Rejoice with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist as we celebrate our 20th anniversary!
Today we rejoice as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist! On February 9, 1997, the first seed of the community was established as our four foundresses – Mother Assumpta, Sr. Mary Samuel, Sr. Joseph Andrew, and Sr. John Dominic – made their vows. In his homily on that occasion, John Cardinal O’Connor of New York reminded the sisters of the call of Abraham and his response of faith.
“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.’” (Genesis 12:1)
Like Abraham, our foundresses left a life they loved to give new expression to St. Dominic’s zeal for souls in our own time. In response to St. John Paul II’s call for the New Evangelization, these four sisters sought to spread the witness of religious life according to the Pope’s words in his apostolic exhortation Vita Consecrata: “The Spirit, who at different times has inspired numerous forms of consecrated life, does not cease to assist the Church . . . by giving new charisms to men and women of our own day so that they can start institutions responding to the challenges of our times.”
God said to Abraham, “’Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’” (Gen 15:5)
As our foundresses made their vows that day, they did not know that God would send them many vocations. However, they trusted that their work would bear fruit if it was God’s will, and in these 20 years we have grown to over 125 sisters, who have in turn been able to touch thousands of students and their families through our teaching apostolate!
As Pope Francis encouraged all religious during the Year for Consecrated Life, we look to our past with gratitude, first to God, for His guidance, protection, and blessings, and secondly for our foundresses, who trusted in God’s wisdom and guidance. We seek to live the present with passion, burning with zeal for souls. Lastly, we embrace the future with hope, trusting in the Lord’s continuing plan for our community. We ask you to join us in prayerful thanksgiving for the graces we, as a community, have received and to pray for a continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we strive to follow His promptings.