Sinsinawa
Spectrum
A Congregation News Magazine
Celebrating a 'YES' to Religious Life
by Mary Ann Nelson, OP
Front row, from left: Srs. Anne Sur, Christine Walcott, and Priscilla Torres process out of Queen of the Rosary Chapel in song after their profession ceremonies. Back row: Sr. Janet Welsh, Fr. Michael Stewart, and Sr. Mary Ann Casey follow.Our rituals of initiation this August 2009 were extraordinary celebrations. After having affirmed our desire and intention to move together into the mystery, sharing our gifts with the world, we gathered to celebrate the “YES” of our novice and newest members to continue the journey of becoming Dominican.
We walk into the mystery together!
During Vespers on Aug. 8, Sister Gail Jagroop first blessed us as she prayed Dominic’s Nine Ways of Prayer. Then, she was blessed by the community and sent forth to continue her discernment as a non-canonical novice in Trinidad. There, she will be living in community with Lystra Long, OP, and Patty Rinn, OP, at the House of Discernment; studying theology; and exploring ministry in the area of spirituality, particularly with youth.
We began the Aug. 9 profession liturgy remembering our own “YES,” however many years ago that might have been, and our collective “YES” for our future as Marcia Holthaus, OP, sang Do You Remember the Call? Three women made profession: Anne Sur, OP, making her perpetual profession; and Priscilla Torres, OP, and Christine Walcott, OP, making their first profession. Their lives joining with ours added to our many reasons for celebration.
Anne will continue to live community at St. Rose in Cuba City and minister in the General Finance Office at Sinsinawa Mound. Priscilla will be returning to the Emmaus Community in San Antonio, studying part time at the Oblate School of Theology and engaging in ministry part time. Christine will be joining the Toco community in Trinidad and will be teaching in that rural area.
These newest members are a blessing and a challenge to us! We have said “YES” to the unknown future with them knowing that our decision will call us each to transformation. We know little of what that will mean for each of us. What we do know is that to embrace these women fully as members and become the Congregation we say that we want to be, we must open ourselves to “continuing conversion into membership.” This is not an easy thing for any of us! Let us pray that we might be worthy of the women who come to us seeking membership. Let us also pray for one another as they continue this journey that promises each of us transformation.