OPreach
Dominican Preaching through Word and Image
About OPreach
I am Sister Pat Farrell, OP, a Dominican Sister of San Rafael (http://sanrafaelop.org) and hosting manager at Santa Sabina Center (http://www.santasabinacenter.org). Dominicans are known as the Order of Preachers – that’s what the OP stands for – and this Dominican charism of Preaching is very important to us. We find many ways to preach; St. Francis of Assisi reminds us, “Preach always. When necessary use words.” On this site you will find preaching through reflections, poetry, photography, and other images.
The views expressed in these pages are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael or Santa Sabina Center.
OPreach 
Checking out your blog while having an iced tea at Starbucks. Fabulous photos! Haven’t read the reflections yet, but I’m sure I’m in for a treat.
Thanks, Yvonne. I’ll email you my email address. Post-retreat blessings to you! Pat
How do I get your email daily?
Sorry to delay in replying, Karlyn. If you go to the homepage of OPreach.org, you will see in the upper left hand corner a box where there is an option to subscribe to the posts. So glad that you would like to! Pat
This is my first religious blog read. 🙂 I hope more people get to read this Sister Pat. This platform is very apt for spreading your aid and guidance in other’s spiritual journey. 🙂
Thanks for your comment. I hope it’s helpful! And I think some folks like the photos, and that’s fine with me. 🙂
I love the quote you used: “Preach always. When necessary use words.” Now I will go check out your posts… ~ Wendy
Thank you, Wendy! I hope you enjoy the site. Pat
Beautiful gallery
Thank you.
THANKS for visiting my “pun-ny” photoblog and leaving a “like.” My Aunt was a nun all her life(Sister of Charity of Nazareth).
–John R.: http://TheDailyGraff.com
You are most welcome. And I am grateful that you have come by as well. I think of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth as being from Louisville. I have visited the motherhouse there.
You are right. The motherhouse is in Louisville.
Your life sounds amazing. You are so blessed. I made enquiries about being a nun a few years ago, but this particular order required applicants to be under 40 years old, which marked me out. I love to read your words and see your beautiful photos. They touch my heart. Thank you. xx
I appreciate the way you share beauty on your blog and I have nominated your blog for Beautiful Blogger Award. If you want to accept the award check my blog, http://thebackdoorartist.com/2012/10/31/beautiful-blogger-award/
Thank you! I am out of town right now, and will follow up after the weekend. Blessings!
I just found your blog and I am so glad I did! Love your posts and photos. Looking forward to more. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for coming by. I stopped by your blog as well and enjoyed the photos, thoughts, and creativity. Have a great weekend!
Dear friend, I have nominated you for the “Very Inspiring Blogger Award”. See for the rules for accepting the award at my post :
http://exxtracts.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/very-inspiring-blogger-award-2/
Thank you. I am honored. I need a little time, though, to follow up. 😉 Blessings to you this season.
Thank you!
Regards,
Thank you!
Regards,
Anil
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Dear friend/follower, I have nominated your Blog for the “ Illuminating Blogger Award”. For the rules for accepting the award, please visit to my post : http://exxtracts.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/illuminating-blogger-award/
Thank you, Anil. I appreciate the nomination, and when I find a little bit of time laying around 😉 I will follow through on the steps to accept it. Blessings, Pat
You are most welcome!
Regards!
🙂
Just wanted to thank you for stopping by and liking my recent post ‘Word of the Week Challenge entry – Clouds’ – your support is appreciated 🙂 You have some very beautiful images accompanied with inspiring words here. Please do keep up the good work!
You are most welcome. It is wonderful that we can share in one another’s work. It amazes me when I look at the map of the world and to see at the many places in the world that go to our blogs! Blessings of the New Year to you.
I don’t particularly like the term preach, as nowadays it seems to imply harping on or fanaticism. I think you should be an educator. Sorry – just my opinion.
Thank you for your comment; I totally understand. Preaching gets a bad rap. However, as a Dominican Sister, I am part of the Order of Preachers. So preaching is our “charism” and part of our identity. It’s part of the territory.
There are many ways to preach. It might be through speaking, dance, or music. I believe that art and film are effective means of preaching the “Good News.” And probably the most important way to preach is through the way we live our lives. If we don’t practice what we preach, what good is it? So I recall the words of St. Francis, “Preach always. When necessary use words.”
I have a few previous posts to illustrate this: https://opreach.org/2012/07/11/sometimes-poetry-is-preaching-revisited/, https://opreach.org/2011/09/23/sometimes-photography-is-preaching/, https://opreach.org/2012/07/16/sometimes-photography-is-preaching-revisited/, and https://opreach.org/2011/10/16/sometimes-watercolor-is-preaching/.
Keep the conversation going. Blessings!
Thanks so much for visiting my blog and liking my photo! I appreciate it very much. 😀
You are most welcome!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Much appreciated! 🙂
Have a wonderful day!
You have a great site! Wonderful shots! Thanks for coming by OPreach, as well. 🙂 Pat
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“Where is your heart drawing you?” ~ This is my perennial question. I am sure your blogs will provide more insights and inspiration to find the answer. Your reflections and photographs complement each other. Beautiful – both.Thanks for sharing.
I like to think that it is our most important question. Thank you for coming by and for your comment. Blessings.
