The Dominican Sisters and Associates of Sparkill held their Chapter meetings from April 6–12, 2026. The Chapter of Affairs took place first, followed by the Chapter of Elections. For religious institutes, Chapter is a significant and formative moment—setting direction, discerning priorities, and electing leadership for the years ahead until the next gathering.
“During the chapter, the members are especially attentive to the welfare of the Congregation, to the inspiration of the Spirit, to our Dominican charism, and to the signs of the times while seeking to provide vision, unity, direction, and goals for our life and mission.” Constitutions of the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary
“Call and Response” (1985, Revised 2022, 2025)
The days of Chapter are both prayerful and demanding, marked by deep listening, honest sharing, reflection, and moments of community—often continuing with evening socials for those who still have the energy to participate.
Sister Irene Ellis offered closing remarks to offer a rich and faithful reflection on the experience:
"We entered into this Chapter 2026 gathered around our logo, the Tree of Life in full flower, with its roots reaching deep into Earth. We proclaimed ourselves, "Preachers, Rooted in our History; Facing Forward in Hope." Our Chapter prayer is woven into our hearts, "We are preachers even when we are old or sick and could not speak, we are preachers even when we are young and silenced by our shyness, we are preachers even when we are not ordained. We incarnate preaching by our very lives. This is our mission, our being.” (Gerard Timoner, OP, Master of the Order)
Our brother in St. Dominic, Timothy Cardinal Radcliffe, set the tone for our Chapter 2026 with his presence among us and the words of his reflections, "How Are We to be Preachers of Hope?" Timothy's reflections on the Holy Spirit's presence among us, our reliance on the Gospel, and our response to the Spirit's call to share love, kindness, and goodness with the world resonated with us. We will carry Timothy's preaching on the Eucharist and on how we are Eucharist as we share our "small pieces of bread" with those we meet each day. Timothy challenged us to embrace synodality by welcoming and engaging the hearts, minds, and voices of our brothers and sisters, even those who hold different views on politics and religion.
In the United States, we felt our hearts open in love as our Pakistani community joined us via Zoom. Sisters Zubeda, Nusrat, and Shabnam offered reflections on their life experiences, lessons, blessings, and challenges. They shared how collaboration is becoming increasingly important in their lives. Our Pakistani Sisters hold a very precious place in our congregational Life and Mission.
This Chapter offered an opportunity to explore our emerging future as Dominicans. By growing relationships of openness, trust, and courage, we look toward a future of collaboration in governance, vocations, spiritual identity, and shared mission. We own our place within the Dominican family.
At one point, we considered Mission and Charism by sharing stories of "How We Are Mission," how our identity as consecrated Dominican women of the Gospel has been taking shape and lives within us. We know we are Mission until we take our breath. As preachers of hope, we are called to lean into the world before us, faithful to our Mission, actively living our Direction Statement as we respond to our suffering world with compassion and love. Using the words of Howard Thurman, we say,
"We will sing a new song. We must learn the new song for new needs. We must fashion new words born of all the new growth of our lives, of our minds, of our spirits....That all that is within us may lift our voices unto God. Therefore, we shall rejoice with each new day and delight our spirits in each unfolding. We will sing, this day, a new song unto the Lord." "
Chapter 2026 has offered the Sisters and Associates a renewed clarity of identity and purpose. Strengthened by prayer, deepened through encounter, and attentive to the movement of the Spirit, they move forward together—rooted in their history and committed to preaching hope to a world in need.
With gratitude for all that has been, and trust in what lies ahead, this Chapter stands not simply as a completed event, but as a living call—one that will continue to shape and guide the life and mission of the Dominican sisters with faith, courage, and hope.