By Staff Reports HALES CORNERS, Wis. – Originally from Minneapolis, Rev. Thomas Lind, SCJ, died on April 11, just days before his 92nd birthday. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Community in Pinellas Park, Florida. Nearly ten years earlier he had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
Father Tom completed his seminary studies at Sacred Heart Monastery (now Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology). He professed his first vows with the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians) in 1951 and was ordained in 1958.
His first full-time assignment was back where he started: assisting at the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Ste. Marie, Ilinois, from 1960-64. From there, he went to St. Joseph’s Indian School, where he served for 17 years. He would later return to South Dakota for a short-term assignment on the Cheyenne River Reservation from 1999-2000.
For nine years (1980-89) he was pastor of St. James Church in Corinth, Mississippi. After two years at Christ the Redeemer parish in Houston, he moved to northwest Mississippi, where he assisted with pastoral ministry from 2000-2016. Since 2016, he had been a member of the SCJ retirement community in Pinellas Park.
“He was a very sweet man,” are the words that so many used to describe Father Tom upon learning of his death.
“I enjoyed his company and his homilies,” wrote another.
“He was a holy priest, a friend… and a pretty good golfer!” said another.
In his homily, Father Vien Nguyen, SCJ, provincial superior of the US Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, reflected on a phrase displayed prominently in Father Tom’s room: “Do what is right, seek what is good, walk humbly before the Lord,” from the prophet Micah.
“Doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God are not separate from each other; rather, they are interconnected,” said Father Vien.” They form the essence of God’s heart. Tom, I believe that having the words of the prophet Micah on your wall was not for decoration. Instead, they served as a reminder of what you wanted to achieve in your religious life as a Dehonian.
“May we too follow the footsteps of Father Leo John Dehon and have the courage to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. We hope that we too one day will be invited to the glorious banquet held on Mount Zion, never to be separated from God’s love, and be blessed for living the Beatitudes.”
The Mass of Christian Burial for Father Tom was held on Thursday, April 18, at Good Shepherd Chapel at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.
By David Tisdale GREENVILLE – To help Catholics and other Christians keep prayer from becoming mere routine, Father Sebastian Myladiyil, SVD offers in his latest book in invitation to how to better understand and contemplate our devotions to the Holy Trinity through his deep examination of their genesis.
Father Sebastian recently published Why We Pray What We Pray, described as a “spiritual journey of prayer, silence and aspiration” in which he examines the prayers Christians hold dear and recite in times of worship, gratitude, contrition, and in despair. He looks closely at the historical and theological foundations and significations of The Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary, The Way of the Cross, The Rosary, the Mass, Lectio Divina among others, further clarifying the concepts in which they are grounded so they become even more relatable and meaningful to us.
“The more I understand the words, actions, emotions, and feelings that are attached to a particular prayer, the better it helps me to engage in it,” Father Sebastian said of Why We Pray What We Pray. “That is why I have tried to explain prayer here by looking at its meaning, historical origins, scriptural basis, and theological significance. I hope readers find these beneficial as well and come to engage in prayer in an intentional manner. “
Father Sebastian Myladiyil, SVD stands with his latest book – Why We Pray What We Pray. The book is available on Amazon or for a personalized copy, contact Father Sebastian at sebymy@hotmail.com. (Photo courtesy of Gulf Pine Catholic)
Why We Pray What We Pray invites readers to look at the whole of the narrative of The Word through the many prayers connecting us to it. In an excerpt from the book, referencing the Hail Mary, Father Sebastian writes: “In our prayer, we make these beautiful words of Elizabeth our own. Today, we recognize Mary as the most blessed woman in history due to her faithful acceptance of God’s plan and her willingness to fulfill it perfectly.” The phrase emphasizes the lessons we can learn from Mary’s life and her response to God’s plan. It teaches us the value of faithful acceptance of God’s purpose, humility, and obedience. We are encouraged to recognize and celebrate the blessings in the lives of others, trust in God’s perfect timing, and utilize the power of prayer to seek spiritual support and guidance. In essence, Mary’s story inspires us to align our lives with God’s will, embrace His plan, and appreciate the blessings in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.”
In discussing the inspirations for his latest book, Father Sebastian says he values prayer and its power, and hopes what he is written also inspires more meditative and reflective moments. “It [prayer] is the force that guides and strengthens my life,” Father Sebastian explained. “It helps me to deepen my relationship with my God as I see those moments as special times between me and the One I love – God. It is also the glue that holds life together when things seem difficult and challenging.
