Theology of the Body,
January-June
 |
Our
class on John Paul II’s
teaching about human
sexuality, marriage, and
call to holiness was a huge
success! Since January, a
group of up to 40 people met
every other Thursday at
7:30pm. Our 1.5 hours
sessions composed of a talk,
discussion, and multimedia
presentations touched upon
the most crucial issues for
everyone. Closing with an
outdoor picnic, we have just
finished the 10-week
program. However, since it
covered only first part of
the papal teachings and the
fascination with the topic
fired up, we already plan on
putting on a new class in
the fall. Look for more
information. |
 |
Come and See,
March 12-17, 2006
The very first
in the 80-year-history of our
Province “Come and See” was a true
success!
The Lord invited 3 wonderful
young women who are
radically committed to seek
His will. What initially
seemed to be an extremely
long stay with our community
– 5 full days! – turned out
to provide just a foretaste
of what a religious life is
all about. The day began at
5:25am, as it does for the
sisters, and then it flew by
filled with breviary prayer
and adoration; classes on
discernment and group
processing of where we were
with it; participation in
sisters’ daily ministries
such as nursing, teaching,
shopping, cooking, and
cleaning, as well as keeping
silence after last prayers.
Participants about “Come and
See” |
 |
|
The “Come and See” exposed
us also to the Dominican
contemplation that always
includes two pillars:
studying and prayerful
lectio divina. To learn
God’s divine pedagogy of
vocation was the major call
of these days. Thus we spent
a significant amount of time
analyzing vocation stories
of Samuel (1Sm 3:1-21),
Andrew and John (Jn
1:35-42), as well as the
rich young man (Mark
10:17-22). Since it was the
Bible that was our
inseparable companion, we
hope God could freely speak
to the hearts He had chosen. |
 |
-
Did we have any fun? Oh
yes, the joyful charism
of our community spilled
over to the 3
exceptionally enjoyable
young women abundantly.
Can you imagine a
retreat director who
laughs with the
retreatants so hard that
all of them have
stomachache? The Lord
truly blessed us with
the gift of joy along
with some other
recreation that was
summarized in this way:
“we even got to play a
little soccer."
|
Saturday Youth
Gatherings
January 14,
2006: This is my Son. Listen to
Him
<<See Pictures>>
November
19, 2005: I wonna be a
saint
<<See
Pictures>>
 |
Beginning with October we
initiated a monthly day of
spiritual revival for the
youth age 11-18. According
to our Dominican motto:
Contemplate and pass on the
fruits of contemplation, we
cannot keep the richness of
God we experience daily to
ourselves. We feel compelled
to share it with others that
our contemplation may become
even more fruitful. And kids
help us to do so!
|
Every second Saturday of the
month we invite them for a day
of catechesis, good movie, group
sharing, Eucharistic Adoration,
confessions, and the Mass, all with
their active participation, to
assist them to grow in faith. Our
kids love this initiative and get
“A’s” on their homework: they invite
friends!
Consecration
of the chapel,
September 12, 2005
|
Bishop Gustavo, auxiliary
bishop of Chicago,
consecrated our new chapel.
Gathered at a solemn
Eucharist with him we
thanked God for His
Eucharistic presence in the
new convent and praised Him
for His providence upon its
construction. Now, the
chapel serves the
retreatants as the place of
personal encounter with
Christ. In the future, the
chapel is thought to be the
inside private chapel of our
novices.
<<See
Pictures>> |
 |
First Youth
Conference,
September 17, 2005
 |
“Do not be afraid of Jesus
in the Eucharist!” This is
how the first Archdiocesan
Polish Youth Conference at
Rosary Hill was titled. In
the bright sun of first days
of the fall we celebrated
God and our commitment to
Him. John Paul II was our
guide. Encouraged by his
example, we entrusted our
lives to God and His Divine
Mercy. While holding the
white and red rays streaming
from the exposed Blessed
Sacrament, we repeated
silently “Jesus, I trust in
You.” |
Bishop Paprocky was with us along
with many priests and religious
sisters. During his homily he shared
his experience of the World Youth
Day in Cologne, Germany. The whole
event made us feel stronger about
our faith. We want to continue such
gatherings and already look forward
to the September 2006 Youth
Conference.
<<See
Pictures>>
Perpetual
profession,
August 8, 2005
 |
The feast of Saint Dominic
this year was even more
blissful than usually: 10 of
our sisters dedicated
themselves totally to Christ
through the profession of
chastity, poverty and
obedience. Their public
commitment “until death”
took place in the cradle of
our community in Wielowies,
Poland witnessed by about a
hundred sisters and several
hundreds of the invited
guests. |
 |
By professing evangelical
counsels the sisters declared to
strive for nothing less than the
perfect love of Christ and His
Church. Perpetual profession stands
for a full incorporation into the
religious family and active
participation in its mission. This
is why Sr. Andrea Andrzejewska, OP
and Sr. Margaret Lekan, OP returned
to our American province and will
work respectively as a nursing home
administrator in Milwaukee, WI and
vocation and retreat director in
Justice, IL.
<<More
Pictures>>
Consecration of new
convent,
December 8, 2004
 |
The
consecration of the new
provincial house, one of the
greatest events in our
Dominican history, deserved
best possible celebration
and a suitable date. We
chose the day of a 150th
anniversary of the
proclamation of the dogma of
the Immaculate Conception
since our province is named
after this Marian mystery.
The Mother General Julia
Bakalarz, OP and bishop
Paprocky of Chicago
attending the event
highlighted its importance.
|
A motherhouse, a true religious
convent, was a dream from the day
our sisters arrived to America some
80 years ago. Delayed in
realization, the dream began to come
true when the construction of a
3-stores building got started in the
summer of 2003. In September of 2005
we moved into the new edifice, which
now serves both as a convent and as
a retreat center. In the future it
will hopefully serve also as a
formation house for the Dominican
generations to come.
<<See
Pictures>> |
|
|
|