elizabeth Toohey, OP
Gift of the God who is love without limit, CONTEMPLATION is at the heart of our lives as Dominican women. When you visit our blog, you’ll notice the subtitle, “the many faces of contemplation.” It is our desire to hear from many voices. The diversity we invite is the reality we experience as a committee. Out of that diversity we can say this: there are many ways of talking about contemplation; we have a desire to grow as contemplative women; and we have dreams about what a deepened commitment to contemplation can create. Visit and enjoy the richness of the blog. Add your voice to the conversation. What questions and perspectives are important to you so that what we create for Community Days will feed your contemplative spirit?
Ecospirituality/Care of Earth
by Julie Schwab, OP
Ecospirituality―eco comes from the Greek word oikos meaning house or home. This is a spirituality that reclaims the imminence of God, the life source of our planetary home and of our expanding, evolving cosmos. Ecospirituality calls us to create a new story and praxis where we recognize the universe in a beehive, our birth in the stars, and God in our daily bread and salad. A look around our home at God’s evolutionary, creative action awakens in us an understanding and spirituality of relatedness and interdependence with all life on this planet. Most exciting is when we encounter earthworm, tree, and mushroom in our yard and greet them as neighbors who have lived there for centuries. It is time to re-neighbor our communities where we live and care for one another, care for Earth. Join us―our group is still evolving.