“I truly experience the power of prayer when I intentionally engage in it and actively lead or participate in it. For the words of a prayer to become meaningful and the feelings to become real, I must immerse and involve myself totally in it – my body, soul, mind, and heart.”
Father Sebastian credits first his parents and a family atmosphere he says helped him value the importance of prayer, and later his educational formation in the seminary and daily service as a priest. “The seminary formation and my life as a priest is centered around prayer and spirituality,” he further noted. “The celebration of the sacraments and other liturgical functions are powerful moments of prayer, and the greatest of such moments is the celebration of the Eucharist – the greatest form of prayer.
“As a priest, I am also blessed to be part of some of the most significant moments in the life of my parishioners as well as others in the community, such as through baptism, Holy Communion, matrimony, anointing of the sick, and funerals. These moments may be joyful or painful, and prayer has a way of enhancing those joyful moments or offering comfort to those experiencing pain and difficulties. In the period after Katrina, there were certainly moments of hope and love in action.”
The practice of deep contemplative, meditative, intentional prayer can, Father Sebastian believes, can utilize one’s heart and mind in ways we may not have previously considered.
“[Prayer] can help in getting in touch with one’s emotions and feelings and see them in the light of the Word of God,” Father Sebastian said. “One is able to get in touch with one’s deepest being when one is removed from the distractions of the world and is able to focus on the source of one’s existence – God.”
In a world marred by violence, war, chaos and social upheaval – events and conditions not new to humankind – prayer is our best defense against these forces, Father Sebastian contends.
“Every age has its own challenges, and when we face them for the first time, they might seem to be the greatest of all,” he said. “We are living in a digital age, and we think they pose certain challenges to faith. But I am sure our ancestors in the early industrial age or scientific age thought those [challenges facing them] to be the greatest challenges as well. I am not minimizing the challenges the modern world is presenting to our faith, but God is still in charge, and everything happens for a reason.”
With that philosophy in mind, Father Sebastian says he firmly believes in the words of the Apostle Paul when he said: ‘All things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8: 28), and, further noting, “When challenges mount, it only helps me to actively seek the source of my strength – God – and the process I use is prayer.”
Father Sebastian is currently serving as pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Greenville; St. Francis Church in Shaw; and Sacred Heart Church in Rosedale. A native of India, he is a member of the Society of the Divine Word (Latin – Societas Verbi Divini, SVD), also known as Divine Word Missionaries, and has been serving the SVD’s U.S. Southern Province since 1999.
He holds master’s degrees in moral theology from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, and in educational leadership and counselling from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. His other works include His Instruments; His Instruments – If God Could Use Them He Can Use Us and Blown Together – The Trials and Miracles of Katrina, along with a translation of His Instruments into Spanish, Sus Instrumentos.
(Reprinted with permission of Gulf Pine Catholic/Diocese of Biloxi)
By Mary Woodward This past April, Holy Child Jesus Parish in Canton hosted a beautiful memorial celebration for Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman. The celebration is normally held close to Sister Thea’s anniversary of her death on March 30, but this year that fell during Holy Week and Easter liturgies.
In light of this celebration, it is a good time to give an update on Sister Thea’s cause for canonization process. Currently the diocesan phase is underway. The historical commission is delving into the writing of Sister Thea and compiling a highly structured document that will profile her piety and include a biography. This commission meets monthly with our postulator in Rome via Zoom to address any technical questions involved in the research.
The Cause for Sister Thea Bowman continues to advance. After the historial commission’s work is complete it will be sealed and presented to the postulator to deliver to the dicastery. (Photo from archives)
As part of the historical commission’s work, all of Sister Thea’s handwritten notes and outlines must be transcribed into a typed document. This process is being coordinated by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration’s archives. Dozens of student volunteers are participating in this task.
I have seen Sister Thea’s writing files, and she certainly had a unique way of recording her thoughts. Therefore, this is quite an undertaking to get all this typeset. We are most grateful to the FSPA archivist, Meg Paulino, for tackling this required part of the canonical process.
Two theological experts are reviewing her work for doctrinal surety. This will require an extensive bibliography of her works.
Witness testimonies have been taken and are being transcribed and processed. A few more witnesses will be interviewed sometime later this summer or early fall.
