Passing on the Dominican Spiritual TraditionFor 93 years at Aquinas High School in the Bronx and for 60 years at Albertus Magnus High School in Rockland County, the Sisters have nurtured the spiritual formation of their students. The passing on of Dominican spirituality happens in many ways, but at both schools one very special tradition is to come for retreats at Dominican Convent. While retreats take place throughout the year at Aquinas, as graduation day approaches, the 100+ seniors participate in a day-long retreat at the Motherhouse in Sparkill. This past spring the tradition continued with a day of prayer and reflection on the topic of God’s love for them as individuals. Albertus students come to Sparkill twice—during their sophomore and junior years—as those two years focus on the Dominican pillars of prayer and community. In this way, they come to know the Congregation in a deeper way. The students report that they are “in awe of the peace in the Convent.”

Continued on page 3

The Dominican Sisters of SparkillSummer 2017

Dear Friends,

I grew up in a small house in St. Ann, Missouri with six brothers and sisters. In my adulthood I have often wondered how my parents coped so well with all of the demands and challenges that life presented to them. I recall each of them finding quiet time and

space to just be. Dad would sit outside every evening he could to enjoy the night‘s peaceful beauty; in his spare time he loved to catch up on his reading. Mom would find her peaceful time by watching public TV late at night and by rising early in the morning to have some quiet time before the activity of seven children greeted her.

Perhaps many of us can recognize this feeling of just needing some time alone—some time of peace and quiet. In this space we can collect our thoughts, pursue our interests, or just simply rest with a good book (or iPad in today’s world!). This is a kind of peace that we all long for at times in our lives. It is good and important to find.

But there is another kind of peace I believe the world longs for today. We are inundated with images of war and destruction and large numbers of refugees fleeing their countries for more peaceful places. The violence begot by wars and terror surrounds us. Views on what is needed to care for our planet span a wide spectrum of attitudes from “climate change is a myth” to “climate change needs to be addressed now for the sake of the earth’s future.” In the face of all of this, how do we find the peace that is so sorely needed?

I believe that Christ is with us in our efforts to live as a peaceful presence and that Christ will continue to be with us as we do our best to live the Gospel message of peace and justice in the times and circumstances we find ourselves in.

Each of you in some significant way helps us to be a peaceful presence in our world today. Your prayers and generous donations support our ministries that we believe do help to bring about a more peaceful world, a world of hope for others. Thank you for your generosity. Please know that the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill are most grateful to each one of you for your interest in and willingness to share in our life and mission.

You are always remembered in our daily communal prayers.

God bless you!

Sister Mary Murray OP, President

Leadership Team

Sister Mary Murray, OPPresident

Sister Irene Ellis, OP

Sister Eileen Gannon, OP

Sister Grace Anne Hogan, OP

Sister Margaret Palliser, OP

Mission Advancement

Karen EllisDirector

Bernadette DonohueAssociate

Dominican Convent of Our Lady of the Rosary

175 Route 340

Sparkill, NY 10976

T. 845.359.4173

www.sparkill.org

The Dominican Sisters of

Sparkill proudly announce their participation

in the AmazonSmile

Program.

Threads of wisdom and grace

God’s love is like…Jesus often taught his disciples by telling a story. The gospels are filled with Jesus’ wonderful parables like the stories of the Good Samaritan, the sower and the seed, the lost sheep, and the Prodigal Son. I would like to share another parable, one drawn from my own experience.

When I was a very young Sister, my father surprised me with a visit. He wanted to bring me a gift, but with eight younger children at home he had no extra money to buy something for me. So he spent more than 24 hours on a bus, traveling from our family home in St. Louis to our congregation’s motherhouse in Sparkill, all the while carrying by hand his black Emerson electric desk fan—you know, the kind that oscillates from side to side at different speeds. He insisted that I keep it to help me to deal with the summer heat.

One of my most treasured possessions, this 22-lb fan is now more than 70 years old and still working—smoothly and very silently (unlike some of today’s models!). But the fan of my parable is more than a vintage appliance. It symbolizes the depths of my father’s selflessness and thoughtfulness. The love of God is like an old Emerson fan…

Do you have a story from your life that reveals God’s love for you?

~ Sister Margaret Palliser, OP

3WEAVINGS SUMMER 2017

Sister Margaret has a Doctorate in Theology from the Portifical Gregorian University in Rome

and is a member of the leadership team at Sparkill.

