our merciful God
Living into the Lord’s
Most Powerful Message
Moments of Mercy in this Holy Year of Mercy · Spring 2016 · Vol. XIII
Dear Friends:
From the Prioress
3
Moments of Mercy
I
3 Showing Mercy
in Prayer
Imagine the boldness of such an exchange: I give my
life, entrusting myself through the vow of obedience
to God and to the goodwill of the one into whose
hands I make profession, and to my Dominican
Family. And God gives me: mercy. That is all I ask.
That is all I need.
4 Merciful Presence
5 Sheltering People
Who Are Homeless
7Mercy to Those
Without Hope
9Working to
Eliminate Racism
10 The Abiding
Legacy of Mercy
11 Inflamed with Mercy
13
Compare this to a cliché we use in our United States
justice system: “throw yourself at the mercy of the
court” in order to escape harsh punishment. But
that requires one to first acknowledge guilt.
In our tradition of Dominican life we throw
ourselves at the mercy of our Sisters. This requires
us to acknowledge just one thing: love. Love which
never measures – only forgives. That’s the thing:
our God is not into the idea of measurement, or
quid pro quo, or full cost, or end of season sales. If
anything, our God is into deep discounts, because
we receive far more than we give.
From the
Development Office
14 Saying Thank You
15 Annual Report
Introduction
Dominican Center
17 for Spirituality
18
An Invitation for You:
800th Dominican
Jubilee Speaker Series
What do we need in order to live this legacy of mercy?
This is a photograph of fabric art entitled “Tulips” by West Michigan Artist
Doris Larson.
“Art is a response to the wonder of creation. It somehow connects the creative
force within me to the awesomeness of God’s creation. I see potential artworks
everywhere: in a flower, at a stone quarry, on a rock face, in footprints in the
sand, in the beauty of a winter day.” – Doris Larson
In a Vatican Radio interview, Pope Francis told the
story behind his selection of his episcopal motto,
“Miserando atque eligendo.” Meaning lowly but
chosen, the literal translation in Latin is “by having
mercy, by choosing him.”
Johnny "Q" Photography
to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something
to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me
in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I
was sick and you looked after me, I was in
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We extend mercy by preaching the Risen One and
sharing the messages Jesus left us: forgiveness, not
judgment; love, not sin; mercy, not punishment.
In this year of celebration of 800 years of Dominican
life, and the Year of Mercy, we gratefully acknowledge
that God sees us with merciful understanding and
chooses us. How could we do less for each other, for
humanity, for all of creation?
In this issue of Mission & Ministry, we offer you
moments of mercy, examples of living into the Lord’s
most powerful message.
Show mercy. Sow mercy. Beg mercy. Be mercy.
What is needed to live this legacy?
The mercy of God, and yours.­
Sister Maureen Geary
Prioress
It is said that Saint Dominic’s last testament was:
prison and you came to visit me.
“Have charity for one another; guard humility; make
your treasure out of voluntary poverty.” From this
wisdom emerges the tradition of each new member of
the Dominican Family asking for mercy, and in turn
extending mercy to all in the community.
He quoted the Venerable Bede who wrote that in
the calling of Matthew, “Jesus saw the tax collector
and by having mercy chose him as an apostle, saying
to him, ‘Follow me.’” Pope Francis describes this as
Jesus “mercying him and choosing him.” Still today
Jesus gives the gift of mercy and chooses women and
men to follow him.
For I was hungry and you gave me something
Front Cover: Sister Cecilia
Faber and Sister Kateri Schrems
in the Chapel of the Word at
Marywood Health Center.
t’s an ageless ritual. For 800 years in our
profession of vows, Dominicans have asked
simply for “the mercy of God, and yours”
when offering our lives as a gift to God
and God's people.
from the prioress
2
Johnny “Q” Photography
Table of Contents:
Matthew 25:35-36
It is said that Dominic’s last testament was
“Have charity for one another...”
www.grdominicans.org
2
MOMENTS OF MERCY
MOMENTS OF MERCY
A Holy Year of Mercy
Merciful Presence: Sharing the Love and Kindness of Jesus
When Pope Francis announced an extraordinary Jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy, he
emphasized that no one is excluded from God’s mercy. The Dominican Sisters ~
Grand Rapids have long embraced this message, remembering that mercy is the
gift shared with us that we are asked to share with our neighbor. How we respond
is evidence of God’s action in our lives.