When all is ready, Bishop Joseph Kopacz will lead a special liturgy in which the documents in triplicate, will be sealed and presented to the postulator to deliver to the Dicastery. Once that is completed, the postulator will work with the dicastery to move the cause forward.
At a certain point, once the cause is in Rome, the Holy Father may declare the Servant of God as Venerable – showing heroic virtue. After Venerable, the next step is beatification and in order to be beatified there must be a miracle. Examination of the miracle goes through a similar canonical process as the diocesan phase. If a miracle is proven and accepted, the Servant of God is put on the schedule for an official liturgy of beatification.
The next step would be canonization and that requires a second miracle. That miracle would have to happen after the beatification. All in all, the Roman side of the process takes a long time.
During the Roman Phase, we hope to begin to create local guilds in our diocese and around the region. These guilds will help promote Sister Thea’s cause through prayer for the cause and by hosting various spiritual and educational events designed to raise awareness about the cause.
As for now, we need many prayers for the cause, especially for those involved in working through the fine details of the diocesan phase.
We also can use donations to the cause as it does have several financial costs for travel, translations, experts and administration.
Donations may be made out to the Diocese of Jackson and sent to the Chancellor’s Office, 237 E. Amite Street, Jackson, MS 39201. Make sure you mark the donation for Sister Thea’s Cause.
Or to donate online and learn more about the Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA, visit our website at: https://www.jacksondiocese.org/thea-bowman. From this site you also may watch the wonderful documentary on her life “Going Home Like a Shooting Star” and find a link to the cause’s official site with photos and tributes to her.
Presenting a cause for canonization is one of the noblest things a diocese can undertake as an official act of the church. It is exciting to know that over the next several months we are participating in this ancient tradition and moving forward in completing the diocesan phase of this esteemed process.
(Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for the Diocese of Jackson.)
By OSV News The Catholic Church has dedicated numerous feast days throughout the year to events in the life of Mary and her various titles. The following are some of the feasts of Mary in the month of May:
Feast of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament (May 13): Mary was called Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament by St. Peter Julian Eymard in 1868. In 1905, St. Pius X granted an indulgence to those who prayed to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Vatican in 1921 designated May 13 as her feast day (but the celebration is not on the church’s universal calendar).
Feast of Our Lady of Fatima (May 13): This feast commemorates the first of six apparitions of Mary to three shepherd children at Fatima in Portugal on May 13, 1917. The feast has become a cultural celebration for Portuguese Catholics around the world and is celebrated in many parishes throughout the United States, often with a procession through the streets surrounding the church.
Feast of Mary, Help of Christians (May 24): After praying to Mary for his safe release from captivity when taken prisoner by the French, Pope Pius VII instituted this feast day in 1815. The feast venerates Mary for her intercession on behalf of those who pray to her. Many Catholics will traditionally mark this day by performing their own charitable deeds to help others in need.
Feast of the Visitation (May 31): Originally celebrated in July, the feast of the Visitation marks Luke’s Gospel account of Mary, having been told by the Angel Gabriel that she would bear the son of God, visiting her cousin Elizabeth. The feast, which originated in the 13th century, was transferred to its current date in 1969 after the feast of the Queenship of Mary, previously celebrated on May 31, was moved to Aug. 22 to follow the feast of the Assumption.
Por Joanna Puddister King JACKSON – Pastoral Reimaginada fue un proceso de un año de duración, emprendido por la Diócesis de Jackson y que continúa con un período de discernimiento por parte del obispo Joseph Kopacz, antes de concluir con una carta pastoral. Este proceso se extendió a lo largo de cinco fases principales, que incluyeron el establecimiento de comités de Reimaginación Pastoral, evaluaciones parroquiales, revisión de datos sobre demografía diocesana por parte del Centro de Investigación Aplicada en el Apostolado (CARA) y reuniones de párrocos, diáconos y LEM. La tercera fase acaba de concluir con la visita del obispo Kopacz a cada decanato para celebrar una Misa de Acción de Gracias y para reunirse con personas claves que trabajaron en el proceso de reinvención pastoral de cada parroquia. En el mes de marzo, se pidió a los sacerdotes, diáconos y LEM de cada decanato de la diócesis que discutieran las respuestas del proceso de Reimaginación de las parroquias. Algunas de las preguntas discutidas fueron: ¿En qué áreas vieron crecimiento; ¿Cuáles son los desafíos asociados con ese crecimiento? ¿En qué áreas del ministerio están disminuyendo? ¿Cuáles son los desafíos de esta disminución? y ¿Qué áreas necesitan mayor colaboración con las oficinas de Cancillería? Después de las reuniones en el decanato, el obispo Kopacz viajó a cada uno de ellos para una Misa especial de Acción de Gracias, celebrando “Eucaristía y Conversación” con quienes trabajaron en el proceso de Reimaginación Pastoral en sus respectivas parroquias. Aunque cada reunión tuvo respuestas variadas, a todos se les hicieron las preguntas: ¿Hacia dónde vamos a partir de ahora? ¿Cómo animamos y fomentamos las ventajas crecientes? ¿Cómo abordamos los desafíos?
