Mission
Values
Embrace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Gather the Wisdom of the group through Communal Discernment
Communicate with Integrity, Transparency and Respect
FLT Updates
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Transition Ritual is in Planning Stages
For quite a long time, among the members of the Dominican Sisters Conference, (DSC) there has been a desire, to find a common way to embrace the future of Dominican Life and Mission in the United States. Through the work of the OP Sisterhood Futuring Task Force, that pathway has been made more clear and real. Their work has led to the creation of a new younger cohort of leaders who are being asked to serve as a catalyst for conversation and engagement about the future with sisters under 70 across congregational boundaries.
On July 1, 2021, the DSC Futuring Leadership Team will begin a three-year term.
The new Futuring Leadership Team includes Sisters Carol Dempsey (Caldwell), Pat Magee (Hope), Donna Maria Moses (Mission San Jose), Mai-dung Nguyen (Peace), Lorraine Reaume (Adrian), and Kathleen Tait (Springfield). They will be working with Mary Ellen O’Grady, OP (Sinsinawa) Interim Director of DSC, and Anne Lythgoe, (Peace) President of the DSC Executive Committee.
The team is the result of the innovative work of the Futuring Task Force, who led a three-year process of discernment and planning. Their vision includes the transmission of the “treasure of Dominican Charism into the future by enhancing the quality of vowed life for those who have joined our congregations in recent years and by supporting them in mission and common life.”
Reflecting on this process, Toni Harris OP (Sinsinawa), Task Force Co-Chair along with Michaela Connolly OP (Blauvelt), commented, “Our Task Force came together in 2018 because we believed then — as now — that assuring our Dominican life and mission into the future requires our conscious and deliberate effort, trusting as always in our Providential God.”
You can learn more about the evolution of the OP Sisterhood Task Force and its role in the Dominican Sisters Conference by viewing this presentation from Sr. Rebecca Ann Gemma, OP (Springfield).
A central focus of the Futuring Leadership Team is to engage those under 70, in inter-congregational conversations about how common dreams and aspirations for a shared future might become reality. “This is no small task” Anne said. It is formidable, but I’d rather think that this new leadership group is being asked to take a set of first steps to engage younger members in critical conversations about topics they have already identified and how they see the evolution of their own congregations in light of the realities we all share.”
A wide range of topics in affinity groups was identified through a survey conducted by the task force last fall. Some of these include inter-congregational living and houses of Holy Preaching, building relationships, justice work, theological study, care of creation, associates, and anti-racism. A database of under 70 sisters is also being called for to promote networking among members.
When the DSC Futuring Leadership Team begins its work officially on July 1, 2021, the Sisterhood Task Force will conclude its work. A virtual celebration of this transition is being planned for some time in July. Details will be forthcoming.
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Dear Sisters and Associates of the DSC,
The Futuring Leadership Team (FLT) met with the Executive Committee of the Dominican Sisters Conference and Congregational Leaders at the DSC Annual Elected Leaders Meeting in Columbus, OH, and generated ideas for initiating conversations on the future with the Under 70 Cohort.
In early November over 130 from the Under 70 Cohort participated in two Zoom meetings to engage in proactive thinking about the future amid the uncertainties of a post-pandemic world. The Futuring Leadership Team gave an overview of their mission and presented initial plans to develop a common database and convene affinity groups on topics of interest. Sisters in the Cohort agreed to actively engage the conversation about our shared future NOW from a narrative of abundance and explore the question of how to come together in a more concerted way as one Dominican family.
In the coming days members of the Cohort will meet to further the discussion of affinity groups, database development, and the future of the Dominican Order in the United States and worldwide.
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Dear Sisters and Associates of the DSC,
Since our last update a broad spectrum of designs for Affinity Groups has begun to emerge. Justice, Care for Creation and Immigration (Ana Gonzalez); Four Pillars with a Twist or Play, Pray and Act (Jeanne Shary); Low Carbon Footprint (Corinne Sanders); Return to Our Founding Dominican Charism (Christina Atienza & Abby Newton); Outreach to Young Adults (Mary Soher and Beth Murphy); Inter-congregational Community and Ministry (Donna Moses and Cathy Murray); and Welcoming New Members to the Order (June Fitzgerald).
In the near future the FLT will sketch out plans for an “Affinity Night,” a virtual open space, for the entire Cohort to see what is happening and sample these offerings. Some groups are ready to begin or wanting help to shape a group. The Affinity Night will be an opportunity to get involved in whatever topic gives you passion. Look for an invitation in your inbox soon!