Passing on the Dominican Spiritual Tradition (Continued from cover)

Another way the Sisters foster the spiritual growth of their students is by sending them to the Dominican High School Preaching Conference with Sister Nancy Richter. There they join students from 23 schools from across the country to experience the extraordinary perspective that Dominicans have of preaching as looking at the world, seeing what it is needed, and responding with compassionate action. A special highlight this year was the presentation, “We Have Family in Iraq,” by Dominican Sister Habiba Bihnam who works in a refugee camp in Mosul. In these and in myriad other ways, the Sisters are continuing to build faith and strengthen their students’ commitment to God, community, family, social justice, and the Dominican tradition.

The Dominican High School Preaching Conference. Sr. Nancy Richter and students.

This past spring, the East Side Heart & Home Family Center completed its 21st home in the Resurrection Park Neighborhood in East St. Louis. The Center’s housing program partners with residents to cultivate positive changes for the families and to revitalize, stabilize, and sustain the neighborhood community. This initiative has created a vibrant neighborhood in an area that had been devastated by poverty and crime.

In tandem with the construction of quality, affordable homes, the Center provides free homeownership education and partners with families to build their credit, secure home loans, and ultimately become homeowners. To date, thirteen families have become homeowners and seven more will do the same in the near future. In February, members of the Resurrection Park Neighborhood Association met with the Mayor of East St. Louis, Emeka Jackson-Hicks, to discuss how they can join the Mayor’s “Restoration of Hope” Initiative. The Mayor was very impressed and expressed her hope that others will be inspired to create similar groups.

Shaped by the residents of the community, the Center’s programs seek to improve quality of life for low-income families, to build lasting relationships between people of diverse racial and economic backgrounds, and to cultivate both individual transformations and systemic changes in the city.

Another key program is the Family Program, which includes a women’s circle, a senior program, and educational assistance programs. The Women’s Circle gathers together once a month to learn and share thoughts on issues that affect their lives and the lives of the people around them. The women are empowered to use their talents to create positive changes in their families, their city, and their world. The Senior Program provides quality social opportunities for seniors who live independently, offering fun and

stimulating interactions, activities, and outings.

A Neighborhood Rises

4 WEAVINGS SUMMER 2017

A Neighborhood RisesThe Center offers educational assistance in two ways: an after-school program and an alternative education program. The after-school program offers tutoring and homework assistance two days a week; students can also get help from staff members on additional days. The alternative education program provides opportunities such as job training programs, GED assistance, and tuition support. This year to enable the Center to help more community members who dream of obtaining a quality education, they launched Changing the World through Education, a scholarship fundraising drive.

The Family Center was founded in the fall of 1993 by Sister Carol Lehmkuhl. As she begins her 25th year at the Center, we are grateful to her and Sister Mary Ann Buhr, as well as their many supporters and volunteers, for their transformative work in East St. Louis.

5WEAVINGS SUMMER 2017

On Wednesday, June 7, a beautiful, sunny day greeted the 110 golfers and supporters of the Sisters who gathered for the Dominican Sisters’ 20th Annual Golf Tournament at the River Vale Country Club in River Vale, New Jersey—a new location for this prestigious anniversary. There they feasted on BBQ before proceeding to the challenging 18-hole course. That evening, golfers, guests, sponsors, and the Sisters enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Old Tappan Manor, followed by the presentation of the prizes for the winners, the annual 50/50 Raffle, and a NY Yankee ticket auction.

We look forward to seeing all our supporters and golf aficionados on Monday, June 18 in 2018!

DOMINICAN SISTERS OF SPARKILL THANK OUR

2017 GOLF TOURNAMENT SPONSORS

SPECIAL THANKS TO:Christine and staff at the River Vale Country Club Martin and staff at the Old Tappan Manor Our Sponsors and Golfers for your continued support all these 20 years!

Sponsorship Opportunities

LUNCH SPONSOR Puma Lauria Planning Services /United Healthcare, Inc.

NAME THE 9 GAMCO Asset ManagementChristopher Desmarais

PUTTING GREEN JAM Plumbing & Heating, Inc.Joseph Mezzasalma

Special Opportunities

EAGLE SPONSOR Ridgewood Savings BankDr. Margaret Fitzpatrick

BIRDIE SPONSOR All American Consulting CorporationRobert Jaeger

Fred Alger & Company, Inc.Chelsea Charette

Grassi and Co.David Rottkamp

McManus ElectricalMichael McManus

Werner ConstructionWilliam & Rosemarie Werner

TEE/GREEN SPONSOR Aquinas PaintingElizabeth Dugandzic

Bi-State Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

B. Foschino & Son LandscapingBarry & Patricia Foschino

D&G Electrical Supply Co., Inc.

