July 8, 2010  from Terry McSweeney, Chair of the Provincial Formation Committee

 JUNE 13, 2010   We had 18 Inquirers attend our Open House with several others to attend our July meeting. We had a full agenda laying out the Lay Dominican way of life. Many of our members participated in an enjoyable presentation. We also had an array of delicious food for all.

Preparation is the key for a successful day. We advertised in the Archdiocesan paper and in Parish papers. Our website (www.dominicanlaity.ning.com) and appeal to groups helped. Follow-up with info gathered at the meeting is very important.

Check out our YouTube video by searching-Blessed Sacrament Chapter- or the address: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-hOIV_5oR4

Perhaps every Chapter should have a yearly OPEN HOUSE. We need ‘new wine’ to mix with the ’old wine.’

July 4, 2010  St. Vincent Ferrer Chapter Lay Dominicans - River Forest, Illinois

Professsions, June 12, 2010

The following people made professions:                                                                                                                                                                                  (1) C1 Candidate:  John Fratamico
(3) Temporary Professions:  Lorrie Ferenzi, Vic Ferenzi, Mary Jane Bear.                                                                                                                          (1) Final Profession:  Carmen Rodriguez

June 22, 2010  from Sharon Huizinga

Madison Wisconsin. Blessed Sacrament chapter (New chapter in formation) Meetings are held at the Blessed Sacrament parish in Madison from 1-3 pm on the second Saturday of the month. Interested persons may contact Ms. Sharon Huizenga, OP Formation Director, at sharon.huizenga@sbcglobal.net or 414-774-4241.

May 10, 2010  from Karen Sabourin

Should I Stay or Should I Go?  by Timothy Radcliffe, OP  -  Originally published in the Tablet and reprinted in America and other places.

May 9, 2010  from Karen Sabourin

Our Mother of the Rosary Lay Dominican community in Joliet Illinois:  On April 17, 2010, Mrs. Rose Hensley, Mrs. Linda Montour, and Ms Moira Olvetti were Received.  Mrs. Veronica Ramirez-Moreno, Mrs. Mary Michalski, Mrs. Christina Baron, and Mrs. Leticia Azar made their Temporary Promises.  The ceremonies took place during Mass and was followed by supper in the Parish Hall.  Karen Sabourin, OP was present at this happy occasion. 

4/29/10  from Fr. Jim Motl

I have embedded the YouTube video of Fr. Tom on EWTN. You can see it here: http://www.domcentral.org/fr-thomas-mcdermott-on-ewtn/#more-582

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Andrew McAlpin, O.P.

4/5/10   from Karen Sabourin

St. Thomas Aquinas parish in East Lansing, Michigan had a Lenten Soup and Substance program during Lent.  For the March 3rd program, Mr. Michael Andrews, OP was asked to speak on the Lay Dominicans.  The program was well attended and members of our Lay Dominican group that meet there also attended and shared their call to be Lay Dominicans.

A new Lay Dominican group is starting in Madison, Wisconsin.  In response to a request by two private Lay Dominicans, our Promoter, Fr. Matt, made arrangements to have an informational meeting at Blessed Sacrament Parish on March 21st.  The meeting was well attended.  Karen Sabourin (PC president), Jim Steffens (Dubuque chapter), and Sharon Huizenga (Milwaukee chapter) attended and spoke about the  Lay Dominican vocation.  Sharon has agreed to work with this new group.  Their first meeting will be April 10, 2010.  Please keep them in your prayers.

3/25/10   compiled by the editor     The following is information from a letter forwarded by  Fr. Walsh, our Provincial Promoter.  It was a general letter from  Frs. Prakash Lohale op (Socius for Apostolic Life) E-mail: apostolatus@curia.op.org   and  Márcio A. Couto OP (Socius For Intellectual Life) E-mail: studium@curia.op.org . 

The letter was a general reminder of the international video project and and an invitation to paricipate.  The website to consult for details is  http://internet.op.org/gospel-in-action

1/20/10  sent by Romeo A. Diccion II

Four Candidates from the Catherine of Siena Group Farmington Hills Michigan were received into the Dominican Laity. (see photo montage)  Ruth Kummer, the past Council President administered the Rite of Admission to the Dominican Laity with Fanny de la Cruz, Romeo A. Diccion II, Jane A. Hier-Rose and Rita McCormick.  The reception ceremony was attended by Karen Sabourin, OP the present Council President, and was held in the Blessed Sacrament Monastery in Farmington Hills Michigan on Sunday 12 noon January 17 2010. Congratulations!