Valencia Hall de la Sagrada Familia Natchez habla en la reunión para el proceso de Reimaginación Pastoral en el Decanato II en el Centro de Vida Familiar de St. Mary Basílica el lunes 8 de abril.
En cada decanato, muchos destacaron la creciente población hispana y plantearon preguntas sobre cómo servir a la población fiel y eficazmente, un sentimiento que el obispo Kopacz destacó en una reunión con sacerdotes durante la segunda fase del proceso de reinvención. “Estoy agradecido con varias de nuestras parroquias que se han abierto para invitar a la población hispana a través de Misa y liturgia. Es simplemente asombroso ver el crecimiento.” Después de evaluar las necesidades a través del proceso de Reimaginación, el padre Manohar Thangundla de la parroquia San Francisco de Asís en Brookhaven recientemente agregó una Misa en español, los sábados de cada semana, para dar cabida a un número cada vez mayor de hispanos en el área. Además, comenzó a aprender vietnamita para celebrar también una Misa mensual para esta comunidad en crecimiento. El obispo Kopacz dice que casi 30 de las 72 parroquias de la diócesis ofrecen Misa en español. “Se trata de acercar a la gente a la comunidad a un nivel más profundo, pero el desafío es la alfabetización [de nuestros sacerdotes]… Tener la confianza suficiente para ofrecer la Misa, incluso si no puedes predicar la homilía en español,” dijo el obispo Kopacz. “Tenemos sacerdotes en la diócesis que son bilingües y muchos que están dispuestos a aprender a celebrar los sacramentos, para que la gente pueda tener esa experiencia”. Raquel Thompson, directora del ministerio hispano en St. James Tupelo, dijo que ella y la directora de formación en la fe de la parroquia, Rhonda Swita, están trabajando para unir a las comunidades blanca e hispana con la premisa: “estamos mejor juntos.” “Ella [Swita] está trabajando para crear más actividades que podamos hacer juntos como familias. … Entonces, seremos una Iglesia católica entera”, dijo Thompson. “Somos un cuerpo de Cristo, y no importa el idioma que hablemos, tenemos que ser amables, respetuosos y amarnos unos a otros.”
TUPELO – En reunión del Decanato V, Rachel Thompson, premio LIMEX de la Universidad Loyola New Orleans al liderazgo y directora del Ministerio Hispano de St. James, habla a sus parroquianos, una comunidad de varias generaciones e identidades culturales. (Foto de Tereza Ma)
En cuanto a desafíos adicionales y fomento del crecimiento, muchas de las reuniones del decanato mencionaron la disponibilidad de actividades y la participación de jóvenes y adultos jóvenes en sus respectivas comunidades, con énfasis en que los adultos involucren a sus hijos en la comunidad de la iglesia. Lauren Codding, quien sirvió en el comité de Reimaginación Pastoral de St. Alphonsus McComb y asistió a la sesión de la fase tres con el obispo Kopacz para el decanato dos, dijo que, durante la evaluación del comité, identificaron la formación en la fe para jóvenes y adultos jóvenes como un área de mejora. “Queremos comenzar a brindar formación en la fe a nuestra comunidad de jóvenes adultos, para que se sientan bienvenidos y podamos construir una comunidad entre ese grupo de edad. Nuestra esperanza es que comiencen a traer a sus hijos a la iglesia y nosotros, a su vez, podamos alimentar a los niños a través de la educación religiosa,” dijo Codding. La parroquia también espera iniciar un programa de ministerio universitario para llegar a los adultos jóvenes en el colegio comunitario local de McComb. El ministerio universitario es una iniciativa que otros en la diócesis expresaron durante las sesiones de Reimagining para llegar al grupo demográfico de adultos jóvenes. En una respuesta proactiva a la creciente demanda de más oportunidades para los adultos jóvenes, la diócesis inauguró su Oficina de Ministerio Universitario y de Jóvenes Adultos en 2022. Este esfuerzo fue en respuesta al proceso del Sínodo sobre la Sinodalidad, donde la diócesis escuchó inquietudes sobre la evangelización entre los jóvenes. adultos. “Este es un ministerio que seguirá creciendo a medida que hagamos esfuerzos adicionales en nuestras