February 17, 2026-- Sister Irene Ellis, Prioress for the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, welcomed all gathered at Dominican Convent in Sparkill, NY, as well as those online around the US. The Dominican Sisters of Sparkill are part of the worldwide Dominican Family founded by Saint Dominic in the 13th century. Sister Irene noted that since their founding in 1876 in the US, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill have cared for destitute women and children in New York City and have continued to work for justice by serving the poor and outcasts and by safeguarding the natural environment in Missouri (1900), Pakistan (1958), Montana (1973), South America (1979), and many other parts of the United States.
The evening’s speaker was Sister Barbara Reid, OP, a renowned biblical scholar, regarded particularly for her work in feminist biblical interpretation. She has been on the faculty of Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago since 1988, where she also served as academic dean and vice president from 2009 to 2018, after which she was named president of CTU — the first woman to lead the school of ministry and theology. She is celebrating 50 years as a Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids.
Sister Barbara began with the story of Creation in the Book of Genesis, noting that God’s Creation was “how good!” and that God sought to bring order and beauty to the chaos of the universe. She emphasized that Creation invites us to an experience of awe: “Look toward heaven and count the stars if you can” (Genesis 15:15) and “Praise God, sun and moon; . . . all you shining stars!” (Psalm 148:3) She remarked that for Dominicans, prayer and study are connected and lead one’s whole being into a “humility of the heart.” She also noted that the new observatory at St. Thomas Aquinas College, dedicated on September 30, 2025, could provide a wonderful experience of hope, prayer, and awe while observing celestial phenomena.
Similarly, contemplation of the stars and all Creation led the ancient Israelites to hope in the return of God’s justice on the earth: “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17) and “Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:3).
For Christians, that light of the world was Jesus, born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod. In the Gospel of Matthew, the writer says, “Behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising. . . .’ After their audience with the king, they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star.” (Matthew 2)
An interesting connection with the stars is how all creation is called to be in a responsive relationship with God—even the stars. In the Book of Baruch, the writer pens, “The stars shone in their watches and were glad; God called them, and they said, 'Here we are!' shining with joy for their Maker.” (3:34-35) Such a response parallels numerous times that people called by God in the Bible responded, “Here I am.” (cf. Abraham in Genesis 22; Moses in Exodus 3; Isaiah in Isaiah 6; Mary in Luke 1, etc.) In short, God has called every person and every star by name: “He counts the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” (Psalm 147:4)
We thank Sister Barbara for sharing her faith and scholarship and for all who support the compassion and love of God to cultivate peace and justice in our time. We stand together “Until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Pet 1:19)
Of Additional Interest:
Sister Barbara Reid, OP, has led many of CTU’s Israel Retreats and Biblical Lands Study and Travel Programs and has given presentations in México, Bolivia, Perú, Uruguay, Brazil, Guatemala, and Santo Domingo. She has also lectured in Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Philippines, Thailand, and Rome. She is a leading scholar in feminist interpretation of the Scriptures and the General Editor for the Wisdom Commentary Series, a 58-volume feminist commentary on the Bible published by Liturgical Press, and has published numerous articles and books, including:
- At the Table of Holy Wisdom: Global Hungers and Feminist Biblical Interpretation
- Wisdom’s Feast: An Invitation to Feminist Interpretation of the Scriptures
- Choosing The Better Part?: Women in the Gospel of Luke
- Taking Up the Cross: New Testament Interpretations through Latina and Feminist Eyes
The Lou Lecture is named for Dr. J.T. Vincent Lou (1907-1988), who grew up in Shanghai and became a medical doctor and an inspiring teacher. By age 33, Dr. Lou was Department Chair of Hospital Sainte Marie and a full professor at Shanghai’s Aurora University. His love for China led him to accept the dangerous post of Minister of Health in Nanking during the war with Japan. After the Communists took over China, Dr. Lou escaped to Hong Kong, where he became a Catholic. His fellow refugees paid for his passage to Canada, where he received a medical license from the British Commonwealth. A true humanitarian, he was always kind to the poor and was described as “charity personified.” The Dr. J.T. Vincent Lou Fund enables the Sisters to provide education, in perpetuity, on issues of social justice through lectures, conferences, and seminars.