In the coming pages, you will read stories of God’s mercy in action – moments of mercy. In this
Holy Year of Mercy we remember that Jesus, our Mercy, shared the sinner’s table, cleansed the
leper’s flesh, and chose to walk the dusty roads of life. He broke the chains that bind us and freed
us from all that would hold us captive.
Sister Ada Puts Prayer in Action for Immigrant Families and Children Sister Ada believes in prayer, and she believes that God
listens to us if we open our hearts. But, she cautions that
we can’t stop with prayer. We must take steps to help
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“Family members are the main support when someone
is ill, but sometimes a person has nobody nearby – and a
Sister’s presence is an important addition to the excellent
medical care they receive. Other times, the Sisters support
family members who may be struggling with the illness of
their loved one,” Sister Kateri said.
“We are allowed, not just asked, to become a part of
people’s lives when they are most vulnerable,” said Sister
During this Year of Mercy, Sister
Ada notes the poignancy of her
ministry focused on praying for
struggling immigrants. While she
has prayed for this same issue for
many years, it seems that the idea
of mercy toward those entering our
country has taken on new meaning.
“Build bridges and not walls. That
is what Pope Francis has said from
the beginning. Build bridges so
that there can be an equality
among people,” she said. 
~ Maureen Fitzgerald Penn
“In some cases, we are honored to accompany people living
their final days on Earth,” Sister Kateri said. “I draw on
my understanding and acceptance of the life journey to
companion in final days.”
“Our presence here comes from the presence of God in the
world; what a blessing that each of us is able to be that.” 
~ Stacy Spitler
DSGR Archives
those prayers be answered. “After
school many evenings I would call
my contacts seeking resources for
my students and their families,”
Sister Ada said. “Acting and
praying. Praying and acting.”
“Sometimes our presence may be a nod, eye contact, sharing a
thought, or sharing moments in prayer,” she said. “Sometimes
all that is needed is someone to share silence with.”
Sister Ada Dominguez
cautions that no one
person can take on the
challenge of praying and
acting effectively on every
issue. Rather, she invites
everyone to take one
specific prayer ministry,
much as the Dominican
Sisters do.
I was ill and you
cared for me.
Matthew 25:30
DSGR Archives
“I spent 21 years in the public school here and often witnessed
the struggle firsthand as my students and their parents sought
to unite their families here,” said Sister Ada, who recently
retired from the Albuquerque Public Schools where she served
nearly 40 years as both teacher and principal. “I was drawn
to welcome every immigrant, accept them, help them to get
educated and have their physical needs met.”
The Sisters on the Pastoral Care Team at Marywood
Health Center deliver the gift of mercy to those who are
healing, and to their families. Marywood Health Center,
a partnership between Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids
and Porter Hills, provides skilled nursing care and holistic
rehabilitation therapies in an environment enriched by
the faithful presence of the Dominican Sisters.
Team members may be joined by other Sisters from
Marywood, who dedicate themselves to encouraging
patients, family members, and employees – and to assure
them that Sisters are remembering them in prayer.
Showing Mercy in Prayer:
Prayer is a vital part of each Sister’s ministry. Every year
when all members of the Congregation are missioned, each
Sister also affirms her prayer ministry. This typically reflects
something close to her heart and can change annually or
remain the same for years.
Kateri. “It is a gift to be called upon and so I approach each
person I meet with reverence, honoring all that they are.”
“I think of the Gospel where Jesus asks, who is my mother?
My brother? My sister? This ministry is the daily lesson in
living the family of God,” said Kateri Schrems, OP, one of
the five Sisters currently on the Pastoral Care Team.
We are glad that you have joined us in these encounters with mercy.
When Ada Dominguez, OP bows her head every day, she
prays for immigrant parents and children seeking legal
status in our country. Then she puts her prayers in action
and works to help these families.
One of the most merciful things a person can do is share
the love and kindness of Jesus, and the hope of the Gospel.
Sister Kateri Schrems visited regularly with Tom
Valle, a patient from Kalamazoo, recovering
from knee surgery at Marywood Health Center
earlier this year.
www.grdominicans.org
4
MOMENTS OF MERCY
MOMENTS OF MERCY
Linda was out of town for an uncle’s funeral the day of the
fire. She recalled hearing Mike say over the phone that the
fire took everything. She was devastated, thinking that meant
all of her children. Once Mike could clarify that the children
were all safe, Linda was able to focus on the immediate task at
hand – finding shelter for a family of nine.
Johnny “Q” Photography
“It is so hard to put into words. It wasn’t just that they gave
us a home. They gave us spiritual guidance and, most of all,
love,” Linda shared. “It was such a special time in our lives;
we had nothing and the Sisters offered us mercy and hope.”
