PILGRIMS OF HOPE – Anchored in Christ’s promises and relying on the grace of God
We pray you will accompany us with your prayers and support as we follow God, our source of hope and pilgrim guide.
Greetings of hope in this grace-filled Jubilee year! As we live in our increasingly post-Christian culture, it is clear to see the great need for hope and the deep wisdom of the Church in declaring a Jubilee focused on this beautiful theological virtue.
Pope Leo XIV reminds us, as consecrated religious, that we are called in a special way to be witnesses of hope and a sign in the world of the good things yet to come. For our Sisters, the hope of good things yet to come is an anchor that turns our hearts to God in prayer. His Eucharistic presence nourishes, sustains, and fortifies us in our own faith.
God inspires us to be “pilgrims of hope” – to bring the fruits of our contemplation into the classroom, the Church, and the world – and to nurture future “pilgrims of hope” for generations to come. Read on to see how our Sisters strive earnestly each day to sow seeds of hope that will flourish in the hearts of those we serve, pointing them toward Heaven.
As you provide for our Sisters and our growing apostolate, you too are pilgrims of hope! You have our sincere thanks for your prayerful consideration and our daily prayers for your intentions.
Faithfully in Jesus and Mary,
Mother Amata Veritas Ellenbecker, O.P.
Prioress General
Following God’s call to religious life, we embark upon a life-long pilgrimage, seeking union with God and pouring ourselves out in service of His Church.
At the very heart of our life are the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Through them, we dedicate ourselves completely to God. This life set apart points to the hope of “heavenly glory” and foreshadows the Kingdom to come – the ultimate goal of human existence.
Our life of consecration is made visible by the ancient habit of St. Domnic, which we are privileged to wear. A multitude of stories could be told of those who approach us wherever we go, requesting our prayers or asking questions about the faith!
Without Jesus, our source and summit, our Sisters could not be who God is calling us to be. Beginning each day with Mass and adoration, and returning to Him in prayer together throughout the day, we are nourished by His Eucharistic presence, true food for our pilgrim’s journey.
He anchors our soul in hope, which we are then blessed to take out into the apostolate for the salvation of souls.
With the addition of Cathedral High School in the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter in Houston this fall, more than 90 Sisters are now serving in 32 schools – 15 elementary schools, 13 high schools, and 4 universities in the U.S. and Rome.
As Dominicans, we are called to lead people to Christ, the source of all hope, through education and evangelization.
Among those we engage in the classroom and encounter in the apostolate, we see a universal yearning for happiness. But how can one be truly happy? By seeking union with God, growing in virtue, and living as He intends!
In her years in the classroom, each Sister will invest deeply in the lives of thousands of students. She will help them grow in virtue, embrace their own God-given gifts, and follow His will. She will form them as whole persons – body and soul. In short, she will encourage them to be pilgrims of hope.
One of the four pillars of Dominican life is study. This year, 35+ Sisters will be
enrolled in college courses, pursuing teaching credentials and advanced studies.
The knowledge they gain will equip them to bring God’s Truth to those they serve.
Our young people need witnesses to hope, and this is what we aim to be, nurturing them in a deep, lasting, active faith and a resilience to life’s difficulties.
Our culture is increasingly moving away from a Christian worldview, leaving young people to face ever greater challenges to their faith. In the hearts of our students are questions like: “What will become of me?” and “What is the purpose of my journey?”
Our apostolate is growing to meet the needs of those who share our mission of education and evangelization! We collaborate with experts and incorporate modern science and methods to offer virtue-based resources, support, and guidance to parents and educators. Our aim is healthy human development, virtuous living in friendship with God, and restoration of Catholic identity, culture, and worldview in schools for generations to come.
Openlight Media professional development content equips the hearts and minds of
those who shape the next generation.
As pilgrims of hope, our Sisters offer a visible sign of the reality of God and a witness to the beauty of religious life to more than 10,000 K-12 students and thousands of college students across the country.
Thousands of young women have attended our discernment retreats, held multiple times each year. We also encourage vocations through our online presence, college visits, talks, retreats, and other apostolic work throughout the country.
Our Openlight Media has continued to grow, opening hearts and minds to the light of Christ and transforming the culture! Our pilot program – Disciple of Christ, Education in Virtue – is now in 850+ schools, with 13 dioceses adopting it diocesan-wide.
Secure in Grace is our newest program, offering a Catholic answer to social-emotional learning, equipping teachers and students alike to create an environment where each child is safe, seen, soothed and secure.