Sinsinawa
Spectrum
A Congregation News Magazine
Prioress Attends Meetings in Rome
by Prioress Patricia Mulcahey, OP
U.S. Prioresses and delegates at the DSI meeting. Front row, from left: Srs. Lorelle Elcock (Hope), Anne Lythgoe (Catherine dé Ricci), Arlene Antczak (Caldwell), and Donna Markham (Adrian). Back row: Srs. Mary Ellen O’Grady (Sinsinawa), Sharon Simon (Racine), Sharon Casey (Tacoma), Pat Simpson (San Rafael), Susan Synder (Paos), Pat Mulcahey (Sinsinawa), Gloria Marie Jones (Mission San Jose), Nathalie Meyer (Grand Rapids), Maureen McInerny (San Rafael), Margaret Mayce (Amityville), Rose Marie Riley (Springfield), Mary Huges (Amityville), Margaret Ormond (Peace), and Mary Malone (Blauvelt).
The recent meetings in Rome, Italy, of the Union of International Superiors General (UISG) from May 7 to 11 and Dominican Sisters International (DSI) from May 14 to 19 were blessed with an international sense of solidarity among religious women across the world. The following are highlights of each gathering.
Union of International Superiors General
There were 800 participants from 87 different countries representing 800,000 religious women at the UISG meeting. At my English-speaking UISG table, there were Sisters from Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, Zambia, Ireland, Germany, Rome, and Slovakia.
The theme of the meeting, “The Future of Religious Life in Its Mystical and Prophetic Force,” was accentuated by the context of the prayer from St. John of the Cross: “I know the fountain well which flows and runs . . . though it is night.” Five speakers presented, table groups discussed each presentation, and then we engaged the presenter in discussion. The presentations are available on the UISG web site at www.uisg.org, and each offers much for our prayer and consideration as does the final statement which resulted from table group discussions. The statement expresses three sets of commitments relative to our relationship with God, our belief in religious life, and our call to find ways to unite our efforts as religious and to work with laity on behalf of all who suffer the effects of injustice.
In response to many questions about the Apostolic Visitation, Nancy Schreck, OSF (Dubuque), described the process and current status of the visitation. Participants were supportive of us and glad to learn more of the visitation. My sense of the meeting was a shared confidence in ourselves as vowed religious and the gift we bring to these times, a special gift for speaking the truth with compassion.
Dominican Sisters International
Participants in the DSI meeting were from 38 countries. They numbered 125 and represented the 25,500 Dominican Sisters across the world. Our thoughts regarding the theme of the meeting, “Shaping Our Future with Realism,” were broadened through two keynote addresses by Maria Viviana Ballarin, OP (Rome); and Fr. Felicisimo Martinez, OP (Spain). Our appreciation for the value of DSI was deepened through the reports about the work of DSI from International Coordinator Fabiola Velasquez, OP; Codirector of Dominican Volunteers International Rose Ann Schlitt, OP; and Copromoter for Peace and Justice Toni Harris, OP.
Master General of the Dominican Order Carlos A. Aspiroz Costa, OP, spoke to us on Sunday, and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Representative to the United Nations (UN) for the Dominican Leadership Conference (DLC) Margaret Mayce, OP, spoke to us on Tuesday.
Other highlights of the meeting included reports of the five regional coordinators (Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, and North America) and discussion of DSI assuming responsibility for the DLC’s NGO, thus internationalizing the NGO position. Mary Ellen O’Grady, OP, added much to the NGO discussion. There was unanimous affirmation of the change. The DSI executive committee will develop a proposal for funding the position.
Another highlight was a panel of young Sisters from each of the continental groups who spoke to their vision of vowed Dominican life into the future. Their presentations were inspiring.
Sometimes we met as an assembly of the whole, sometimes as a continental United States group, and sometimes as intercontinental groups. Our North American group agreed to plan a meeting of young Sisters in preparation for an international meeting of young Sisters. Many in the assembly had spoken to the age of 40 to 45 as the upper parameter for a meeting of young Sisters. Rose Marie Riley, OP (Springfield); Gloria Jones, OP (San Rafael); and I are serving as a committee to facilitate planning of the meeting by the young Sisters in the United States and Canada.
The DSI meeting was a perfect complement to the UISG meeting. All of the DSI presentations and reports are available on our INTRAnet in the “Resources” section. They serve as invitations to join in these hopes:
- To share the joys, worries, and challenges of our religious life today;
- To dare together to move toward a greater intercultural and international awareness;
- To shape our future in attentiveness to the challenges of the Church, the Order, and the global society.
My own sense of the meeting was one of gratitude for all our Dominican Sisters and for our Dominican charism.