John Manna

Maureen Hull • In Memory of the Reeves Twins

Moritz Funeral Home

Pfister Maintenance Corporation, Inc.Dieter Pfisterer

Richard and Barbara Kohlhausen

SISTER SPONSORS Larry Beckerle, Beckerle Lumber

Linda Borstelmann, New Hope Manor

Carrie & Tony Cheung

Barry Foschino, B. Foschino & Son Landscapes

Mary Ann & William Gorman

Richard G. Gray, Richard G. Gray, CPA, P.C.

Mary Ann & William Hughes, Hughes Family

Kevin & Carol Hughes

Robert G. Jaeger, All American Contracting Corporation

Margaret Keane

John & Eileen Lawler

Michael McManus, McManus Electrical Contractors

Julia O’Toole

Richard W. Sutton, Esq., Getter, Gomes & Sutton PC

Angelo Tondo, Upstate Concrete & Masonry

Colleen Van Dillen

Arlene & Joe Verrino, Sparkill East Side

William & Rosemary Werner, Werner Constuction

Louise Yanuzzi

GOLF PRIZE/RAFFLE BASKET SPONSORS1 FoursomeRiver Vale Country Club

4 Yankee Tickets on July 3Anonymous

$25 Gift CertificateOscars Restaurant (Formerly Milanos)

$40 Gift CertificateWest Nyack Florist

$100 Catering CertificateLuigi’s

Bottle of WineDemarest Hill Winery

Brunch for 21915 Restaurant/Bear Mountain Inn

Carvel Coffee Mugs and Coasters/Water BottlesJim Salerno. Carvel Ice Cream

Chocolate Golf BallChocolatier Matisse

Cookie TrayAunt Mia’s Sweets

Dick’s Sporting GoodsGift Certificates & Discount CouponsBrian Hagerman

Dinner for 2 Prix FixeMadeleine’s Petite Paris

Gift CertificatesHogan’s Diner

Glass PipeVillage Sensations

Golf BallsPaul Fitzpatrick, Ridgewood Savings Bank

Golf LessonsJon Manos/Jon Manos Golf

KnivesAnonymous

Specialty Raffle Gift BasketsDiane & Gerry Farley

Stationery GiftsLiz Quinn, Stationer on Sunrise

Tote Bags & PensFlik Lifestyles

TOURNAMENT PRIZESJohn CulhaneCulhanes Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Inc.

6 WEAVINGS SUMMER 2017

For additional photos:http://bit.ly/sparkillgolf

7WEAVINGS SUMMER 2017

8 WEAVINGS SUMMER 2017

Looking back on my 23 years of ministry as Administrator of Dominican Convent, I realize how fortunate I have been. It has been a true gift to meet so many wonderful people over the years as we celebrated our Sisters’ Golden Jubilees (marking 50 years as women religious,) as well as Diamond Jubilees (marking 60, 65, 70, 75, and even 80 years as women religious.) Actually, Sparkill Dominicans love to celebrate! Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Easter are always great celebrations when the friends and families of Sisters join us at Mass and dinner. And we enjoy many special occasions—most recently, the 50th Anniversary of Dominican Convent and the 100th Anniversary of our beloved Sacred Heart Chapel where so many of us professed our vows.

I have been happy to represent the Congregation to our guests. So many groups regularly hold their meetings and retreats in our Motherhouse. In addition to the many parish teams, councils, and schools who come here, we host groups such as the Franciscan Sisters of Peace, the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Leviticus Fund, the Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment, the New York Archdiocesan Council of Women Religious, the local chapter of National Catholic Development Conference, and the New York Archdiocesan University Apostolate. The full list of the organizations that use Dominican Convent for their gatherings would fill this page!

9WEAVINGS SUMMER 2017

Every year, the Sisters and the seniors from the Thorpe Senior Center (which is here in the Motherhouse) are treated to delightful musical entertainment when students from Aquinas, St. Edmund, and Albertus Magnus High Schools and St. Paul’s Elementary School come to Sparkill. They especially enjoy the Christmas concerts by these talented young people! We also host the Hudson Valley Chorale for wonderful public concerts as well as their weekly rehearsals.

On St. Patrick’s Day, the Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians always begin its day with a morning Mass in Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel. The annual visit of young Sisters from the Collaborative Dominican Novitiate brings much joy. Not to be left out are the many beautiful brides who, on their wedding day, walk down the longest aisle in Rockland County in our Sacred Heart Chapel.

