LAY DOMINICANS Central Province USA
Information and Communication Center
News articles -- 11/08 thru10/09
Oct. 30 The delegates to the October 2008 Provincial Counci approved new provincial guidelines (directory), a new translation of the Rule, and our new website. These are accessible on the "Members' Page".
Feb. 3
Photo, l. to r. Fr. Motl, Kim Naegele, Sebastian Mahfood, Robert Hughes, Donna Chesanek, Eleonore Stump, Michael Porterfield.
by Fr. Jim Motl, O. P., provincial promoter of the laity and chapter advisor
Queen of the Holy Rosary Chapter of Lay Dominicans in Saint Louis in the presence of the Dominican friars of St. Dominican Priory and guests witnessed the final promises of three of its members on Sunday, February first. Michael Porterfield, O.P., Moderator of the Chapter, received promises from Donna Chesanek, O.P., Robert Hughes, O.P, and Kimberly Naegele, O.P. made to the Master General of the Order of Preachers to live the Dominican charisms of prayer, study, community and ministry for the rest of their lives. At the same time Sebastian Mahfood was formally received into candidacy for in chapter. A fourth member, Eleonore Stump, O.P., made her final promise on April 5.
Donna is a mother and grandmother involved in caring for her extended family and in an internet ministry of prayer. Robert is a physical therapist helping others in physical and spiritual rehabilitation. Kimberly is completing her Master’s degree at Aquinas Institute and an internship in social work as part of that degree. Eleonore is a professor of philosophy at St. Louis University recognized internationally for her expertise in medieval philosophy. Sebastian teaches inter-cultural studies at Kenrick Seminary and assists the seminary faculty with the use of contemporary technology in theological education.
Lay Dominicans seek to live the charisms of the Dominican Order in their lives as lay Catholics. Preparation for the final promise involves a four to five year program of living the four Dominican charisms or “pillars” that includes studying the teachings of the contemporary Roman Catholic Church about the lay vocation and the history and the present-day Order of Preachers, and in particular of its lay branch.
March
Thanks to all who helped our co-promoter of preaching, Laura Dejmek. Her dog, Siena, was the March winner. During the month of March, Siena (Laura Dejmek?s collie) was featured on TV, on WCIU?channel 26. Siena, and about 10-12 other dogs were vying for a spot on an advertisement for one of the TV shows on channel 26.
During the month of March, beginning on March 1st and ending at the end of the day on March 31st, there was an on-line voting contest for ?TOP DOG.? Siena had the most votes at the end of the month, and she will receive a gift from a doggie boutique, Siena?s ?Momma? will receive a DVR of her TV spot, AND Siena may receive more TV time in a retrospective featuring all of the ?TOP DOG? winners!
THANK YOU FOR HELPING SIENA (and her Momma!)?because the competition was ?ruff.?
We?re glad to have you to count on! Click on the Collie:
April To insure the widest possible level of member participation in the Fall '09 Provinical Council Elections, the nominating committee is trying to reach our members by all media. This information below appears in the current CHALLENGE and has been sent to chapter moderators and formation directors.
For more information contact the pro-tem chairperson, Jill O'Brien job631@aol.com
DATE: April 4, 2009
FROM: Jill O’Brien, OP
Nominating Committee, Chair, Pro Tem
TO: Lay Dominican Chapter Moderators and Formation Directors
RE: Nominations for Provincial Council Appointive Posts
The Lay Dominican (LD) Provincial Council Nominating Committee needs your help! Next October concludes the service of many LDs currently serving the province in appointive roles. Specifically the Nominating Committee seeks candidates for provincial service as:
Provincial Council Secretary
Treasurer (and members of the Finance Committee)
Corresponding Secretary
Formation Committee Chair (and members of the Formation Committee)
Co-Promoter of Preaching (representing the province at the national level)
Promoter of Peace, Justice, and Care of Creation*
Publications Editor
This is a great way to serve brothers and sisters across the province and to make new LD friends! The specific job descriptions of each post are discussed in the Bylaws. Your chapter delegate has a copy and the document also is available online at: http://www.laydominicancentral.org/ on the Members' Info Page. *This has a separate description on the Members' Info page.
Please survey the talent available in your chapter and complete one or more nomination forms (see attachments). We particularly need nominees with financial, accounting, banking, or investment experience to serve either as Treasurer or on the Finance Committee. We also seek strongly candidates to serve either as the Formation Committee Chair or as Formation Committee members. Nominees for *any* position are welcome!