parroquias para alcanzar nuestros límites en crecimiento,” dijo el obispo Kopacz. Una tercera área discutida en muchas de las reuniones comunitarias del decanato para el proceso de Reimaginación es la importancia de un sentido de comunidad e invitar a los no católicos a aprender sobre la iglesia. Varias parroquias mencionaron durante varias reuniones de decanato que las pequeñas comunidades de fe han logrado fomentar amistades para toda la vida y un sentido de fe fuerte. Otros, como Isaac Blakemore de St. Francis Madison, y quien acaba de ingresar a la iglesia en la Vigilia Pascual, sintieron que como católicos debemos comprender nuestra fe y tener el coraje de compartirla con la comunidad. Como exministro metodista ordenado, Blakemore se sintió atraído a la Iglesia Católica por los sacramentos. Les dijo a los miembros del decanato, reunidos en St. Francis Madison, que cuando recibió la Eucaristía por primera vez, fue como si alguien le hubiera contado un secreto.
Miembros del Decanato I se reunieron en St. Francis Madison el jueves 11 de abril de 2024 para una Misa de Acción de Gracias con el Obispo Kopacz por el proceso de Reimaginación Pastoral que la diócesis ha emprendido desde Pentecostés el año pasado. (Fotos de Joanna King)
“Una cosa que creo que todas las parroquias podrían hacer es… simplemente estar orgullosas de lo que ofrece la fe católica y compartirla,” dijo Blakemore. “Si crees que esta es la única y verdadera iglesia, debes creer que el Espíritu Santo puede moverse Puedes invitar a alguien a aprender sobre la fe católica… y estar dispuesto a discutirla”.
KOSCIUSKO – Al fondo del salón parroquial de St Therese, el obispo Joseph Kopacz se dirigió en abril 29 a una concurrida audiencia, con miembros de todas las parroquias del Decanato VI, como parte de la última reunión del proceso de Reimaginación. (Foto de Tereza Ma)
La cuarta fase del proceso de Reimaginación Pastoral está actualmente en marcha con el Obispo Kopacz en una temporada de discernimiento, dando tiempo para redactar una carta pastoral al pueblo de Dios en la Diócesis de Jackson. Cuando se le preguntó sobre el proceso general de Reimaginación, el obispo Kopacz explicó que se desarrolló en etapas debido a su naturaleza orgánica, profundamente arraigada en el nivel de base. “Pedimos a las parroquias que pensaran, reflexionaran y oraran lo mejor que pudieran”, dijo el obispo Kopacz. Planea mantener su carta pastoral lo más breve posible, pero aún así tener suficiente sustancia para abordar áreas clave de crecimiento y preocupación. “Veo mi ministerio … como seguir minando y arando este campo; y ver qué podemos hacer y cómo podemos ayudarnos unos a otros para que esto suceda a nivel local; y con y a través de la diócesis”, dice el obispo Kopacz.
MOBILE, Ala. – In conjunction with his 75th birthday, Most Rev. Thomas J. Rodi, Archbishop of Mobile, has submitted his required retirement letter to Pope Francis.
In the Catholic Church, all bishops are required by Church Law to submit a letter of retirement to the Holy Father when they reach their 75th year. Archbishop Rodi remains the chief shepherd of the Archdiocese of Mobile as the resignation letter does not automatically result in immediate retirement.
The letter does set into motion a process that will eventually lead to the retirement of Archbishop Rodi and the appointment of the next Archbishop of Mobile. There is no timetable as to when a successor will be appointed. Soon after an appointment is made, the new Archbishop of Mobile will be installed during a Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile.
Archbishop Rodi has served the Archdiocese of Mobile since 2008, having succeeded Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb.
“Thank you to the people of the Archdiocese of Mobile. I have been blessed and continue to be blessed by serving the people of this wonderful archdiocese,” Archbishop Rodi said. “The Holy Spirit works powerfully in this archdiocese and works through the people of the archdiocese. It is a privilege to serve as shepherd of this archdiocese to praise God, to serve neighbor and together to grow in faith.”
