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Director's Reflection
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
---- Thomas Merton
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Mary Lach
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This is one of my favorite prayers, and I go back to it whenever something jolts me or brings me to a place that has more questions than answers. Lately, that seems to be happening more often. Perhaps it is the political climate. Perhaps it is a part of aging. Perhaps it is grieving over the many losses and rejoicing in all the good things in our family. For whatever reason, I am often challenged to live within the questions and not always be certain of things.
As a girl, I knew some things for certain: I knew I was loved by my parents and grandparents. I knew that we always ate as a family and prayed as a family. I knew the
Baltimore Catechism. I knew that I mustn't talk back to any adult and must accept what adults told me, and I knew that I could always lose myself within the pages of a book. I knew that there were some very interesting people in my family, and I knew that my dad had already suffered the deaths of his father and his brothers Jimmy, Anthony, and George, and that they had been extraordinary men.
I knew that my paternal grandparents were both born in Germany and came to this country as young adults, and I knew that my maternal grandparents came from Ireland and Hungary. As a girl, I always proudly announced my ethnic heritage: "I am half German, 25 percent Irish, and 25 percent Hungarian."
A few weeks ago my first cousin Bobby, the son of my dad's sister Lillian, let my dad know that he had his DNA analyzed. Bobby's maternal heritage is the same as my paternal, so one would assume that half of Bobby's DNA was the same as mine
---- German, from Andrew and Elisabeth.
His results were surprising, showing most of his ethnicity to be Finnish, and no German whatsoever. Bobby's dad was from Poland, and while Bobby had some Polish DNA, he didn't have nearly the percentage he expected. How could this happen?
Bobby, a retired history professor, found this to be rather hilarious and intriguing. He learned that we all carry DNA that goes way back into generations of people and, when we are created, it can be from any part of our immediate family or from relatives who go back hundreds of years. Bobby also discovered that his siblings would most likely get very different results than he did.
Where did this Finnish connection come from? What did all of this mean? Did we really descend from Germans? What really is a German? After all, the boundaries changed often during the last 150 years. This all leads to the bigger question, "Who am I?"
As we look at diversity through the Congregation's Enactments, might we discover that within each of us is a diverse genetic code that connects us to our neighbors and even to those with whom we disagree? Instead of being German, Irish, and Hungarian, am I simply a human child of God, who descended from people who once lived in Europe? Who am I, if I'm not who I really thought I was?
We are a kaleidoscope of our ancestors and we are blessed by the fragile thread that connects us all. It is interesting, as a mother and grandmother, to see different family traits in my descendants. My son has my dad's startling blue eyes, which apparently his great-grandfather had, and my daughter looks like both of her grandmothers morphed into a beautiful young woman.
Is not my behavior and attitude more important than where my grandparents came from? As we continue to pray, contemplate, and work with our Enactments, we will find much fertile ground for growth and wisdom.
Please send in your Annals! If you have not received the forms, please
email or call me.
Welcome New Associates
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From left, Sister Mary Ann Dixon, OP, and Cheryl Boyce.
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On Friday, May 12, we welcomed Cheryl Boyce, mentored by Sister Mary Ann Dixon, OP, who was in Adrian for a retreat.
On Sunday, May 21, during the 11:30 a.m. Mass at St. Ann's in West Palm Beach, Florida, we welcomed Sylvia Raftery, Glenann Robbins, and Brigitte Valbuena. All three have been mentored by Sister Margot Ruiz, OP, and Sister Margaret Exworthy, OP. These new Associates will join a Sojourner Group in West Palm Beach.
At 3:30 p.m. that same day, at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Boca Raton, Florida, we welcomed Sandra Patricia Castro, Maria Alejandra Feo, Maria Lucretia Figueira, Brian Patrick Herbert, and Belinda Mussenden. They were mentored by Sister Carmen Àlvarez, OP, and Sister Frances Madigan, OP. They will join a Sojourner Group in Boca Raton.
Pictures from these rituals and biographies of our newest Associates will be in the July newsletter. In August, we will welcome nine new Associates during Partners V.