Loved your comments along with your pictures. My thoughts along spiritual lines are always connected with nature and words, so I feel a great affinity to you sister! Thank you for your gifts, and your sharing!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I’m so glad that the photos and text speaks to you. 🙂
I am looking forward to sharing your journey through life via your post Pat. I think we share both the love of God and of beauty. Perhaps you saw my post today on imperfection where I write about St.Paul and Aristotle.
Thank you, Solveig! I look forward to sharing it too.
thanks for the visit, Sister Pat. nice blog you have here.
Thank you, too, for your comment, Virgillo! Sorry to be so slow in replying! 🙂
Hi Sister Pat–I wanted to let you know that yes, I am still out here and will e-mail soon. I am enjoying reading O Preach and certainly admire your photography. Being new to this blogging business I was given a kindness this morning—a blogging award based on inspiration. But it is to blogs such as yours that I seek and find that very inspiration, not my own. I am in turn passing on the award to you—I am certain that it is something you have previously been awarded, most likely numerous times–if that is the case, then please just disregard. Otherwise you may find more information, which is worded so much more eloquently than what I can do, at Jolandi’s post concerning the award: http://dreaminginarabic.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/a-great-way-to-build-community/
hope to talk with you further at length soon—blessings –Julie
Thank you, Julie. I appreciate the award. I have received a few, and find it difficult to follow through with the pieces of accepting it. But I would be happy to give it a try. Blessings to you and have a good week end. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
thanks for stopping by and the like on my recent post. You have an interesting site. Enjoyed the quotes that accompanied your photos.
Thanks, Eddie! 🙂
Thank you for visiting my blog and liking a post. I love your quotes about hope and the accompanying photos! Your blog is like a breath of fresh air. Thank you! Cheers.
I am glad you are enjoying them. And thanks again for following.
Thanks for visiting my blog. I look forward to reading more of your’s. The St. Francis quote has always been one of my favorites.
You are welcome, and thank you for coming by here and following! St. Francis is a wonderful model!
Hi, Would you care to join our Sunday Snippet?
http://theseeker57.wordpress.com/2013/07/28/its-whats-in-your-heart-that-matters-story-of-pilgrim-george/
What would the Sunday Snippet be?
It’s about post on being a catholic every Sunday.
If you click on the link on Sunday Snippet at the bottom of my post, it will take you what it’s all about. Please read it and let me know what you think. Thank you.
Here is the most recent Sunday Snippet for tomorrow.
http://rannthisthat.blogspot.ca/2013/08/sunday-snippets-catholic-carnival_10.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/ngaR+(This+That+and+the+Other+Thing)
Thanks. Just found this in my spam folder. Hmmmmmmm. Strange, considering we’ve already communicated and you are a WP blogger.
Thank you for the invitation. I truly appreciate it. I might consider participating from time to time, but at this point, getting the daily posts up is challenging or discipline enough. I will follow along and read. And I will join in when I can. Blessings of a beautiful Sunday to you!
Kind thanks Sister Pat Farrell * I am honored that you’re following me.
Regards
Juno
It should be no surprise, Juno, that I would enjoy a site like yours . . . . photography and poetry. And such beautiful images!!
Hey, Cool blog! Very interesting and we will definitely be back. Your friends at http://www.hitchhikershandbook.com
I like that you are talent scouts for God. Always curious as to what God has in mind for me. I have never heard of your order although I was raised by a theologian myself. My mother should have been the first Catholic priest- perhaps if Joan Chittister has to say something about it, we may see a female presiding over a Catholic mass. I have never thought it mattered what gender, it is the message that counts. And if the message comes from a place inspired by God, then preach dear sister preach! And may we all follow the path that God lays out for each of us- a path that is emblazoned with love. Thank you for the beautiful comment on my blog. It made my heart break a little because I felt your compassion. Thanks again! God bless—
How lovely to hear from you in such a personal way, Meg! I’ll bet I would have like your mother! You must be a lot like her. I am greatly encouraged by the preaching of our Pope Francis. I think that we can pay attention to, not only his words, but also his actions. Surely he is following the admonition of his namesake, “Preach always. When necessary use words.” And you’ve never heard of the Dominicans? Hmmmmm. Well I’m glad I’ve changed that!! Blessings to you, especially during this season of Thanksgiving, and as we anticipate Advent. Imagine. anticipating the time of waiting! Pat
When I was going to Catholic school, a million years ago, I told my teacher (a nun) that I wanted to grow up and be a priest. She said that I could not do that because I was a girl.
I didn’t like that response at all. I wondered why God didn’t like girls.
Then, one day I came to church to see God, without a hat on my head (so I wasn’t allowed inside). Then I wondered–why can men go inside without a hat? Why do women have to put a hat on their heads before God will listen?
As the years went by, I drifted away from all the silly man-made rules and regulations. But I purposely majored in religion and philosophy, and never lost my love for the ONE. It’s hidden in my writing.
I totally get your frustration with senseless rules, Mary. They seem to be part and parcel of whatever we human beings institutionalize, including religion – all of them. Blessings on your journey, wherever it leads. And Happy New Year!! Pat
I LOVED finding this blog today. Your photographs are beautiful and the writings with it are terrific. Very inspirational. I look forward to following you. Thank you for sharing this!~Rita
I’m so glad that you found it too! Thank you for following. I enjoy doing it. 🙂
I am so glad I was directed to your blog. This is beautiful, I am anxious to spend time here. Love and Light to you!
And I am glad that you found it! Glad you liked it. Blessings to you!!!