I have always felt it a privilege to help prepare for these events and to welcome our guests. But perhaps the greatest honor has been to take care of the home of so many members of the Community that I love so dearly, the Sparkill Dominicans.

CelebratinG life in the

Motherhouse Reflections by

Sister Joanne Deas

10 WEAVINGS SUMMER 2017

50th Anniversary Celebration with lecture by father James MartinOn Wednesday, June 14, 2017, the Sparkill community gathered to celebrate Dominican Convent’s 50 years of presence in Sparkill, New York. The life and ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill is deeply woven into the fabric of Rockland County. Dominican Convent, the place from which that life and ministry stems, stands as a concrete manifestation of the Sisters’ presence and impact. The building was dedicated on June 14, 1967 and serves today as home to many Dominican Sisters, as the corporate and administrative offices, as well as the spiritual center for the Congregation. While not all Sisters live in or nearby Dominican Convent, it is the hub of life and activity for all community members, and thus its 50th anniversary marked an important milestone in the Congregation’s history.

The anniversary was celebrated with a day of festivities featuring a visit from renowned Jesuit priest, editor, and author, Father James Martin, SJ. The Sisters, Associates, staff, and benefactors participated in a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Father Martin, followed by a lovely meal. In her reflections shared at the Mass, past Leadership Team member, Sister Carolyn Wolfbauer, spoke of what makes the Convent such a special place. “Dominican Convent, our Motherhouse, was constructed to serve three functions: to be the center for congregational administration, a residence for Sisters, and a gathering place for celebrations of liturgy, meetings, and educational and enrichment programs. This building provides the structure and space for its intended purposes. But it is a building—made of brick, mortar, metal, glass, etc. What brings it to life? What brings it spirit? Look around… Here we are! It is we who live here and who work here that create the spirit that makes this place more than just another well-built, fifty-year-old structure. And that spirit is not a given. It is something each of us has to keep going.”

In the evening, Father Martin gave a wonderful lecture entitled, “Encountering Jesus: Meeting the Jesus of History and the Christ of Faith” to a crowd of over 250 people. The Sisters were thrilled to welcome their guests who traveled from near and far to hear Father Martin’s engaging presentation.

11WEAVINGS SUMMER 2017

Partners in Mission– Making a Difference around the World!

Your generosity has enabled the Sisters to award the following grants:

The Peace and Non-Violence Speakers Forum, New York • Helpinlaunchingaspeakersseries

Intercommunity Ecological Council, St. Louis, MO • ProvidingforprogramsthathelppeoplelearntocarefortheEarth

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Formation Program, Big Sandy, Box Elder, & Rocky Boy, Montana • FundingforaCatechesistrainingprogram

Aquinas High School, Bronx • Supportfortheschool’sperformingartsprogram

Sr. Thea Bowman Women’s Center, Siena College

• AidforstudentswhowishtoparticipateinaservicetriptotheDominican Republic

Damietta Cross-Cultural Center, Siena College • Supportforatheaterprogramwhichfocusesoninterfaithharmony&compassion

East Side Heart & Home Family Center, East St. Louis • Supportforachildren’scamp&Saturdaybreakfastclubforthecommunity

One-to-One Learning Leadership Project, Nyack, NY • Fundingtocreatealeadershiptrainingprogramforimmigrantswhoare students & alumni

Dowling Gardens, Sparkill, NY • Agranttocreateenrichedprogramsinmusic,thearts,&currenteventsforthe frail elderly

Dominican North American Justice Promoter, Iraq Coordinating Committee • HelpinalleviatingtheisolationexperiencedbyIraqiDominicanSistersandthe refugees they serve

Loreto Girls Hostel, Loreto, Pakistan & the Sister Purissima Girls Hostel in Bahawalpur, Pakistan • SupporttoenabletheSisterstoprovideabalanceddiet&schoolsuppliesfor impoverished girls so that they can continue with their education

DOMINICAN CONVENT OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARYOFFICE OF MISSION ADVANCEMENT175 ROUTE 340SPARKILL, NY 10976-1047

Address service requested

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7THCBC HIGH SCHOOL

ST. LOUIS, MO

For more information or to reserve your table, go to

www.friendsofdominicansisters.org

Learn more about the Dominican Sisters of Sparkillby visiting our website:

www.sparkill.org and our Facebook page.

To make a donation, go to Development’s Home Page on our website and

Click: Make a Donation which will take you to the secure page.