Today we celebrate what William Wordsworth called, “our tainted nature’s solitary boast.” Our world today has very little to boast about so it is refreshing to know that there was someone in the history of humanity who deserved such an acclamation, none other than our own Blessed Virgin Mary, our heavenly mother. As his poem […]
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 2023 Read More »
Long Island Catholic, December 14, 1972 The doorbell rang… The boys at Holy Family School, Hicksville, New York, knew to ring the convent bell only once and wait. It was almost a city block from the kitchen to the front door and one of the Sisters would open the door so the boys could get
Sister Bridget Kiniry offered this reflection at the Thanksgiving Day Mass in Domincian Convent. Probably each of us has a heart and head full of thoughts and memories of past celebrations. Today we may find our gratefulness clouded by an awareness of all the turmoil and suffering in the world. Still, we are here giving
Here We Are Today, Thanksgiving 2023 Read More »
From the Leadership Team: Sisters Irene, Marie Peter, Aileen, Grace and Nancy May our tables and hearts be wide as we celebrate Thanksgiving this year. May we truly become the blessing for those who hunger and thirst for justice and peace. We share with you Jan Richardson’s, ‘And the Table Will Be Wide’ along with
And the Table Will Be Wide Read More »
Sugar kelp being grown in Shinnecock Bay on eastern Long Island, New York. Waban Tarrant and Danielle Hopson Began in front of mural created by Denis Silva-Dennies (l to r) Sister Pat Hogan, Sister Susan Dunn, Sr. Kerri Handal, Waban Tarrant, Danielle Hopson Began. Danielle Hopson Began demonstrates the tool that will be used to
Albert the Great, AKA Albertus Magnus, stamp issued in 1980. The following is a collaboration between Sister Amelia DeMarco and Sister Jeanne Shary. Sister Amelia conducted extensive research and reported on St. Albert’s life and legacy. Sister Jeanne was inspired to preach at today’s liturgy based on Sister Amelia’s writing and today’s Gospel reading from
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Sister Bridge Kiniry shared this preaching at today’s liturgy in Dominican Convent. The Lateran Basilica—How much can we say about a building dedicated in 324? Yes, it is a special Church with a lot of history. But how inspirational is that for most of us? Let’s look at the word CHURCH. It can mean a
Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica, Feast Read More »
Students from St. Gregory Barbarigo help decorate Sister’s cemetary. Sister Eileen Gannon shared this reflection at our annual Memorial Mass at Dominican Convent. We, Dominican Sisters and Associates have times when we come together as I know all here gathered have the same. But this is my favorite and I realize that my sound strange,
Memorial Mass Preaching Read More »
Today the Christian community specifically honors these three Archangels. While we are honoring them, we will do so by looking at this question: What is the TRUTH about angels whom we associate as heavenly messengers of comfort and courage? Just as a point of interest, as I began preparing these reflections, I came across Thomas
Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael Read More »
Recently, there was a film series on television entitled “The Chosen,” which has been widely received as the most recent rendition of the public life of Christ. An extraordinary amount of research has been done by modern theological, archeological, and sociology scholars. What is different about this film is that it begins with the lives
The Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist Read More »
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, So that EVERYONE who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life” John 3:16 Just to pronounce, to say “EXALTED,” gives a rise to one’s spirit. We have something extraordinary to celebrate today! Yet, we are ever mindful that all
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Prophet Amos cries out: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5: 24) and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss
Season of Creation Read More »
We who live in the Western world are not very comfortable with the word “mystery.” Our Eastern brothers and sisters, on the other hand, are much more inclined to be at ease with a state of unknowing. Why is that? We can trace this attitude to our ancestors the Greeks who were convinced that ultimately
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He knew all about horses and fancy trappings bells that jingled to announce their coming grooms who kept their mounts in healthy splendor and servants who ministered to riders on the journey. Off to the land of France he went right hand of the good Diego Bishop setting forth from Spain to undo damage caused
A Friar Took to Walking Read More »
Sister Margaret Carey delivered this reflection for the Sisters, Associates, and gathered faith community at Dominican Convent for the Feast of the Transfiguration. The Entrance Antiphon for today is: “In a resplendent cloud, the Holy Spirit appeared. The Father’s voice was heard: ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to
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We celebrate James in mid-summer, so I do feel like a haze has to lift for me to get started. Maybe, it was a hazy, early summer morning when Jesus called his first disciples and found James and his brother John with their father, Zebedee, fixing their fishing nets. (Mark 1:18) Many had probably heard something about him, but they were not expecting, after a long evening of fishing, to be called right then. But yes, he calls them to just leave their nets and follow him. And they did!