1/16/10  Thanks to Fr. Jim Motl for forwarding this update:

AMERICA/HAITI - Dominicans: all priests survived, one Sister wounded

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Jay Harrington, O.P.
St. Dominic Priory
3601 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO   63108-3393

1/15/10 

 We have received the following from Fr. Matt and Karen Sabourin to assist those who wish to send financial aid to our fellow Dominicans in Haiti.  The second choice seems to be the safest surest way (ed.):

I am sending you this message from our Curia in Rome and Haiti -

and a second one about sending money through our Provincial Office -  

1/12/10

 1/11/10      The inquiry group formed by our immediate past provincial president has sent the following:

Attached please find a photo of Catherine de Siena Farmington Hills Michigan Inquirers who will be received to Candidacy 1.
A day of prayers will highlight the ceremony on Jan 17th, Sunday,11:00 AM at the Blessed Sacrament Monastery 29575 Middlebelt Rd 
Farmington Hills, MI 48334.  We request your pious prayers.  You are all invited to come.

Romeo

December 09  A  Multimedia Project  is in progress.  The original film can be watched by a group as the basis for a discussion of Dominican ministry. Dominican family members are also invited to make their own videos to share with the whole order through a the website http://internet.op.org/

This challenge is proposed by the Master of the Order Carlos Azpiroz Costa OP as we  celebrate the Jubilee of 500 years in 2010 when the first friars from Salamanca went to Hispaniola (the new world) and evangelized it by preaching the good news.  

11/27/09    This e-mail was received from Fr. David Kammler, our Promoter General.

Dear sisters and brothers of the Province of St. Albert the Great,

one day after Thanksgiving I received here in Santa Sabina a letter,
written by your Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Mary Lee Odders,
informing me about the elections of the new Provincial Council. By Fr.
Matt Walsh I already learned that on October 24 it had been a very
good and effective meeting.
First I want to thank you, dear Ruth and the 'old' team so much for
you service during the last years. If you will compare the state of
laity from the time you started until now, you can be happy and proud
of the development of the self-awareness of the Lay Chapter members
being an integral part of our Order of Preachers.
I thank you, dear sister Mary, for your mail, that enables me to add
you, dear Karen, to my address list. I wish you good luck and, by the
intercession of my compatriote St. Albert the Great, God's blessing
for your term(s), and I am sure meeting you personally within the time
of my service as General Promoter! I promise to keep you and the new
team in my prayers.

Wishing you a blessed time of Advent             with fraternal hugs
  your brother      David

11/17/09      

The Provincial Council delegates elected Karen Sabourin of the Farmington Hills, MI chapter Provincial President, and Joseph Komadina of the St. Louis chapter as vice-president,  Father Matt Walsh who resides in Madison, WI became our new promoter by appointment of the Provincial Prior.  Jill O'Brien, was elected Interprovincial Council Representative and Beatriz Cisneros, alternate;

The following officers and committee personnel were appointed:  Ed Shea, Treasurer; Terry McSweeney, Formation Committee Chairman; Judith Price Green, Co-Promoter of Preaching (National); Kathleen Simpson, Recording Secretary; Mary Lee Odders, Corresponding Secretary; Teresal Cecil, Promoter of Justice, Peace, and Care of  Creation; John Heuertz, Challenge Editor; and Michael Andrews, Liturgy and Celebration Committee Chairman.  The president sent out letters of appointment to the Lay Dominicans who were not in attendance at the Provincial Council meeting last month.

Any of the above can be contacted through this website:  stlopl@brick.net.     

Click on the link: http://www.domlife.org/PromotionalFiles/Promotional%20Products.html for information on two new ways to promote being Dominican:  a beautiful sterling sliver cross and a black, short-sleeved polo shirt.  Proceeds benefit the Dominican Leadership Conference.  For more info on the work of the DLC, see the website: http://www.domlife.org/.