Reflections – Contemplatio
Feast of St. Dominic, 2025
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring Glad Tidings: What a perfect quote to describe St. Dominic. As a young woman looking to enter this Congregation, I was clueless about St. Dominic. Other than the fact that he was the founder of the Order, I knew nothing about him. During […]
EPISODE 2 – Sister Jeanne Margaret Stoltz – More Than a Teacher
In this episode, we invite you to listen as Sister Jeanne Margaret Stoltz shares some of her most cherished memories from her time at St. Dominic’s High School in O’Fallon, Missouri. A devoted Dominican Sister of Sparkill since 1945, Sister Jeanne reflects on the meaningful ministries that shaped her life beyond the classroom. Sister Jeanne […]
Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
Art by Katy Olsen Who was this woman, Mary of Magdala? There have been many debates and misidentifications about her. She was neither the woman caught in adultery (John 8) nor the woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and dried them with her hair (Luke 7), nor even the sister of […]
SOWing Hope: Albertus Students Make a Difference
From June 28 – July 3, ten students from Albertus Magnus High School, accompanied by Mrs. Maureen Costello and Sr. Diane McSherry, participated in Summer Outreach Week (SOW), a summer service experience organized by Capuchin Family Ministries. They were part of a group of sixty-five volunteers who worked alongside each other in various ministries to […]
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha whose feast we celebrate today is generally known as the “Lily of the Mohawks.” While she is a patron saint of ecology, the environment, and Native Americans, I would like to also suggest that she could be a patron of persistence. Kateri was born in 1656 in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon […]
Feed My Lambs, Tend My Sheep
I recently saw on Facebook a photo of a village in Portugal where the lambs are not strong enough to climb the high mountain. And so they are placed on small pouches on a donkey’s back and carried up to the green pastures to be fed. This gospel came to mind. In our Gospel reading, […]
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 2025
Many of us have memories of a picture of the Sacred Heart displayed in our homes when we were growing up. Perhaps we still say the prayers that we learned at that time. Perhaps we have different thoughts and prayers now What follows are random jottings for you, dear Reader, to ponder. My hope is […]
Feast of the Ascension
Sr. Helen Robert Boyd offered the following reflection on the Feast of the Ascension at Mass in Dominican Convent. If you long for the power, presence, and promise of Christ, read on.
Foundation Day and Jubilee 2025
A few months ago, while attending physical therapy in Rivervale, New Jersey, I noticed a large picture of Lucy and Charlie Brown in the waiting room. Lucy was holding the famous football for Charlie to kick. If you are familiar with that particular cartoon, you remember that Charlie Brown fails to kick the football many […]
Sparkill Dominicans Remember Pope Francis
Pope Francis (d. April 21, 2025). May he rest in peace. With heavy and hopeful hearts, we mourn the passing of Pope Francis, a humble servant who led with love, compassion, and courage. His life was a living example of the words often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times, […]