Date: Mon, May 11, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Subject: Dorothy Murphy
My dear brothers & sisters in St. Dominic:
The laity of the Central Province share in the loss of someone who has contributed so generously to lay Dominican life.
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5/29/09
The new logo for our province's laity was designed by Marlene Laurendeau, editor of Challenge, our provincial print quarterly. It was first publicly used in the masthead of the second quarter 2009 issue. The logo was approved at the 2008 Provincial Council meeting and is the first logo specific to the province's laity. The council members expressed their gratitude to Mrs. Laurendeau and congratulated her on the simplicity and attractiveness of the design.
The new logo may now be used to identify material and communication specific to our province. It will eventually replace the multiple generic logos now in use.
Pentecost Sunday, 2009 The following was received from Ann Bus of Kansas City. Please keep Ed in your prayers.
Ed Dale's colon cancer has returned and he lost his wife of more than 50 years, Dolores, less than a month ago. She went quickly from a massive stroke. She had been declining and was staying with a daughter the time it happened. Shortly before her passing, she had told her granddaughter that she didn't want to die. Her dear granddaughter said, "Oh Grandma, when you do, Jesus will kiss you three times on the lips." Dolores replied to her, "I had a dream last night that Jesus kissed me on the lips three times." She died the next day.
Ed is undergoing chemo both orally and via a port infusion. I just learned that he went into the hospital again last Tuesday night because they thought he had a bowel blockage. Apparently they were able to stretch it and clear it to an acceptable way with a scope. They also think the chemo is working (there was only a 50/50 chance it would). I got his information from a granddaughter because Ed was out to dinner with someone from Church. He also came to our last Domincan meeting, May 23rd. He said he didn't have much to report via study given his wife's death and his cancer treatment, then launched into a great summary of a book he had just finished by Dr. Hildebran--The Trojean Horse in the City of God. Ed is tough! He's amazing! And he definitely wants to die a fully professed Dominican, so I told Fr. Motl to get well and get to Kansas City and make it happen.
5/15 compiled from e-mails Thanks to Jim and our Provincial Corresponding Secretary, Karen Sabourin photos added on 6/22/09
THIS IS A SPECIAL CHAPTER REPORT FORM TO REPORT THE CELEBRATION OF 50 YEAR GOLDEN JUBILEE OF PROFESSION OF JAMES STEFFENS AND CATHERINE HEINZ. The night before, St Rose of Lima Chapter treated Catherine and myself to Dinner the Olive Jim Steffens, moderator Congratulations and communications to Jim and Catherine can be sent to Jim Steffens at jsteff@msn.com Photo of those present at the June "09 Chapter meeting taken by Joe Komadina, web editor, on a visit to Dubuque. 6/10 From the Minneapolis Chapter: Good afternoon! Congratulations to all and welcome to the Order and our province. July 1 Thanks to Karen Sabourin of the Blessed Sacrament Chapter who sent this news of the chapter's celebration: 
The celebration started with Mass at 10:45 AM in the Gathering Place Chapel of The Sinsinawa Mound. Celebrant was Fr. John Gerlach, OP. After the Homily Catherine and James renewed Life Profession in a small Ceremony led by Sr. Marilyn Schlosser, OP Spiritual Assistant. The Life Profession ceremonial was used but was slightly altered to fit this occasion.
The Sisters hosted Catherine and James and Chapter Members, Mary Teeling and Lucille (Cindy) Tasset in the Community Dining Room. At table with Dominican Laity members and Sr. Marilyn were Fr. John and Sister Patricia Mulcahy, OP Prioress General of the Congregation and Sr. Maureen, OP. A Canon Lawyer. It was the idea of the Sisters and a wonderful event. 
Garden in Dubuque. There were 8 of us including Sr. Mailyn. God Bless The Dominican Order and all it's members. Catherine was professed May 3, 1959 at St Rose Priory, Dubuque, IA I was professed May 25, 1959 at St Pius Church, Chicago, Ill. 
I forwarded these pictures to Fr. Motl, who asked me to pass them on to you for possible inclusion in the website, etc. He suggests the heading: "Province's oldest lay chapter welcomes three new candidates."
Thanks very much!