Tommy FitzGerald was just four when he met Sister Judith Ann Barber. Here, they get reacquainted as Tommy shows her his quilt, made for him
by the Dominican Sisters. The quilt was one of a set made for the beds of the FitzGerald family during the months they lived with the Sisters
at Marywood after a fire destroyed their home.
Sheltering People Who Are Homeless:
Welcoming a Family of Nine to Marywood
“I was standing on the street watching their house burn
down. The fire was dreadful,” Judith Ann Barber, OP
reminisced recently about October 9, 1974, when a home
on Lakeside Drive NE, across from Marywood, belonging
to Mike and Linda FitzGerald and their seven young
children, was destroyed. “Mr. FitzGerald was out there with
their children talking to another neighbor about not having
anywhere to live now. I told him if they couldn’t find a
place where they could all be together, I would check with
the Prioress, Marjorie Vangsness, OP and see if they could
live in one of the vacant spaces in our building.”
So began an act of mercy that continues to have a rippling
impact on those most intimately affected – the children
who found themselves sheltered by the Dominican Sisters.
“It definitely put a stamp on my spirit to recognize that
we are one community, and we are here to bring each
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other up,” said Tommy FitzGerald, who was four years
old at the time of the fire. “The Sisters were amazingly
accommodating.”
Today, Tommy is founder and executive director of Kitchen
Sage, a culinary leadership program working with young
people from all backgrounds who seek to build life skills
in a fun, food-centered atmosphere. “My commitment to
hospitality as a career has to do with lessons learned when
my family home burned down and we were taken in by the
Dominican Sisters. Look what I do for a living, I’m here to
take a young person and offer him or her opportunities,”
Tommy said. “I learned from the best.”
Recalling the aftermath of the fire, Linda, mother to this
brood of seven children, said: “They took us into their
home. They included us. They didn’t have to invite us in.
But they did. They welcomed us.”
Sister Judith Ann remembers that people thought it was
very unusual for the Congregation to host a family with
children ranging in age from 3 to 12 within the walls of the
Dominican Sisters’ Motherhouse. “At the time it seemed
like the natural thing to do. Here were the neighbors of
whom Jesus speaks. We had the space; it would have been
cruel to say no, you can’t come in,” she said.
With the help of Linda Schoenborn, OP, then Executive
Housekeeper and Hostess for the Motherhouse, the family
was settled into the room now known as Ratisbon Dining
Hall. Tommy remembers the seven single beds lined up
along the wall with pipe and drape to form a dormitory
for the children. His parents had two single beds pushed
together at the end of the same large room. A small area
was set up for homework and meals. The family shared a
bathroom but had to travel to the lower level to use what
was at that time the postulant shower room.
“Ratisbon was not being used and we went into our attic
and found enough beds and dressers for them to use,
even a table and chairs,” Sister Linda said.
Tommy’s mom, Linda, shared that she was surprised and
pleased to see that each child’s bed was covered by a handstitched quilt crafted by one of the Sisters and each child
received a rosary made by one of the Sisters. Tommy noted
with teasing laughter that he is the only one of his siblings
who still has his quilt. For him, it has become a symbol of
treasured memories. “The Sisters showed us love before we
even got there by making everything ready to go,” Linda said.
“The children thought it was great. To them it was home.”
“I never felt that we were homeless. We were never
without hope,” Tommy said. “Because of the way the
Sisters treated us all, we never lost our dignity. I never felt
like we were poor. I just wanted to live there forever.”
Tommy is full of stories from his five months of life at
Marywood. He recalls some of the Sisters baby-sitting
them; the family simply walking upstairs to Sunday Mass;
trick or treating through the convent, knocking on doors
and being rewarded with treats from the Sisters; sharing
Christmas services and a meal with the Sisters; and
sledding with some of the Sisters on the property.
Even today the Dominican Sisters support sheltering
the homeless through their collaboration with the
Grand Rapids Coalition to End Homelessness and the
Congregational Partnership Program.
In the past decade, the Congregation has also opened
other Marywood spaces, welcoming people to the Sisters’
home through long-term care at Aquinata Hall and
rehabilitative care at Marywood Health Center. “We
invite people in all the time,” Sister Judith Ann said.
“The Dominican Sisters, what they’ve done for our
community and for my family is amazing. It’s all about
that spirit of glorifying God through our actions for our
neighbors,” Tommy said. “Nothing has changed here; the
buildings look different, but the Dominican Sisters are
doing exactly what God tells everybody to do.” 
