History

It's amazing how much time is spent preparing us for our future by looking into our past.  Part of our novitiate year includes a “History of Religious Life in the US” class taught by Regina Siegfried, ASC.  The class has been fascinating, but the last two weeks in particular were quite a milestone because we (the novices) presented on the individual histories of our respective congregations.  I know I learned a lot in preparing my presentation (Hey Houston – how come no one ever mentioned it took us over 20 years AFTER the storm of 1900 to get from Galveston to Houston?  I didn't know we were ever in Lampasas!)

A few hours after giving the presentation in class, we were on the road to Springfield, Illinois, to visit the Springfield Dominicans.  This visit included a trip to Jubilee Farm, where we discussed the new cosmology – a new way of looking at the 14 billion years of creation and evolution that have occurred since the Big Bang.  Just like we novices can learn and better ourselves by looking back on the histories of our congregations, so can the entire Homo sapiens species learn more about ourselves and our future by looking back on our shared history with all of creation.  We are but the newest ripple in the pond of life – there's an entire ecosystem out there that we need to get to know better.

By the way, here are some links for people interested in learning a little history themselves:

Jubilee Farm, which we visited on Friday – http://www.jubileefarm.info/

Women in Spirit, a museum exhibit on the role of women religious in the US, which we will visit as part of Sr. Siegfried's class – http://www.womenandspirit.org/

An Introduction to the New Cosmology (warning – it will change the way you look at EVERYTHING) – http://www.brianswimme.org/media/excerpts/ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRykk_0ovI0

--Kelly

What so ever you do...

During one of our classes this week we talked about what we chose to bring to the Novitiate and what we chose to leave behind. As I was going through my things recently I came across a paper with this prayer I had written when I was 12 years old.

“What so ever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, that you do unto me”

Lord,

I live in a strange world of war and peace. Help me to love my brothers and sisters and you. But, God I do not understand. Why must we live in a world of “ask and we receive?” When other people just like ourselves, get treated with hunger, disease or war. It just doesn’t seem fair? Many go through life without parents or without anyone to go home to. God, help us to help those who are in need, so that we will follow the footsteps of Christ. Amen.

--Chris

Younger Dominican Sisters Gather

This past weekend the CDN novices joined 30 some other Younger Dominican Sisters in Freemont, CA at the motherhouse of the Mission San Jose sisters. Not only was it exciting to go to California during my novitiate year but I loved meeting other Dominicans who were close to my age wherever they were in their formation. The criteria was that a woman be 45 years old or younger and a Dominican who’s motherhouse is in North America, even if the sister was from a different country. We spent time getting to know each other, having fun, seeing San Francisco, praying and of course having good food. But one of the main reasons we were called together by a conference of our Superiors was to form relationships and start to vision for the future. Through conversations at our tables we looked at what brought us to Dominican Religious Life, what difference it makes that there are younger Dominican sisters, and where do we go from the conference with what we have learned and shared. We don’t have all the answers by any means, but we have made a start and each community brainstormed how they could get the word out about our presence and about what we had energy around at the conference. Our ideas included international dialogue (and possible trips), enhanced communication within the country through technology, collaboration between communities, and future ways of gathering with our peers.

I know I am not being very specific, but that is because I am still processing it in my own head…still deciding what I commit to do to keep the fire going as I am clothed in the Gospel.

--Krissie

Days of Reflection

 

Our house has set aside Fridays as“Days of Reflection”--times of intense inner reflection and contemplation, usually centered on a certain theme or topic. What's been interesting about these DORs is the novices are planning some of them. I organized a day of reflection about prayer beads two weeks ago, and Chris presented one about putting ourselves in the stories of the Gospel this past Friday.

Preparing a spiritual experience for a group of people is more difficult than I thought it would be (and I realize as I'm writing this that I've said that about practically every part of the novitiate. Hmm...that's a subject for a different blog post). As I was preparing for my day, I was very concerned about having a variety of possible prayer styles or activities available, and I didn't want it to be too simplistic, but I didn't want it to be too esoteric, either, and...my list of possible problems went on and on.

However, what I remember most about the day, looking back, is that a) nobody did what I expected them to do, but b) everyone talked about having a positive and significant experience. In hindsight, the day really wasn't about anything I said or did – the DORs are about each novice (and director) setting aside a time to journey with God awhile. What happens during that journey is beyond anyone's plans.