Anna-Marie
On the large group photo, here's who's who... from L. to R.: Ed McDermott O.P. -formation coordinator, Fr. Jose Santiago, O.P., pastor/presider of Holy Rosary, Br. Kevin Carroll, O.P. - Chap. Spiritual Advisor, Anna-Marie Byrne, O.P. - Moderator, and the candidates -Robert Schwarz, Timothy O'Neill, and Daniel Marks
The small group has Fr. Jose with the candidates.
Thanks to my tech guy who never gave up on this process!
Anna-Marie
August: Fr. Motl's health concerns and treatment demands precipitate retirement from Provincial Promoter post. (Recent health experience is logged below.) Fr. James R. Motl, O.P. Cell phone: 314-795-6866 E-mail: motljr@domcentral.org July 30 Fr. Motl is back in St. Louis. June 23 Yesterday I went in for my third chemo treatment, but because my red and white blood cell counts were both low due to past treatments, they gave me a shot to boost the blood counts and told me to come back next week for the chemotherapy. The doctor did say that I would be able to come back to St. Louis once the treatments are completed, which will now be in late July, if all goes well. June 2 Thanks for the newsletter, Joe. Give everyone my best wishes at the meeting Sunday. Here's an update on my condition, if you wish to place it in the "News" section of the provincial website. The treatment I am receiving will last until mid-July.Thanks for all your work on the site. I'm attaching a more formal picture, if you wish to use it. Jim April 25 This is to let you know that on Friday, May 1, I will be going to April 17 I am getting ready to leave for Chicago where I will take radiation and chemotherapy at Rush Presbyterian Hospital. This is near our St. Pius Priory where they have nursing care available should I need it. April 4 Fr. Jim Motl has been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer and is facing further treatment. He is consulting with his physicians and the provincial. Fr. Jim has been recovering from February surgery to remove a lung tumor. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. | Promoter's letter of explanation: August 5, 2009 Dear Lay Dominicans of St. Albert’s Province, Thank you for your many prayers for me during the past months while I have been receiving chemotherapy for lung cancer that had spread to a lymph gland. That therapy is now completed and I have returned to St. Dominic’s Priory in St. Louis. I am feeling fine and planning a mid-August vacation to Minnesota, my home state. I will return to Chicago in late October on my way to the Lay Dominican Provincial Council meeting for follow up tests to determine the effectiveness of the therapy. When he learned the nature of my health problems Fr. Michael Mascari, our Prior Provincial, asked me to draw up a list of friars from our Province that I thought would be suitable candidates to succeed me as Promoter for Lay Dominicans in the Midwest. Earlier this summer Fr. Mascari discussed my proposals with his Council (the equivalent of the Lay Dominican Executive Board of the Provincial Council) and decided to appoint Fr. Matthias Walsh as my successor when I should decide to retire. I am very pleased with this appointment. Fr. Walsh has been, among other accomplishments, a missionary in Nigeria, director of the Shrine of St. Jude in Chicago, and prior of St. Pius V Priory, our province’s largest house. He is now residing at Blessed Sacrament Priory in Madison, Wisconsin. I have talked with Fr. Walsh, and he looking forward to assuming the responsibilities of Provincial Promoter for Lay Dominicans in our province. I will be visiting with him next week when I travel to Minnesota. Since a new set of Lay Dominican leaders will be assuming office after the next Lay Dominican Provincial Council in late October, I have decided to retire at that time. Fr. Walsh will be attending both the Lay Dominican Interprovincial Council meeting in Toronto at the beginning of October and the Provincial Council meeting in Detroit at the end of that month. It has been a great joy for me to work with Ruth Kummer and the other provincial officers during the past eight years. I expressed my thanks to many who have helped to accomplish so much during that time in the last issue of Challenge. Because there will not be a fall issue due to the fact that Marlene Laurendeau has resigned and her successor will not be appointed until after the Provincial Council meeting, I am asking Ruth to include this notice with her mailing to Provincial Council delegates. I ask the delegate to relay my message to their chapters or groups so there will be less confusion about my resignation. You will all continue to be in my prayers, especially the new leadership. I am writing this a few days before the feast of St. Dominic. I will offer Mass for you on that day. Sincerely, Fr. Jim Motl, O.P. |
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Michael Kammler" <laici@curia.op.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2009 4:47 AM