The archdiocese encompasses 22,969 square miles and includes the lower 28 counties of the State of Alabama. The first parish in Mobile was founded on July 20, 1703. The Archdiocese of Mobile was established in 1825 as the Vicariate-Apostolic of Alabama and the Floridas in 1825 and became the Diocese of Mobile in 1829.
The name was changed to the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham on July 9, 1954, and was redesignated on June 28, 1969. It was established as the Archdiocese of Mobile on Nov. 16, 1980. Archbishop Rodi is the second Archbishop of Mobile.
Below is information according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding archbishops:
How is a new archbishop chosen? Canon 401 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law states that all bishops must submit their resignation to the Pope at the age of 75. The pope can accept their resignation at that time, or ask them to stay on until their successor is chosen. All aspects of the process of choosing a successor are supposed to be confidential, but there are some things that are known. The papal nuncio will present a list of candidates for investigation to (in the case of the U.S.) the Congregation of the Bishops in the Roman Curia. The congregation then reports to the pope, who makes the final decision.
Does the new archbishop have to be a bishop already? Though it happens very rarely, a newly-named archbishop need not be a bishop first. In this case, the new archbishop would need to be ordained as a bishop before he could be installed as an archbishop.
What’s the difference between an archbishop and a bishop? An archbishop is the head of diocese that is considered to be particularly important for some reason. The diocese is then designated as an “archdiocese” and its bishop is designated as an “archbishop.” In sacred matters, an archbishop is the equivalent of a bishop. An archbishop has no authority over the bishops in the other dioceses of his area, but the archbishop is the one who calls the bishops together to discuss issues and to remain in communication with one another.
JACKSON – Chancery staff members look up to the sky to see the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Though it was cloudy, many across the diocese got to observe the eclipse between 90 to 97% totality. (Photo by Berta Mexidor)solar eclipse – beginning, over jackson ms; april 8; 2024 (t.ma)solar eclipse – almost the end; over jackson ms; april 8; 2024 t.ma)
General chapter focuses on interculturality, collaborative Dominican future “For the life of the World”
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. — During a week of prayerful conversation and contemplative deliberation, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield on April 5, 2024, affirmed a chapter statement in which they agreed to respond to the needs of the Church and the world by committing to intercultural living and participative Dominican governance as they look toward the next five years.
“Rooted in our prayer for the life of the world, and in our care for our common home, we are strengthened by our Associates and partners-in-mission to walk together into a future of authentic intercultural living,” the statement says.
To reach their goal, the sisters said “Together, we will” strengthen relationships within the congregation, welcome and support new members to the congregation and Dominican life, and build intercultural relationships “through study, engagement, and interaction.”
The hallmarks of the congregation’s ministry for the past two decades have been their commitment to antiracism and their response to the “Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor” through their efforts to live sustainably and encourage others in the care of Earth and her inhabitants.
“These efforts will continue, and will be strengthened by this evolution in our thinking,” explained Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma, OP, the current prioress general of the congregation. “We want witness to the good news of Jesus in our countries of origin—the United States and Peru—both burdened with cultural and political divisiveness, threats to democracy, and threats to the peace, tranquility, and flourishing of the human and the other-than-human beings with whom we share our homelands. Our desire to live interculturally—within our own community as Dominican Sisters who are Peruvian and U.S. citizens, and with the many diverse cultures in our countries—is a natural outgrowth of our antiracism work and, we believe, a powerful intercultural—and countercultural—gospel witness.
“It is for these reasons we say we want to ‘walk together into a future of authentic intercultural living’,” Sister Rebecca Ann said, referencing a line from the chapter direction statement.
The second major theme of their chapter deliberations was the future of Dominican governance within the Dominican family.
“We take the next steps into our congregational future, grounded in the freedom offered in our Constitutions. We are energized by participating in the emerging movements of governance within the Dominican family,” the statement says.
To fulfill their commitment to themselves, the broader Dominican family, and the People of God, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield have committed to the necessary study to move toward a collaborative form of Dominican governance.
“Creative conversations about how collaboration can reshape and renew the future of Dominican life have been going on for years,” said Sister Rose Miriam Schulte, OP, vicaress general. “We are now at a point in our journey when it is time to animate our words with actions that move us forward into the future together.”
The week-long general chapter consisted of two parts. During the 5-day chapter of life and mission the sisters synthesized an 18-month-long period of study, prayer, and contemplative dialogue into the 2024 General Chapter Direction Statement. The complete statement is here.
We, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, guided by the Holy Spirit, join with others to reimagine a future of promise and hope. Rooted in our prayer for the life of the world, and in our care for our common home, we are strengthened by our Associates and partners-in-mission to walk together into a future of authentic intercultural living. Trusting in the transformation already at work within us, we step into the challenges, riches, and grace of the unknown. Together, we will strengthen relationships within our congregation. Together, we will invite, welcome, and support new members to our congregation and to Dominican life. Together, we will build relationships with those of other cultures, through study, engagement and interaction. We take the next steps into our congregational future, grounded in the freedom offered in our Constitutions. We are energized by participating in the emerging movements of governance within the Dominican family. Together, we will engage in ongoing conversation and communal study in our effort to move toward a collaborative form of governance. Together, we will embrace individual and shared responsibility for participative Dominican governance. Compelled by our passion for mission, we respond, in Christ, for the life of the world.
During the 2-day chapter of elections the sisters elected a team of four leaders who will assume leadership on June 15, 2024. They are Sisters Mary Paul McCaughey, OP, prioress general-elect; Sister Joanne Delehanty, OP, vicaress general-elect, and second and third councilors-elect, Sister Elyse Marie Ramirez, OP, and Sister Kathlyn Mulcahy, OP. Their brief biographies are below.
Since 2017 Sister Mary Paul McCaughey, OP, has been a full-time faculty member at DePaul University, Chicago, where she teaches masters and doctoral students and coordinates the graduate studies and internship programs for Catholic Educational Leadership in the College of Education. 2008-2015 she was superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago, the country’s second largest Catholic education system, and then 2015-2017 was appointed the Cardinal’s Advocate for Catholic Schools, where she was instrumental in helping to pass the Invest in Kids legislation at the Illinois Statehouse. Prior to that she spent many years in educational leadership at Sacred Heart Academy/Sacred Heart-Griffin, 1985-1991; and Marian Catholic High School, 1992-2008, where she served at various times as president and principal. She began her ministry in elementary school and high school teaching and also pursued doctoral studies in theology and social sciences at Chicago Theological Seminary. Sister Mary Paul was raised in Park Ridge and Olympia Fields, Illinois. She holds a certificate in clinical pastoral counseling, and master’s degrees in education, theology, and business and school administration.
Sister Joanne Delehanty, OP, a Chicago native, who was raised in Park Forest, Ill., was an elementary school teacher at parochial schools in Algonquin, Springfield, and Chicago from just after her profession 1969 through 1989, when she became a pioneer at St. Benedict the African Parish, a consolidation of eight parishes, in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. She served there as pastoral associate, religious education coordinator and director of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults until 2021. In February 2022 she began her ministry as support staff at St. Bernard’s Hospital, Chicago. She has a masters in pastoral studies and an undergraduate degree in education.
Springfield native Sister Elyse Marie Ramirez, OP, has, since 2019, been director of formation for the congregation and most recently for this past year, the director of formation for the Collaborative Dominican Novitiate in Chicago, where she has facilitated the spiritual and professional growth of five novices from three Dominican congregations. She served the congregation as vocation director, 1998-2006, during which time she was also promoter of preaching and campus minister at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. She was coordinator of religious vocation ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago, 2007-2014. After her profession of vows in 1985 through 1994 she completed a bachelor’s degree then taught elementary school in Aurora, Ill., and at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Hammond, La. Her bachelor’s degrees are in history and theology. She holds a certificate in preaching and a Master’s in theology from Aquinas Institute of Theology.
Born in Chicago and raised in Kankakee, Ill., Sister Kathlyn Mulcahy, OP, previously served in congregation leadership, 2009-2019. After her profession of vows in 1981 she taught junior high school and high school math and computer at St. Christina Parish Chicago, St. Patrick School, Springfield, and Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Ill. In 1996 she was missioned to Peru where she did pastoral work and helped to found a new mission in San Juan Bautista, Jarpa, where she served 2000-2004 and 2005-2006. She was director of formation for the sisters in Lima, 2006-2009. After completing her prior term of leadership, she began part time ministry at Bethany House of Hospitality, a home for women in the asylum process, in Chicago, where she is currently the director. Sister Kathlyn has a bachelor degree in math, a master in computers in education, and a certificate in cross-cultural ministry from Catholic Theological Union.