~ Maureen Fitzgerald Penn
www.grdominicans.org
6
MOMENTS OF MERCY
Mercy to Those Without Hope:
Neighbors visit the
Jonah House Food
Pantry once a week.
Compassion for Those Who Are Impoverished
DSGR Archives
The United States of America has more people living in
jails and prisons than any other developed country in the
world. Department of Justice statistics state that one out
of every 37 adults in the U.S. is living in prison, jail, or
on probation. Many who are imprisoned came into the
system having lived impoverished lives from birth, wanting
for food and shelter; needing education and opportunity;
desperate for health care.
Those are more than just unfortunate statistics for Ardeth
Platte, OP. Sister Ardeth has ministered to people who are
imprisoned – living beside them, as one of them.
She is one of three Dominican Sisters from Grand
Rapids who have served time in jail and prison. Their
personal efforts to bring attention to injustice through
demonstration, study, and prayerful intention are tied to
their deep conviction that they must work to end war,
nuclear arms, and poverty.
Sisters Ardeth, Carol Gilbert, and Jackie Hudson are
very candid about the life lesson they have learned:
Oppression is not the way. Mercy is the way, and it is
the Lord’s most powerful gift.
Their ministry of activism and accompaniment has allowed
them to extend, and receive, deep mercy. “I’ve learned that
it is inside the walls where I’m closest to the poorest and
where my sense of compassion is nourished,” Sister Ardeth
said. “It is in that ‘world’ without material things, where
powerlessness, dehumanizing strip searches, lack of medical
care, oppressive regulations and punishment, slave labor,
oppressive overcrowding, few or no treatment programs –
it is in that world where compassion is needed desperately.”
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Sister Carol Gilbert and Sister Ardeth Platte minister
from Jonah House. Here they stand next to the Peace Pole
in their garden, holding a sign for their food pantry and
the International Peace and Justice Award, given at the
2013 Archdiocesan Justice Conference.
Sister Jackie fought cancer while imprisoned. She died
in 2005 soon after her release. Sister Ardeth and Sister
Carol now live in an impoverished neighborhood in
Baltimore, Maryland. They live a simple lifestyle in a
community house, till the soil of a community garden,
and work with others intentionally to care for God’s Earth
and feed God’s people with food and the spiritual gift of
presence. “Here, we offer grace and the fruits of the Earth
by the bushel, and we labor to be merciful, representing
those who have no voice,” said Sister Carol.
“We do what we can outside witnessing for all who are
incarcerated,” said Sister Ardeth. “We also do what we can
to provide resources and support to our friends inside. We
speak up for justice, sometimes we extend reconciliation
requests to estranged family members. Sometimes we
stand in their stead at funerals of loved ones, being
present when they cannot.”
“Whether living in ‘prison neighborhoods’ or poor
neighborhoods in cities like Baltimore, New Orleans,
or Grand Rapids,” Sister Carol said there are masses of
people who are devalued in the eyes of society. “They have
value in the eyes of God,” she said. “The Bible says, help
the least of these; we do that by challenging the status quo
that devalues generation after generation of people.”
The Sisters constantly ask themselves what more they
can do. “We continue to keep in contact with many
women with whom we’ve been incarcerated. We visit each
other, share life, encourage and lend support, block their
recidivism through ongoing love and support.”
Sister Ardeth offered some final thoughts. “People who are
incarcerated and people who live in poverty are the product
of injustice. I am convinced that the most just and merciful
response within our prisons is creation of a restorative system
that would provide opportunities for women and men to be
treated as human. Programs to teach them to be better parents,
good family members, excellent employees, consistent faith
practitioners, and restored members of society.”
They operate the Jonah House Food Pantry, stocked with
fresh and canned items from their orchard, vegetable and herb
gardens. The pantry serves about 130 neighbors every week.
“Providing for basic human needs – food for the hungry,
pure water for the thirsty, clothing, medical care, homes
for all, restoration for the prisoners – that is the merciful
world on Earth that we labor for,” said Sister Carol.
And what of the women left behind in prison?
DSGR Archives
“Pope Francis speaks often of the relation between mercy
and justice in his preaching and writing. It has been a
privilege for me as a Dominican Sister to be able to walk
with the poorest, with prisoners and former prisoners,
with people who struggle to be whole and holy,” said
Sister Ardeth.
DSGR Archives
MOMENTS OF MERCY
… I was in prison
and you visited me.
