OPreach » sisters

Let Us Present Ourselves to God

opreach — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:40:49 +0000

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus, celebrating the day that Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple to present him to God. Many of our sisters made their first profession of vows on that day, so this feast is always special to the sisters, reminding them of that day.

Below is a picture of the motherhouse chapel in which the sisters professed their vows. Neither the chapel nor the motherhouse exist today because of a fire in 1990, but the sisters who professed their vows on that day, know that their vows and God’s faithfulness still stand.

The old motherhouse chapel of the Dominican Sisters in San Rafael

Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to be prersented to God. Let us pray:

Christ, be our light.

Jesus, light of the world, you revealed the love of God to us
- let our lives lead other to the truth of God’s mercy.

Jesus, longed for savior, you are presented with the gifts of the poor;
- help us to dedicate our lives to those in need.

Jesus, child of mystery, your mother’s heart was pierced by prophecy;
- strengthen all women whos dedication to you brings pain and sorrow.

Jesus, child of promise,Simeon had waited and prayed for your coming;
- give us patience and hope as we pray for the fulfillment of your gospel.

Jesus, joy of all who seek God, Anna had given you lifelong service;
- bless the elderly and teach us how to give them joy and encouragement.

Bountiful God, you are father and mother to us. You receive the dedication of the infant Son, Jesus, with two turtle doves. You inspire aged Simeon and Anna to bless and announce his mission. O gentle, strong God, we rejoice in your care for us. Help us to draw those who turn away from yo in fear. Let the saving light of Jesus bring truth and peace to our world. This we ask in his name. Amen.

- from People’s Companion to the Breviary, Carmelite Monastery, Indianapolis, IN

Even Jesus’Family Thought He Was Mad

opreach — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:45:13 +0000

This is a door of a Dominican Sisters' convent in Pisa, Italy.

In today’s Gospel (Mark 3:20-21) we read:

Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Some people wonder why a young, happy, and intelligent woman would want to be a sister. They might even think it’s a crazy idea.

What might God be calling you to do? How might God be calling you to live? Do you worry about what people might think or say? “What-people-think” never stopped Jesus – don’t let it stop you. Come and meet the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael on February 4th. We don’t know what others would say, but we don’t think it’s a crazy idea.

Would You Ever Think about Walking through a New Doorway?

opreach — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:26:09 +0000

Doorway at a home in Caleruega, Spain, St. Dominic's birthplace. Might a Dominican doorway be inviting you?

In today’s Gospel reading we see Jesus naming the Apostles and sending them (the word apostle means one who is sent) to do the ministry of preaching. All of us are called at the time of our baptism, and we are all sent to preach the Gospel in our own particular way, according to our own particular gifts.

The Dominican Sisters are hosting a “Come and See” day in San Rafael. It is an opportunity to reflect upon how God is calling you to preach the Gospel, in your own particular way, according to your own particular gifts. Why not come and see if life as a Dominican Sister might be good way for you to live out the call you received from God at your baptism. The date is February 4, 2012 – please contact us at 415-257-4939 or vocations@sanrfaelop.org for more information.

Blessed Christmas

opreach — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 16:26:55 +0000

Blessed Christmas!

What Is My Fishing Practice? Am I Faithful to My Spiritual Practice?

opreach — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:05:42 +0000

Sisters Pat and Judy hiking back from their fishing trip in the Sierras.

This morning (the Feast of St. Andrew) during our morning prayer, Sister Millie reflected on the Gospel reading. She talked about those who fish, and how sensitive they become to the movement of the water – the movement of the fish – the movement of the boat. Perhaps that helps create in them a sensitivity to the Spirit. Could that be why they were able to drop their nets and follow so suddenly (seemingly) and completely. They may have been predisposed by their practice.

What is my practice? Am I as attentive to my “practice” as these fishermen were?

[Jesus] said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of people.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.

- Matthew 4:19-20

Joining Worthy Women – Reaching out their Hands to the Hungry

opreach — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:44:14 +0000

The first reading today, on the Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time talks about a worthy wife. Obviously sisters and nuns are not wives. And in the days that the Book of Proverbs there weren’t nuns or sisters, so our lives could not be imagined. So I’ve taken a little liberty here and changed a few of the words so that it relates to women, whether married or not.

Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31

When one finds a worthy [woman], her value is far beyond pearls.
[Those who] entrust their heart to her, have an unfailing prize.

She brings good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
She obtains wool and flax and works with loving hands.
She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.
She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.

Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her a reward for her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.