In that regard, I think the DORs can be a microcosm of our entire novitiate year. Alot of good people have put effort into setting up our classes, our days of prayer, our talks and one-on-ones, etc. In the end, though, this year is about a novice's individual journey with God—and the ways, means, and outcome of that is far beyond anyone's planning.

(PS The photo this week doesn't have anything to do with days of reflection – I just really like it.)

--Kelly

The Gift in the Journey

Ten years ago, I was given the gift of spending 2 weeks in Cuernavaca, Mexico as part of a peace and justice mission trip.  Today, the album of pictures and my journal sits open on my dresser.  A quote speaks to me…

“Knowledge had opened the door to compassion… To take the risk of loving, we must become vulnerable enough to test the radical proposition that knowledge of another and self-revelation will ultimately increase rather than decrease love.  It is an awe-ful risk.”

In the weeks since we began this journey together, I have felt challenged, torn, confused, and tested more than I have ever been.  Someone once told me I was on a “two year career path”, and as I approach the two years since I began the official process of discernment, I recognize the churning that is within me.

I have learned through our vows class, that the difference between living a religious life, and living the life of a Christian layperson is the fact that we, as religious, live in intentional communities.  As much as we don’t choose our families, we also don’t choose our communities.  I have been blessed to grow as a child in one, and as a woman of faith in the other.

I do not know where God is leading me, or how long the journey, but I thank God for the women who continue to say “yes”, who are my example of fidelity.  Who encourage me to go where I feel God is calling, though I want to run the other way.  Whose love for me teaches me I am worthy of that love, even when I fall and can’t go further.  We are each on a journey, and the people we meet along the way are God’s gift. 

May our eyes be open to see the gift, our hands be open to receive God’s mercy, our hearts be open to love the God within.  And may our faith be strong enough to know it is worth the risk.

--Chris

After a month...

It’s hard to believe it’s been a month since we moved in and started our intensive orientation to Dominican Religious Life. Sometimes it feels like only four days ago and other times it feels like four months. I finally feel like things are settling down a bit and that I am getting the hang of the routine (I know that will change soon). As part of this year we are each to do a few hours of ministry a week…preferably in some area that would be a stretch for us. We were introduced to many different options and they each didn’t quite fit right or would have been too easy for me. I knew I would know my ministry when I found it and I didn’t really want to settle for something else because I knew it was out there somewhere. This past week, I found it. I attended a presentation about the epidemic of Human Trafficking and how large of a problem it is right here in St. Louis. I was appalled at the statistics I was shown. Most of the children (average age is 13) are either runaway or throwaway (parents kick them out of the house) kids looking for someone to love and support them. My heart broke to hear about some of what these children are going through and I knew I had to help this organization in some way. We are still figuring out the details, but I know that I need to help spread the word about this hidden industry in our society. It should NOT be happening and we need to recognize and stop it before more children are victimized.

--Krissie

A Weekend of Prayer

The theme for this first month of the novitiate seems simple enough – “Prayer.” I remember when I heard that I thought “Oh, good, we're starting off slow.” I don't think that any more.

In typical formation fashion, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on my current patterns and modes of prayer, how they fit into my new life as a Dominican sister, and what aspects of my prayer life can and should change during this time. There were two significant instances that occurred this past weekend that I am still trying to process and blend into my prayer life.

The first occurred during our Friday day of reflection, when Don Goergen, OP came to lead us in a reflection on “Contemplation.” I had been looking forward to this day ever since I asked the question of the group “So, what is contemplation?” (Might was well get to the heart of these things!) In the end, I wasn't disappointed. Judging by the group sharings at the end of the day, I think we all learned quite a lot in those few quiet hours. I know I did, most of which I am still trying to integrate into my day-to-day living. (Hey, it's only been four days! It's still a work in progress).

The second prayer experience of the weekend was Sunday night at the Interfaith Memorial in Music, which commemorated the 10^thanniversary of September 11, 2001. This was a very moving experience, featuring Christian, Hindu, Islamic, and Jewish prayers, all in their native languages. I realized that language isn't necessary for true prayer – the soul can interact with God just fine through the lilting children's prayer sung in Arabic by a group of mothers or the soulful petitions made in Hebrew by a single man on stage.

I think what I have learned most in these past few days is that our hearts can and will commune with God all of their own accord, when we allow ourselves to get out of the way.

--Kelly