Members of the Database Development group met with ZenaComp and had a very productive session. The Adrian data has now been removed and the branding of the database as Dominican Sisters Conference has begun. The core subgroup is exploring the database itself and early next month we will begin clarifying questions and menu choices. We believe the process for creating a usable relational database will take less time than originally anticipated and hope to have it up and functioning by the summer. We are testing and comparing apps to support our ongoing collaboration.
The Inter-Congregational Community affinity group conveners received an invitation from Janice Brown and Nancyann Turner to help form a Multi-OP-Congregation House in a safe neighborhood in Detroit, across the street from Gesu Church-staffed by the Jesuits. The location is near the University of Detroit and the Marygrove Conservancy and there are many other options for outreach ministry to the poor nearby. If you or someone you know is interested, get in touch with one of them by February 15 to begin the conversation and planning.
As we move into the new reality of 2022, may we continue to inspire and motivate one another in the charism and preaching mission of the Dominican Order.
Peace,
Sisters Pat Magee (Hope), Lorraine Reaume (Adrian), Kathleen Tait (Springfield), Mai-dung Nguyen (Peace), Donna Moses (Mission San Jose), and Carol Dempsey (Caldwell)
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Dear Sisters and Associates of the DSC,
The Omicron surge has loosened its hold, and all of us are looking forward to the post pandemic era. We have experienced the truth of being “one body in Christ” in a very real way, sharing in one another’s suffering, and waiting together in hope for return of brighter days. In late January the Futuring Leadership Team (FLT) met to pray, to share glimpses into the reality of our lives, and to consider a plan for engaging the whole Cohort in boldly and thoughtfully entering the general futuring conversation.
The Database project is moving forward faster than any of us imagined. We are finalizing the fields this month and will work on the design of the dashboard and layout of individual Sisters’ pages next month. A survey was sent to ascertain what applications members are currently paying to use and if there is interest in purchasing a group license for the whole Cohort. Analysis of the results showed significant interest (55%) in a group license for a Zoom account. About 25% were interested in group licenses for Adobe Pro, Adobe Photoshop, and Dropbox.
Members of the Cohort who were interested in joining an affinity group, met Feb 15th for an “Open Space” night. Nine sets of conveners floated their ideas and gathered those interested to set a direction. Energy emulated from the conversations and clarity emerged for the direction of each group. A common desire for authentic Dominican life and mission permeated each of the topics. For Cohort members who were not able to attend but want to join a group, the conveners will be sending out invitations to the entire cohort to join their next meeting. We look forward to seeing how this evolves and where it may lead in our futuring efforts.
Please add futuring_dominicans@googlegroups.com to your contact list so emails do not go to spam. When a particular place or issue is calling for an inter-congregational response, all are encouraged to communicate it using this group email. The FLT plans to develop a private page on the DSC website where creative new opportunities can be promoted, and affinity groups that are ongoing can report on their progress. Look for more about that in future updates.
Peace and blessings,
Sisters Pat Magee (Hope), Lorraine Reaume (Adrian), Kathleen Tait (Springfield), Mai-dung Nguyen (Peace), Donna Moses (Mission San Jose), and Carol Dempsey (Caldwell)
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Dear Sisters and Associates of the DSC,
What are the potential next steps for developing a vision with the Cohort? Some vital initial steps have been completed. The DSC secured a generous grant from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) to fund the futuring project. Regular channels of communication between the FLT and the DSC executive committee, DSC leadership, DSC membership at large and the Under 70 Cohort have been established. Affinity groups on topics of interest and building an accessible database are well underway. The next step is to plan for cross congregational futuring conversations within the DSC.
There is a common sense of urgency about this next step as some congregations have already begun to move in a direction of commissary or fulfillment of mission. We all seek to co-create a preferred future, so that these uncertain times do not undermine our ability to choose. There is a strong shared commitment among members of the Cohort to ensuring the Dominican charism endures as it evolves. A bold question that was asked on the Open Space Night is what the charism will look like if there are no congregations of vowed religious women.
We know that economics in the global market will have an impact on the future of individual congregations and the Dominican Order worldwide. Some of those factors are alarming to say the least. Whatever happens in the future we want our way of life to include service, prayer together, community (however defined) and study. Whether or not the road ahead is leading to unity via a kind of merger or cooperative union, honest, open, and caring relationships across congregations and beyond are vital to fostering realistic hope for the future.