While this is a Christmas setting, Sister Anne Bertain, definitely a “Worthy Woman” reaches out her hand to the hungry every day at St. Dominic’s.

And if you happen to be a single woman, maybe you might think about joining us as we “reach out our hands to the poor, and extend our arms to the needy. Sister Anne Bertain, a Dominican Sister of San Rafael, does this every day in San Francisco at St. Dominic Catholic Church. To learn more about us, please go to our website. If you would like to pray with us, we invite you to San Rafael for an Advent Vespers service on December 1st. Please feel free to contact me to find out more.

All Souls Day

opreach — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:52:58 +0000

Is there not a beautiful thought connected with prayer for the dead? Were it not sad to feel that when our loved ones pass away, they are wholly separated from us? Through prayer we may still hold communion with them; by the spirit of prayer we may gather the inspiration and clothe ourselves with the mantle they were clothed with. In blessing them we receive their blessing….

- Andrew Barrett, The Shakers

Mother Justin Barry visits the grave of Sister Dominica Arguello, remembered in California history as Dominica Arguello, who is often mentioned in the early history of California. Photo taken, circa 1955.

Mother Justin was the Prioress General of the Dominican Sisters of Sister of San Rafael from 1953 to 1965. Sister Dominica was the first woman to enter a convent in California.

Walk this Way

opreach — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:55:35 +0000

Today is the Feast of Saint Luke; the Gospel of Luke is attributed to him. We read today from that Gospel:

St. Dominic may have walked this way through the streets of Toulouse

Jesus said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the mast of the harvest to send out laborers for the harvest.”

So today we pray for vocations to the service of God’s people. We Dominican Sisters pray especially for vocations to Dominican Life. We invite you to Walk this Way.

Sometimes Photography is Preaching

opreach — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:17:17 +0000

Dominicans have a long history of understanding preaching as being more than standing in a pulpit and delivering a homily or a sermon. The early Dominicans saw their lives – as a community focused on the mission of sharing Christ’s message with the world – as the Holy Preaching. The nuns who prayed in the monastery for the safety and success of their brothers, shared with them equally in the charism of preaching. St. Catherine of Siena traveled, prayed, exhorted, visited the sick and those in prison, wrote letters, dictated The Dialogue. Her life was the holy preaching.

We have a history, from Fra Angelico in the 15th century, to the present time of recognizing that our artists preach through their art. Our sisters have taught in schools and ministered in hospitals. Their lives are the Holy Preaching. Our sisters are involved in parish ministry and serve the poor. Their lives are the Holy Preaching. Many work at effecting changes in systems that are unjust and create poverty. This is the Holy Preaching.

I begin with “Sometimes Photography is Preaching.” Sister Adele Rowland was the first in our community to use that medium in the Holy Preaching, and you can view a few of her photo montages on our congregational website.

This photo, Morning Glimpse, reflects a passage from today’s Psalm 43 is:
“Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on and bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling-place.”

Faith Bringing Forgiveness

opreach — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:30:53 +0000

It is our custom, as Dominican Sisters, to gather each day for morning prayer. After the reading of the day’s Gospel, we often share our reflections – a kind of preaching, in the tradition of the Order of Preachers. On hearing today’s Gospel read (Mark 2:1-12) it occurred to me that:

Jesus commented, not on the faith of the paralytic, but on those carrying him,
presumably they brought him to be healed, not forgiven,
the paralytic was forgiven, not healed, because of the faith of his friends, and
no one said they were sorry, nor asked for forgiveness.

We say we trust in a forgiving, loving, and merciful God. Yet it seems that we operate out of a belief that one has to be sorry for one’s sins and ask for forgiveness before the “sinner” can receive forgiveness. This story in Mark’s Gospel refutes this notion.

The title, “The Son of Man,” is said to refer to Jesus’ humanity. Could it be that Jesus is calling all of his disciples to forgive the sins of others? Could it be that our faith could result in mercy and forgiveness, not only for ourselves, but for the broken world we live in?

Clearly, in a lawful society there must consequences and restitution for actions such as those we have witnessed in Tucson. Naturally we pray for the victims of this unimaginable and horribly violent act. Can we also desire, like Jesus, for Jared Loughner’s healing? Can our faith bring him forgiveness, whether he’s asked for it or not.

And perhaps more to the point, can my prayers and faith bring healing and forgiveness to those who have hurt or betrayed me personally.

Imagine how different the world might be if we disciples of Jesus could truly be ministers of Christ’s healing, mercy, and forgiveness. We don’t need a lot of faith to do this, I understand it only needs to be the size of a mustard seed.