By: Sr. Terri Schell
Over the holiday season, the novices all went to our home congregations. During that time, we were given homework to visit the archives and to find our story within a story of our congregation. Returning the CDN, reconnecting, and hearing each novice share their story was a real treat. As we took turns presenting, it was revealing to see each novice present in how and what they shared.
I thought I would share with you my project.
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Becoming Peace
A journey towards wholeness and unity
"Ever Creating God, still Point of Eternal Peace, stir up within us your dream that all may be one.”
Prayer for Peace by Sr. Teresa Tuite, OP
What does it look like to work towards unity and peace? To believe in a God who dreams that all may be one?
These are the questions that were brimming in me as I headed down to the archives at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse in Columbus early during Christmas break.
And how in the world do I make this into a specific, discoverable topic to explore in three short weeks?
Peace’s story of eight Dominican congregations joining to become one has long been an inspiration and attraction for me. I am impressed with my sisters’ commitment, openness, and willingness to walk towards radical unity especially when it’s really difficult. How did they live this out, particularly early on in the congregation’s history when so much of the journey was uncharted territory?
Michelle Ganz is nothing like you imagine an archivist would be like. She had the youthful enthusiasm of multiple kindergarten teachers and was thrilled to have not one but three researchers interested in diving into the towers of files holding the depths of the lives of sisters of past and present.
“I’ve got to admit,” she announced excitedly, “you’re my first-ever researchers!”
The Name Chose Us
The Name Chose Us
"We believe the Spirit of the Risen Christ named and commissioned us."The Dominican Sisters of Peace, A Brief History
It was the summer of 2008. At this point, seven congregations had spent the last eleven years exploring the possibility of unifying and those deliberations were coming to a close with a decision to found a new congregation. A new beginning was in sight, set for April the following year. The constitution was finalized and “suppression” of the previous congregational canonical documents were signed… but there was something yet to be decided: the name of the new union.
In May 2008, four sisters from four different congregations who were on the Prayer and Ritual Committee for the Transition Team met to finalize the elements of the upcoming gatherings of sisters. There were to be two Intercongregational Gatherings: One in New Orleans in June and one in Columbus in July. The four sisters were tasked with developing prayers and rituals that would assist in the inclusive movement toward a new congregation. They were asked to find ways to link the seven congregations together in prayer so that the mission, needs, and desires of the separate congregations became the mission, needs, and desires of a Union.
The Prayer and Ritual committee recalled the process of planning:
“In preparing the prayers we wanted to be as inclusive as possible in respecting various styles and preferences regarding prayer. We tried to do this as a whole rather than each one represent everyone... Volunteers were requested and we did our best to have representation from each individual community.”
Teresa Tuite was one of the sisters on the committee. She recalls this point in the journey. “We had come to so many conclusions, even a unanimous decision on the constitution, but the selection of the name was SO HARD. It was because we were coming closer to the heart, and sisters were afraid we were going to forget the past.”
Sisters describe this time of transition as heavy with emotion. This gathering was the first time they were meeting in person after having officially committed to a union. There was a spectrum of opinions and feelings. Some sisters had been actively working towards this for years, while some still were not in favor of becoming one. Folks described feeling skittish, excited, fearful, grieving, and optimistic. Sisters came to the gathering knowing what they were leaving behind, but not knowing what lay ahead.
“You know, when you took vows for life, you didn’t think you would outlive your congregation,” Teresa explained.
Teresa described the intentional way the committee addressed the challenge. “We based the prayer and ritual experiences on the Jewish idea of remembrance, which honors the past, acknowledges the present, and hopes for the future. Past, present, future. Always moving forward.”
The outcome of the intentional, inclusive process led to a memorable moment and movement of the Holy Spirit.
During the weekends of the Intercongregational Gatherings, a trunk was set on display. A variety of items that were to be taken with the sisters on their journey were placed inside: a heart shaped box, Kleenex, scrapbooks, Meet the Relatives DVDs, two cents, letters and prayers of support from those not in attendance.
At the closing ritual, the prioress from each of the seven congregations came forward to pack the final items: the Necrology and Constitutions. The prioresses went in order by their congregation’s founding date: youngest to oldest. That left Joye Gros, Prioress of St. Catharine, Kentucky at the time, last. The top was meant to be closed gently, but instead, the lid of the chest slammed down with a resolute “BANG!” that echoed throughout the room.