One aspect of the conversation that needs compassionate listening and respectful dialogue is what we see happening or not happening with our congregational associates. Governance structures for the future also need discussion. Seeking a common theological stance and shared understanding of vowed Dominican life are also important parts of the conversation. his month the FLT is drafting a process for opening up these futuring conversations with the Under 70 Cohort in late spring. Ideas from the DSC leadership and members at large are welcome at futuring-leadership-team@googlegroups.com.
Your Sisters,
Pat Magee (Hope), Lorraine Reaume (Adrian), Kathleen Tait (Springfield), Mai-dung Nguyen (Peace), Donna Moses (Mission San Jose), and Carol Dempsey (Caldwell)
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Dear Sisters and Associates of the DSC,
Against the backdrop of our Lenten journey, the horrific Russian invasion of Ukraine and stumbling efforts around the world to return to some semblance of normalcy, the Futuring Leadership Team has grappled with the economic uncertainty that will impact the future of religious life in ways yet unknown. We recognize a return to “doing business as usual” is not feasible for us, nor for the rest of humanity. This reality was made manifest when our plans to meet for an in-person team building event were crushed by the excessive cost of flights and lodging. What we budgeted for this event in 2021 simply was not enough to cover the actual costs in 2022. Instead, we opted to gather by Zoom for a scaled back team building event and booked ahead for the in-person meeting with DSC leadership in Milwaukee in October.
The database is coming along. ZenaComp is in the process of adding the fields we need and getting our menus ready. Joanne Caniglia is designing the survey which will be sent to all sisters under 70 after the first week of May. We urge everyone in the Cohort to fill it out, so we have a more complete picture of who we are in all our variety. We are looking for a few volunteers to help enter the data, and we need one person from each congregation to volunteer to ensure that their congregation’s data is complete and correct. If you can help with either of these tasks, please email us at futuring-leadership-team@googlegroups.com.
Four of the affinity groups that launched in February agreed to meet regularly. The topics under discussion are Justice: Care for Creation & Immigration, New Members, Unlearning Racism, and Seeing with New Eyes – Science and Theology. Group conveners will be receiving an invitation this month to let us know how things are going and if help is needed promoting their ideas. Conveners will prepare a brief video clip telling the Cohort what they would like us to know about their groups. Those clips will be shown at the next quarterly meeting in May. Sisters under 70 are asked to mark your calendars now for that meeting and plan to attend one or both!
Peace,
Sisters Pat Magee (Hope), Lorraine Reaume (Adrian), Kathleen Tait (Springfield), Mai-dung Nguyen (Peace), Donna Moses (Mission San Jose), and Carol Dempsey (Caldwell)
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Dear Sisters and Associates of the DSC,
At visioning sessions held May 15-16 the Cohort drew upon prophetic writings for inspiration and reviewed where the journey has taken us in the past year. A few main areas of interest emerged: community building within the wider Dominican family; ministry and service especially preaching, healing in the institutional Church, and care for creation; relationships and collaboration within the cohort and beyond; and values and spirituality for lifegiving communities.
Several thought-provoking questions also emerged: how can we find out about the individual needs of the members that we could address as a cohort to support one another and our congregations in practical ways; how can we break down the discrepancy between our own needs for support and the needs of the times; how can we free our sisters to go to other places when our own congregations continue to have needs that take precedence; what is our preferred future; what is our unimagined future; how are we going to move forward; how can we equip the younger/newer part of the cohort to live into their identity as Dominicans; how can we better honor generational diversity.
We also noticed the growing number of Dominicans ministering in the United States who are first- or second-generation in the United States or living and working here on visas. As we considered our diverse cultural backgrounds and our current geographical locations, we felt a growing sense of how important it is to be together in person to build a sense of mutuality and community.
The team is taking these questions and suggestions to heart and working on a budget and plan for team building, leadership training, cohort zooms for further visioning, and an in-person cohort event in the summer of 2023. To increase the online presence of the cohort the team is in conversation with the DSC executive committee to link a free shared Google site with DomLife and DSC websites to improve access to information and streamline our communications.
Peace,
Sisters Pat Magee (Hope), Lorraine Reaume (Adrian), Kathleen Tait (Springfield), Mai-dung Nguyen (Peace), Donna Moses (Mission San Jose), and Carol Dempsey (Caldwell)
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Dear Sisters and Associates of the DSC,
Through the months of July and August we have all been involved in chapters, retreats, vacations, congregational shifts, and changes of leadership. Somehow the July Update was never shared, so this month you get a bonanza! We have a growing recognition as a leadership team that although we are committed to the same mission and have the same initials after our names, we have multiple patterns and different ways of doing things. We shared our sense of the uniqueness of our congregations and found some similarities, but also many differences. Each story is sacred. We want to hold the sacred stories while creating a unified future story together.