Sojourner Groups
In the past, most Associates joined Mission Groups, which were made up of mostly Sisters. As the demographics of the Sisters change, some locations have a number of Associates and few, if any, Sisters. Sojourner Groups ---- circles of around eight Associates and, at most, two Sisters ---- were established in these areas. Several Sojourner Groups are emerging. Currently, these groups are in St. Louis, Missouri; Anchorage, Alaska; Detroit, Michigan; Boca Raton, Miami, and West Palm Beach, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Phoenix, Arizona; Seattle, Washington; and San Diego, California.
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Nancy Mason-Bordley
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Associate Profile: Nancy Mason-Bordley
By Sharon Bock, Associate
Consistency, steadiness, and a dose of daring might be a good way to describe Nancy Mason-Bordley. She is not only a native of Michigan, but has lived there her entire life. Her history with Dominicans almost parallels this stability. Once she started school as at age 5 or 6, Nancy has been in some way associated with Dominicans. Her sense of daring has led her to take on challenges outside her comfort zone.
Partners in Mission V
Please consider joining us for Partners in Mission, the weekend of August 4-6. Sister Rosa Monique Peña, OP, will be exploring diversity with us. By now, all Associates should have received a registration form in the mail. Please contact me as soon as possible if you have not yet received your registration form or if you need a scholarship. Space is limited, so register soon.
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Kudos
On June 3, Marge Coneset's granddaughter, Megan, will graduate from high school in Chicago and will be heading to Carroll University in Wisconsin.
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Judah Hentschel
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Introducing Judah Lincoln Hentschel, son of Mary Lach's nephew, Richard, and his wife, Charity. Judah arrived on May 5.
Peggy Rowe-Linn has expanded her family! She and her husband, Steven Linn, have become the permanent guardians of Cheyanne, age 9, as of May 24, 2017! Also, their granddaughter, Chloe Jade Carswell, celebrated First Eucharist on May 21.
Karen Hagen retired in May from Lansing Community College (LCC), where she served for 18 years as an associate adjunct professor. Karen worked with approximately 3,000 students, teaching Introduction to Labor Relations; Human Resource Management; Principles of Management; and Compensation Management. She is very grateful to have served the Lansing community and LCC.
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Sara Lach
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Congratulations to Sara Lach, niece of Mary and Thierry Lach, on receiving her master's degree in occupational therapy in May.
Kudos to Associate Jacci Brown, whose inspiring presentation "A Journey through Grief" was presented April 27. View it
here.
Kudos to Sister Marcine Klemm, OP, who shared insights with our prospective Associates in Adrian on Mission and Ministry!
After 14 years of civil matrimony, Associate Nancy Medina and Carlos Ortiz reaffirmed their vows and received the blessing of the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. The celebration took place April 29, the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. The couple was surrounded by family and friends.
Nancy and Carlos thank the Adrian Dominican Sisters and Associates for their prayers and well wishes.
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Among those in attendance at the blessing of the marriage of Nancy Medina and Carlos Ortiz, center, were, from left:
Sister Margot Ruiz, OP, Sister Carmen Àlvarez, OP, Sister Teresita Ruiz, OP, Sister Margaret Exworthy, OP, and Sister Frances Madigan, OP. | Photo by Associate Peggy Rowe-Linn.
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From Our Associates
Spiritual Longings
Following are reflections on the Enactment on spiritual longings. For next month, please submit your reflections on diversity. I will need them by Saturday, June 10.
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Marge Coneset
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My spiritual longing is to continue serving the community the best way I can.
Marge Coneset of Adrian, Michigan
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Jan Donner
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Reflecting on this Enactment gave me time to think about, and name, that restless yearning that always seems to be an undercurrent in my life. I think it is a desire for a deepening experience of God. I have found myself eager to recognize moments in everyday life as "God moments." My belief that God is with us always and in our midst is strong, but often I am too distracted and preoccupied to search for or recognize God at work in the humdrum of daily life. A longing of mine is to make a habit of taking time for silence, to practice deeper contemplation and mindfulness. I need to be more intentional in taking time for a contemplative prayer practice. I believe this would help me to empty my mind to be present to Presence.
Another longing, which I believe would come out of prayer, will be to demonstrate forgiveness and letting go of grudges. As I am aging, there is so much to reflect on and to let go of in the years remaining. I want to have a faith that is alive in loving relationships. My personal growth and renewal will come through, allowing for quiet time to listen to what God is calling me to.