The symbolism was not lost on the sisters present. There was a hush in the room, a silence pregnant with the reality of the moment: that the previous congregations were complete and a new congregation was now one.
When I asked Joye about the closing ritual and the trunk, she elusively remarked, “I did not do it with naiveté.”
The inclusive prayer and ritual throughout this weekend and previous gatherings lead to an important moment in Dominican Sisters of Peace’s founding. It was at these summer Intercongregational Gatherings that the final deliberations of the name of the new congregation were held. Over 100 suggestions had been offered: Catherine of Sienna, Holy Word, Resurrection, Providence to name a few. Peace was not originally near the top of the list. Yet, within these two separate gatherings, the name “Dominican Sisters of Peace” caught hold in both places with passion and peace. When asked, many sisters point to this experience of communally arriving upon our name as a true movement of the Holy Spirit.
Every Peace sister who was there has something to share about their experience.
Sr. Eleanor told me she wasn’t on board with the union until after the naming process occurred. “That convinced me.”
While sharing with me, Sr. Therese eyes welled a bit remembering the pro-peace comment that spoke to her at the gathering, “You know we were founded on Easter. A sister asked, ‘What did the risen Christ offer the world? Peace.’ ”
Many were amazed that the same conclusions came out of two separate gatherings. Sr. Barb, who oversaw the naming process often says, “The name chose us.”
It is the shared feeling that the spirit of the risen Christ named and commissioned the Dominican Sisters of Peace.
An Intertwining of Stories
This moment in my congregation’s history weaves neatly with the fabric of my own life.
I’ve been on a journey since adulthood of deepening my desire and capacity for profound communion with God and all creation.
My perspective has been greatly expanded by a growing awareness of the interconnectedness of the universe. That we are called by a relational Triune God to wholeness and right relationship with all that is.
Each step of the way God called me to a widening and deepening of how I might live and love. Prior to discerning religious life, my life had been full, vibrant and meaningful with a fulfilling ministry, intentional community of friends and loved ones, a richness in adventure and connection with the land.
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And yet — I was called to something more.
The seven congregations that founded Peace were also independent congregations with a richness in their histories, members, ministries, and cultures. And yet, they too were called to something more, something bigger than themselves.
Neither I nor the individual congregations could live the way we once did after being invited into the newness of life. Not that there weren’t other options, but we responded to a “drawing forth” into an alluring mystery of greater communion and commitment.
And now I seek to maintain myself while still blending into the wholeness and unity of my congregation. I seek a balance that honors my past, acknowledges who I am today, and hopes for unity in the future.
The congregations that make up Peace have done the same. They too entered into the journey of holding onto the richness of their identities while blending into wholeness of the Dominican Sisters of Peace.
This is hard work! But we’ve come to know that “dyings, large and small, make an opening, a necessary passageway that allows new and more expansive life to enter. The grace of unity enters the gap.” (Elaine M. Pravallet SL).
It takes prayer, intentionality, inclusivity, conscious effort, and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
My congregation and I are still on that journey.
I am on a lifelong search for what unity, alignment, and harmony might look like in the cosmos, in my congregation, and within me.
It was the summer of 2008. At this point, seven congregations had spent the last eleven years exploring the possibility of unifying and those deliberations were coming to a close with a decision to found a new congregation. A new beginning was in sight, set for April the following year. The constitution was finalized and “suppression” of the previous congregational canonical documents were signed… but there was something yet to be decided: the name of the new union.
In May 2008, four sisters from four different congregations who were on the Prayer and Ritual Committee for the Transition Team met to finalize the elements of the upcoming gatherings of sisters. There were to be two Intercongregational Gatherings: One in New Orleans in June and one in Columbus in July. The four sisters were tasked with developing prayers and rituals that would assist in the inclusive movement toward a new congregation. They were asked to find ways to link the seven congregations together in prayer so that the mission, needs, and desires of the separate congregations became the mission, needs, and desires of a Union.
The Prayer and Ritual committee recalled the process of planning:
“In preparing the prayers we wanted to be as inclusive as possible in respecting various styles and preferences regarding prayer. We tried to do this as a whole rather than each one represent everyone... Volunteers were requested and we did our best to have representation from each individual community.”
