Sinsinawa
Spectrum
A Congregation News Magazine
DU Unveils Mazzuchelli Sculpture
Sr. Mary Paynter Receives Honorary Degree
by Kristin Peterson, Public Relations Coordinator Dominican University
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The sculpture at Dominican University includes Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, a Sister, a student, and a telescope. It was sculpted by Michael Martino, who said the student represents Mazzuchelli’s curiosity with the natural world and the Sister represents his focus on God’s work. The telescope represents his interest in science. Photo by Sr. Lois Hoh.
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Sr. Mary Paynter (center) received an honorary degree at Dominican University, River Forest, IL, on Nov. 4 during a formal dedication ceremony of a new campus sculpture titled Inspiring Minds. Also pictured are Dominican University President Donna Carroll (left) and Sinsinawa Dominican Prioress Patricia Mulcahey (right). Photo courtesy of Dominican University.
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On Nov. 4, Dominican University held a formal dedication of a new sculpture on campus, Inspiring Minds. The sculpture, created by Wisconsin artist Michael Martino, depicts the Venerable Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, along with a Dominican Sister and a young student. Father Mazzuchelli established the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation in 1847, and the Sisters went on to found what is now Dominican University. The sculpture was funded by a gift from alumna Renee Borra and her husband Pier Borra.
Also at the dedication ceremony, Mary Paynter, OP, received an honorary degree. The following is an excerpt from the citation read at the ceremony.
“Since 2005, Sister Mary Paynter has been working tirelessly for the canonization of our beloved Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, founder of the Sinsinawa Dominicans. As Vice-Postulator of the Cause of Canonization of the Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli, Sr. Mary has diligently studied the cases of presumed miracles occurring through Father Samuel’s intercession and assisted in the preparation of materials for the canonization process.
“. . . The canonization of Father Samuel is only one of the many passions that Sr. Mary has embraced during her extraordinary life. She has also been a champion of diversity in all its forms and a great friend to her alma mater, Dominican University. While serving as academic dean at Rosary College in the 1960s, she helped launch an aggressive program to recruit motivated African American and Hispanic students to the university. She helped establish the Special Admissions Program, a precursor to the current Transitions Program, to encourage talented students whose standardized test scores didn’t reflect their promise, and she hired a coordinator to help these students remediate any academic weaknesses.
“. . . For the past two years she has been an active, insightful member of the committee formed to commission a sculpture in tribute to Father Samuel’s work. It is our pleasure to share that sculpture with the Dominican community as part of this year’s Founder’s Week. And it is my great privilege and honor to confer upon Sr. Mary Paynter the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa for her work to advance the cause of Father Samuel, and for her service to Dominican University.”