The data entry continues and is being cross checked by congregational leadership for accuracy. Once it is complete, we will work out access to it for all the members. By September we hope to have a pdf directory available to all for reference. We are also working on creating a dsc.org listserv for the cohort that can be updated annually. The prototype for the Google site entitled Dominican Universe is under construction. Affinity Group Conveners will be invited to use the site to share content for their section. There will be seven people with editing privileges. We hope to have it ready to share with the Cohort in September and with the DSC leadership in October.
It uses colorful cosmic imagery and is divided into four basic areas: Envisioning the Future – What’s Next? Background Orientation, Timeline, Expanding Membership); Building Opportunities –Affinity group reports on Intercommunity Life, Ministry Opportunities and New Members; Furthering the Mission –Affinity group reports on Seeing with New Eyes: Science and Theology, Care for Creation, Immigration and Unlearning Racism; Open Forum – Blog posts from Graced Crossroads: Pathways to Deep Change & Transformation and open forum for chat
Peace,
Sisters Pat Magee (Hope), Lorraine Reaume (Adrian), Kathleen Tait (Springfield), Mai-dung Nguyen (Peace), Donna Moses (Mission San Jose), and Carol Dempsey (Caldwell)
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Dear Sisters and Associates of the DSC,
As we move into the Visioning Process with the Cohort the team discussed our own desired
outcomes at this point in the process. We want the generational groups to be heard and have a
chance to come together as a subgroup, and the cultural/language groups may want to meet
separately too for a short time, then all share together across groups. We want to continue to
work out of a narrative of abundance; we have enough for the future and those who choose to participate in the futuring process will be sufficient as well.
Working together will promote a felt sense of community and help us to get to know one another better. We are considering an option of generational social time on breakout sessions at the next whole cohort gathering and then have cross-generational breakout social time to create a variety of experiences. Other possibilities include a Ted Dunn talk zoom with breakout sessions, a zoom that is on contemplative dialogue about current realities. The possibilities are many and we want something for everyone: some fun activities and some conversation places- all to help us to co-create a future together.
During the discussion, there was agreement that a major goal would be to move the cohort further along to visioning a desired future together. We anticipate deep sharing and creating together scenarios of future options that express our shared values. We want to respect both the urgency of acting on this work and the time and space needed to be inclusive and contemplatively discerning. We agreed an in-person meeting would be needed with preparatory zoom meetings leading up to it. We are keeping the emotional and financial contexts in mind as we consider alternative locations and dates.
We will invite members from the cohort and beyond to be a part of the in-person meeting and we talked about wanting to let congregations know ahead of time what the plan is for the year. At Cohort Visioning Zoom 1 held on May 15 and 16 we participated in icebreakers and a process to begin to surface ideas about envisioning the future.
Peace,
Sisters Pat Magee (Hope), Lorraine Reaume (Adrian), Kathleen Tait (Springfield), Mai-dung Nguyen (Peace), Donna Moses (Mission San Jose), and Carol Dempsey (Caldwell)
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Dear Sisters and Associates of the DSC,
This month the Futuring Leadership Team is engaged in planning for several events for Cohort Visioning. The first Cohort Visioning Zoom, held May 15 and May 16, focused on Initial Conversations about the Future. The second Cohort Visioning Zoom is scheduled for September 24th and September 29 and will focus on Dominican Relationships for the Future. We will be considering relationships within and beyond our own generation and the implications of age diversity in our views of the future of Dominican Life.
At the Dominican Sisters Conference in Milwaukee October 11-15, 2022, the Futuring Leadership Team will give presentations to the Executive Committee of the Dominican Sisters Conference and the Leadership Teams of Dominican Congregations. The purpose is to share what we have gleaned from online conversations with the Cohort over the past year, the work that has been accomplished so far in building a database, launching affinity groups, and creating a communication plan including regular updates and DomLife articles.
In September and October we will be previewing a prototype of a new online space to show the background of the futuring movement of the Dominican Sisters Conference, outline the Visioning Process with the Cohort as it is unfolding, and share the learnings and reflections from Affinity Groups discussing current topics of interest.
Visioning plans underway include a Cohort Visioning Zoom on November 12, 2022, focused on Dominican Life for the Future. We are pleased to announce that this Zoom will be facilitated by Ann M. Garrido, associate professor of homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology. She will engage the Cohort in reflection on Our Dominican DNA: Shared Values Leading Us Into The Future. The quarterly Zoom meetings in 2023 will set things in motion for an in-person gathering facilitated by Sherryl White, CSJ at Ohio Dominican University July 28-29, 2023.