Sisters describe this time of transition as heavy with emotion. This gathering was the first time they were meeting in person after having officially committed to a union. There was a spectrum of opinions and feelings. Some sisters had been actively working towards this for years, while some still were not in favor of becoming one. Folks described feeling skittish, excited, fearful, grieving, and optimistic. Sisters came to the gathering knowing what they were leaving behind, but not knowing what lay ahead.
“You know, when you took vows for life, you didn’t think you would outlive your congregation,” Teresa explained.
Teresa described the intentional way the committee addressed the challenge. “We based the prayer and ritual experiences on the Jewish idea of remembrance, which honors the past, acknowledges the present, and hopes for the future. Past, present, future. Always moving forward.”
The outcome of the intentional, inclusive process led to a memorable moment and movement of the Holy Spirit.
During the weekends of the Intercongregational Gatherings, a trunk was set on display. A variety of items that were to be taken with the sisters on their journey were placed inside: a heart shaped box, Kleenex, scrapbooks, Meet the Relatives DVDs, two cents, letters and prayers of support from those not in attendance.
At the closing ritual, the prioress from each of the seven congregations came forward to pack the final items: the Necrology and Constitutions. The prioresses went in order by their congregation’s founding date: youngest to oldest. That left Joye Gros, Prioress of St. Catharine, Kentucky at the time, last. The top was meant to be closed gently, but instead, the lid of the chest slammed down with a resolute “BANG!” that echoed throughout the room.
The symbolism was not lost on the sisters present. There was a hush in the room, a silence pregnant with the reality of the moment: that the previous congregations were complete and a new congregation was now one.
When I asked Joye about the closing ritual and the trunk, she elusively remarked, “I did not do it with naiveté.”
The inclusive prayer and ritual throughout this weekend and previous gatherings lead to an important moment in Dominican Sisters of Peace’s founding. It was at these summer Intercongregational Gatherings that the final deliberations of the name of the new congregation were held. Over 100 suggestions had been offered: Catherine of Sienna, Holy Word, Resurrection, Providence to name a few. Peace was not originally near the top of the list. Yet, within these two separate gatherings, the name “Dominican Sisters of Peace” caught hold in both places with passion and peace. When asked, many sisters point to this experience of communally arriving upon our name as a true movement of the Holy Spirit.
Every Peace sister who was there has something to share about their experience.
Sr. Eleanor told me she wasn’t on board with the union until after the naming process occurred. “That convinced me.”
While sharing with me, Sr. Therese eyes welled a bit remembering the pro-peace comment that spoke to her at the gathering, “You know we were founded on Easter. A sister asked, ‘What did the risen Christ offer the world? Peace.’ ”
Many were amazed that the same conclusions came out of two separate gatherings. Sr. Barb, who oversaw the naming process often says, “The name chose us.”
It is the shared feeling that the spirit of the risen Christ named and commissioned the Dominican Sisters of Peace.
An Intertwining of Stories
This moment in my congregation’s history weaves neatly with the fabric of my own life.
I’ve been on a journey since adulthood of deepening my desire and capacity for profound communion with God and all creation.
My perspective has been greatly expanded by a growing awareness of the interconnectedness of the universe. That we are called by a relational Triune God to wholeness and right relationship with all that is.
Each step of the way God called me to a widening and deepening of how I might live and love. Prior to discerning religious life, my life had been full, vibrant and meaningful with a fulfilling ministry, intentional community of friends and loved ones, a richness in adventure and connection with the land.
.jpg)
And yet — I was called to something more.
The seven congregations that founded Peace were also independent congregations with a richness in their histories, members, ministries, and cultures. And yet, they too were called to something more, something bigger than themselves.
Neither I nor the individual congregations could live the way we once did after being invited into the newness of life. Not that there weren’t other options, but we responded to a “drawing forth” into an alluring mystery of greater communion and commitment.
And now I seek to maintain myself while still blending into the wholeness and unity of my congregation. I seek a balance that honors my past, acknowledges who I am today, and hopes for unity in the future.
The congregations that make up Peace have done the same. They too entered into the journey of holding onto the richness of their identities while blending into wholeness of the Dominican Sisters of Peace.
This is hard work! But we’ve come to know that “dyings, large and small, make an opening, a necessary passageway that allows new and more expansive life to enter. The grace of unity enters the gap.” (Elaine M. Pravallet SL).
It takes prayer, intentionality, inclusivity, conscious effort, and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
My congregation and I are still on that journey.
I am on a lifelong search for what unity, alignment, and harmony might look like in the cosmos, in my congregation, and within me.