Jan Donner of Eagle River, Wisconsin
It is such a beautiful time of rebirth and new beginnings. It is such a positive time for me to be aware of the gifts of growth, new awareness both internally and externally, and the opportunity to share this growth with others through my actions and my thoughts. What a blessing!
Mary Bommarito of Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Blessings
Many of you might be familiar with the Venerable Father Solanus Casey (1870-1957), a Capuchin friar in Detroit. He was a man of great faith who reached out to many while serving as the doorkeeper. Thousands of people, Catholic and non-Catholic, came to talk to him and he listened to them. He is to be beatified, the next step on the road to sainthood.
Click here for more information on this extraordinary man who excelled at doing the ordinary.
Mary Lach of Clinton Township, Michigan
Reviews and Recommendations
Sister Ann Fallon, OP, recommended that I read
Strange Gods, a book that really made me think.
Marge Coneset of Adrian, Michigan
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Roberta Clemak
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I was given a copy of Matthew Kelly's
Resisting Happiness. Matthew explains that resistance stands between us and happiness and that happiness is a choice. He further explains that resistance is a sluggish feeling of not wanting to do something that you know is good for you. (Sound true in your life?) It's also the desire and tendency to delay something we should be doing right now.
One reason that life lacks meaning oftentimes is that we tend to avoid real issues and simply focus on the superficial. The "action steps" at the end of each short chapter can enhance our spiritual journey. I highly recommend this book for those who are especially busy but can spend at least 10 minutes a day in choosing happiness.
Roberta Clemak of Northville, Michigan
I recommend the book
Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy by Anne Lamott. This was an enjoyable read, yet very insightful. Mercy, Anne Lamott says, is "the promise to offer and receive relief and forgiveness" and is at the heart of our spiritual longing. Anne Lamott also writes novels, including
Crooked Little Heart, and has written other books on spirituality, including one of my favorites,
Help, Thanks, Wow.
Mary Lach of Clinton Township, Michigan
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Schedule for Mary Lach,
Director of Associate Life
Working days:
Monday to Thursday
Working in Adrian
June 12-15, 2017
June 26-29, 2017
Working from Home Office
in Clinton Township, Michigan
June 5-8, 2017
June 19-22, 2017
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Prayer Requests
For the repose of the souls of:
- Beverly Holzworth, Associate, 79, of Avon Lake, Ohio. Beverly died on April 11.
- Kevin Wiley, great-nephew of Frances Gagney, Associate, of Warren, Michigan. Kevin, 22 months old, drowned tragically on May 16.
Karen Malmsten, Associate, of Hudsonville, Michigan: for her grandson, Ethan, who lost his mother to breast cancer on August 1, 2016.
Patty Gillis, Associate, of Southfield, Michigan: for recovery or a happy and peaceful death for her long-time friend Ileana Suber. Ileana has been sick for a long time and at the time of this writing was in ICU.
Joyce Reigelsberger, Associate, of Tempe, Arizona: for her daughters, Julie Sergovic and Mary Reigelsberger, and her sister, Janet Hazlett.
Marti Rozmys, Associate, of Ypsilanti, Michigan: for upcoming surgery.
Continued prayers for Associates Patty Seckel, Elvera Paul, Terry Ann Viegas, and John Coleman, all of Michigan.
Roberta Clemak, Associate, of Northville, Michigan: for a friend's husband who needs a liver transplant.
Tricia Layden, Associate, of Seatac, Washington: for prayers that she can begin ministry with the Regional
Justice Center. There is a paperwork snafu.
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Upcoming Events
Formation Session for Prospective Associates
1:00 to 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Motherhouse in Adrian
Roseville Group
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, 2017
St. Basil's Church, 22851 Lexington Avenue, Roseville
We are reading
Praying with Dominic.
All are welcome.
Partners V: Focus on Diversity
Friday evening to Sunday noon, August 4-6, 2017
Weber Center, Adrian
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Mission Statement for Associate Life
The Mission of Associate Life is to respond to a call to live the Dominican charism.
Associate Life provides and fosters opportunities for women and men to share life in Mission
with the Adrian Dominican Sisters within a relationship of mutual support for ministry,
and to develop and strengthen their commitment to the mission of Jesus.
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Associate Life Advisory Board
Please feel free to contact members of the Associate Life Advisory Board with your questions, ideas, or concerns.
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