Peace,
Sisters Pat Magee (Hope), Lorraine Reaume (Adrian), Kathleen Tait (Springfield), Mai-dung Nguyen (Peace), Donna Moses (Mission San Jose), and Carol Dempsey (Caldwell) -
Dear DSC Cohort Under 70,
At the Dominican Sisters Conference in Milwaukee October 11-15, 2022, the Futuring Leadership Team gave an overview of work accomplished in our first year. This included building a database, launching affinity groups, holding regular quarterly meetings of the cohort, creating a communication plan, and beginning the visioning process. During the meeting, we proposed to the DSC Executive Committee during their meeting, that the visioning process will need a dedicated full-time coordinator to sustain our momentum. The Executive Committee sees this need as well.
Once the search for an Executive Director of the DSC is completed, a Coordinator for the FLT will be sought.
Training sessions for the new google site Dominican Explorations will be October 27 from 12-1:00 and November 1 from 4-5:00 Pacific Time. You may remember that this platform will serve as a creative co-edited online workspace. Members of the cohort can share documents, photos, videos and share links to blogs and other integrated social media.
On November 12, 2022, Ann M. Garrido, associate professor of homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology will engage the Cohort in reflection on Our Dominican DNA: Shared Values Leading Us into The Future. Simultaneous interpretation will be available for Spanish-speakers. The meeting will be recorded for viewing later, but please encourage all DSC members under 70 to attend this meeting.
The in-person gathering for the Cohort will take place July 28-29 (travel days July 27 and 30) at Ohio Dominican University. It will be facilitated by Sherryl White, CSJ, a social psychologist who has served internationally as a consultant to apostolic congregations of religious employing a practice of contemplative inquiry to engage complex questions of these changing times. Invitations have been set for Cohort members to volunteer to help with planning, logistics, hospitality, technology, social activities, secretarial etc. Cohort members can still volunteer and receive more information about this meeting in separate emails from Kathleen Tait.
Peace,
Sisters Pat Magee (Hope), Lorraine Reaume (Adrian), Kathleen Tait (Springfield), Mai-dung Nguyen (Peace), Donna Moses (Mission San Jose), and Carol Dempsey (Caldwell)
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Dear Sisters and Associates of the DSC,
On November 12 the DSC Cohort under 70 were invited to an inspirational workshop with Ann Garrido, PhD, associate professor of Homiletics at Aquinas Institute. Approximately 79 attended the event that was simultaneously interpreted in Spanish. Ann presented “word clouds” that depicted the words that most often appear in the mission statements and websites of the 19 congregations that belong to the DSC. In breakout sessions the cohort explored our Dominican DNA and identified shared values that will lead us into the future. The entire presentation was recorded and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syAXaIJPtIo.
Members of the Futuring Leadership Team were invited to give an abbreviated form of the presentation given to DSC leadership at the annual gathering in October to the Dominican Communicators and are available upon request to share the same presentation with member congregations upon request. If you are interested in setting this up for your congregation, please contact mosesdo@msjdominicans.org. The Dominican communicators generously offered their support and services to the team and the cohort and expressed a desire to share the good news of these futuring efforts with the public.
Toward this end the Google Site “Dominican Explorations” is under development with ten cohort members contributing as managing editors. Access will be made public, and the link will be sent out by the Dominican Communicators in mid-December. The site features the latest news about the futuring efforts of the DSC, the unfolding work of the cohort affinity groups as they meet to discuss various current topics of interest, and a timeline of DSC events that are unfolding at an ever-increasing pace. Excitement, enthusiasm, and high hopes abound as we reflect realistically and share ideas and energy for a more just and peaceful world.
A diverse and talented group answered the call to serve on the steering committee for the July 27-30 in person gathering at Ohio Dominican University. Sisters Veronica Esparza Ramirez (MSJ), Mary Vuong (Peace), Christina Atienza (San Rafael, and Christin Tomy (Sinsinawa) will meet with the Futuring Leadership Team and event facilitator Sr. Sherryl White, CSJ on December 8 to begin planning. Preparatory meetings for the cohort will take place on January 24, 2023, and May 24, 2023 (4:30pm Pacific; 6:30 pm Central and 7:30pm Eastern).
Blessed Thanksgiving!
Sisters Donna Moses (Mission San Jose), Kathleen Tait (Springfield), Lorraine Reaume (Adrian), Mai-dung Nguyen (Peace), and Pat Magee (Hope)