Subject: PEACE-PAZ-PAIX-PACE-FRIEDEN
ENGLISH
Dear sisters and brothers of our Dominican Family,
I invite you to share together in prayer and study the International
Day of Peace and November 3rd! IDCJP Observances -- Announcement Fliers from our promoter general
A Link to the commission's page for your convenience. JK International Commission on Peace and Justice website
September: Our condolences and prayers to Ruth Kummer, our provincial moderator, and her family on the death of her brother, Howard Lambris. 9/12/09 A recent communication from the International Commission of Justice and Peace for the Order. This was forwarded by our Prior Provincial via Fr. Motl: From: JP-OP International Promoters [mailto:jp@curia.op.org] Greetings, 10/13 News from the Blessed Sacrament chapter in Farmington Hills, Michigan: On Sunday, October 11, 2009, Mr. David McDonald was received into the Order. Miss Mary Kay McClorey and Mrs. Patricia Shea made their Temporary Promises. The ceremonies took place in the Monastery chapel during Evening Prayer with our Cloistered Dominican Nuns and their Dominican chaplain present. A joyful Dominican Family event. 10/14/09 From our Provincial Moderator, Ruth Kummer: Henri de Longchamp, o.p. I am sorry to inform you of two deceases in the family of Mrs Teresa Lippingwell, O.P., President of the Dominican Laity in Canada. Mr. Christopher Sheeran, son of Mrs Joyce Sheeran and brother of Mrs Teresa Lippingwell, on October 9, 2009, after a long illness. Mr. James Lippingwell, son of Teresa and David Lippingwell. 10/21 Ed Dale of the Kansas City group died on Wednesday, Oct. 21 after a long illness. He will be buried on Monday in Kansas City. Details are at : http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=edward-l-dale&pid=134876628. Our condolences to his family and the Kansas City laity on their loss. 10/16/09 From Virgil Kolb of the Chicago (Norridge) group October -- Provincial Council Caption Contest The attendees at the 2009 Provincial Council voted from among the entries submitted. Thanks to Marlene Laurendeau, the departing editor of our print quarterly, Challenge, who issued a challenge to the readership to supply a caption for the photo below. The winner was Cynthia Ricard, former Recording Secretary, whose prize was a copy of Harrington's book on St. Paul which was donated by Joe Komadina of her former chapter in St. Louis. It was the most recent book the chapter had studied. Thanks to all who joined in the good spirit of this contest, and congratulations to Cynthia from all. JK The story of the photo from Ann Bus Borders of Kansas City: (See the above section for our contest.)
Sent: Monday, September 07, 2009 8:13 AM
Subject: IDCJP FLIER
Attached you will please find the flier that summarizes the priorities and action suggestions from the March 09 meeting of the IDCJP. Please use this as appropriate in your animation efforts.
Gratefully,
Toni and Carlos
Promoteur de la Famille dominicaine
2715 ch. Côte-Sainte-Catherine
Montréal QC H3T 1B6
In my name and in the name of all members of the Dominican Family in Canada, I express our sincere condolence to the Lippingwell Family and the assurance of our fraternal prayers.
Unexpectedly at home in Mississauga on Saturday October 10, 2009 at the age of 30. Much beloved son of Teresa and David. Loving brother to Jennifer and her husband Marc. Cherished uncle to Ben. Devoted grandson to Joyce Sheeran and will be lovingly remembered by his aunts, uncles, friends and extended family. 
I thought you might be interested in the attached for the website.
It's a great, classic picture of Fr. Motl asleep with my son, Leonardo
Borders, who was only 10-months-old at the time. It was taken at the
Provincial meeting in Michigan in Oct 30- Nov. 2, 2007. Everyone said
at the time it should be published in the Challenge . . . I'm just not
that organized. It took Fr. Motl's move to Chicago for cancer treatment
to get me to figure out how to down load, bumble through the kodak
software and get the picture out.
This touching scene happened when Father had insisted on giving me a break and watching Leonardo so I could go down to the conference room.
I remember thinking, "I don't think he knows what he's gotten into."
Leonardo was into everything and very vocal and didn't like to have
mommy gone. In fact, as you might remember, the babysitter I had hired
to watch him while I went to sessions, had to come and get me serveral times because of difficulties she had. So you can imagine my total shock and surprise of joy when I returned to see them both resting so peacefully.
Leonardo's favorite word at the time of the meeting was "dog." And I couldn't help but wonder if he was destined to be a "dog of God"--a
Dominican. Anyway, if you have a slot on the website, you are more than free to post it.
In St. Dominic and St. Catherine and St. Martin de Porres,
Ann E. "Bus" Borders,
Kansas City