Feast of St James the Apostle Read More »
Saint Mary Magdalene, first to share the good news of Christ’s resurrection with the apostles, is held as the Patroness of the Dominican Order, the Order of Preachers. Sister Catherine Patrice brings us this same good news today as she reflects on Saint Mary Magdalene. Sister Catherine Patrice ministers in retreat work and spiritual direction.
I Have Seen the Lord Read More »
Saint Kateri in front of Santa Fe Cathedral Sisters Helen Regina, Durso, Christine (Chris) Ferrar and Nora McCarthy served the Indigenous Peoples of the Nakoda and Aaniiih Nations at the St. Paul’s Mission Grade School in Hays, MT for 40 years. We invite you to listen to them reflect on St. Kateri Tekakwitha. https://sparkill.org/wp-content/uploads/Saint-Kateri.mp3
Feast of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, 2023 Read More »
Sister Helen Robert Boyd shared the following reflection with the Sisters and Associates at liturgy on June 29th. Today we celebrate two giants of early Christianity, Peter and Paul. Both are held in the highest esteem by the Church as can be seen by the prominent positions that their statues hold in St. Peter’s Square
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Some liturgical feast days are very familiar to us, and most certainly our feast today is one of them. How significant do you think it is for today’s Catholic people? Our first response might be that it has little or no significance to them. But we need to explore more deeply.
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Read More »
The Visitation by Jacopo Pontormo Sister Mary Dunning shared this reflection at liturgy for today’s feast based on Luke 1:39-56. Today’s gospel is filled with impossibilities. Two obscure women meet in a remote village of a conquered, humiliated land. Mary and Elizabeth are Palestinian Jews, citizens of a land crushed under decades of the imperial
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The first chapter of Genesis ends with these words: “God looked at everything God had made and found it to be very good. Evening came and morning followed the sixth day.” Billions of years thereafter the first astronauts experienced the same vision when they looked upon this beautiful swirling blue marble from their small cockpit
The following reflection was delivered by Sister Irene Ellis to the Sisters and Associates at the Foundation Day/Diamond Jubilee Mass on May 7, 2023. Sister Irene Ellis, current Prioress, relates how the spirit of our Founder, Mother Mary Catherine Antoninus Thorpe, is alive and well today. As our early co-founders were congregational cornerstones, we are called to be living stones.
Foundation Day & Diamond Jubilee Celebration Read More »
Sister Margaret Palliser shared this reflection with the Sisters and Associates at Dominican Convent on May 8, the Feast of Mary’s Patronage of the Dominican Order. On this Feast of the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Dominican Order. Today we crown Mary our Mother as our Queen. Ours is a simple ritual, a far cry from the pomp and circumstance of the crowning of Charles III two days ago!
Feast of Mary, Patroness of the Dominican Order Read More »
“Although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike.” These opening words from today’s Gospel caught my attention…. the childlike. That’s childlike, not childish—two very different ways of being for sure. Catherine, I believe, was childlike. She was a woman whose childlike qualities served her
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This icon of St. Mark the Evangelist is found at St. Mark Parish in Phoenix. (Ambria Hammel/CATHOLIC SUN) How often do we hear the very familiar words announcing the Gospel according to Mark? Mark’s Gospel was probably written between 65-70 CE and provided both Matthew and Luke with sources for their Gospels. Do we ever
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I commute to work via the Palisades Parkway (aka the Indianapolis 500 of NY State). The ride never fails to get my heart racing, test my automotive skills, and have me thank God that I have made it through another commute and lived to see another day. Curiously, at one point about a month ago,
“Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him. 11 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
Sent Forth in Love Read More »
Sister Lillian McNamara shares a Good Friday prayer and image from Saugerties. We thank her for this beautiful meditation from the foot of the cross.
Wash one another’s feet. After Supper Jesus and his disciples walked to the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus said to them: “The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38) Jesus asks his disciples for the simple gift of their presence, their accompaniment.
Holy Thursday – Stay With Me Read More »