– Matthew 25:35-36
Praying for Restorative Justice
There is no cable television or Netflix in her home, but
Sister Ardeth overhears conversations about a show,
Orange is the New Black. She served in prison with the
author of the book and writer and producer of the
Netflix show, Piper Kerman. Sister Ardeth is named
in the book and believes her character on the written
page is far more realistic than the one she hears about
on television, who goes by a different name. “From
what I hear about some of the liberties taken for ‘good
television,’ I recommend reading the book.”
She urges caution. “People tune in once a week to see
their favorite characters in crime and prison dramas.
Then turn off the television and imagine what those
characters will do next week. We pray that those who
are watching take notice of the disparities, of the
helplessness and hopelessness that denigrate human
life far too often in our society.”
“I’ve witnessed a nation in desperate need of a system
of restorative justice – which, in my mind and heart,
is closer to Divine justice,” Sister Ardeth said.
She advocates a system that allows people to take
appropriate and public responsibility for mistakes
and criminal acts – activities that are healing and
transformative.
“Keeping open the possibility of restored relationships
should replace the present punitive and oppressive
criminal (in)justice system,” she said. “So, so many are
living impoverished, imprisoned lives in this nation.
I pray that people come to value the preciousness and
sanctity of human life for all.” 
~ Stacy Spitler
The Sisters hold a banner marking 450 land-based
missile sites located in the United States.
www.grdominicans.org
8
MOMENTS OF MERCY
MOMENTS OF MERCY
Working to Eliminate Racism: Community Collaboration
800 Years Led Us to This Moment in Time In 2014, the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids engaged
with Partners for a Racism-Free Community to undertake
the Institutional Challenge to Achieve Racial Equity
(ICARE) certification process.
ICARE is a credentialing process for organizations that
want to make a commitment to name racism in their
organizations and eliminate policies or behaviors that may
be oppressive to any person. It begins with reviewing and
revising policies that might have originated during a very
different time in our history. We are thankful to have an
organization like Partners for a Racism-Free Community
to guide us with this process.
You might ask, “But haven’t you been working for years
to fight racism?”
The answer is yes. In fact, our Congregation’s pledge, made
in 1999, states: “We pledge to see first the common ground
of our humanity and to allow our differences only to enrich
and not to disparage us. In all of our undertakings, we will
notice first and foremost the human person before us.”
At that time, we acknowledged that racism was still a
fundamental reality of our culture and social systems, and we
committed to immerse ourselves in our concern for ending
racism within ourselves, our community, and in our ministries.
“Partners for a Racism-Free Community exists to
deconstruct racism and how it impacts society
through education and policy change.”
– Lisa Mitchell, Dominican Associate, Aquinas College Graduate,
and Former Director of PRFC
Before this, the Aquinas College Sisters joined marches for
racial equality in the early 1960s. Others took active roles in
addressing problems of inequality in education and housing.
It was the work of our Justice Committee (1970-1990) and,
later, the Committee for Systemic Change/Healing Racism
that presented us with study materials and experiences about
institutional racism. Many Sisters participated in intense
workshops on healing racism.
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The Abiding Legacy of Mercy at Marywood:
Sister Barbara Hansen
Lisa Mitchell
Breannah Alexander
"ICARE is how we work to engage organizations
seeking to implement meaningful change around
racial equity in their workplace. The assessment in
conjunction with people-centered explorations
assists in addressing the structural elements that
affect the greater community's ability to combat
the stain of racism on the American fabric."
– Breannah Alexander, Program Administrator,
Partners for a Racism-Free Community
Inclusion is to authentically bring traditionally excluded
individuals and/or groups into processes, activities,
and decision/policy-making. With ICARE’s ongoing
support, we have access to tools and programs for our
directors and managers. We are recognizing proactive
steps such as where we promote job openings and
adjust hiring practices.
Having intentional conversations encourages everyone
who lives, works, visits Marywood to challenge and
change unconscious racist attitudes as we strive for an
inclusive organizational culture. We seek collaborative
relationships with like-minded persons and organizations,
working with others to explore and develop new ways to
bring about a racism-free community. 
~ Barbara Hansen, OP, Champion of the ICARE process
for Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids
Visit prfc-gr.org for information about
getting your organization engaged in
the work to eliminate racism.
Dominicans follow in the footsteps of patrons, St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena,
who preached and lived the Word of God. These saints are among many women and
men of history whose ideas, values, beliefs, and manner of living – during their
time and place in history – changed humanity. These spiritual giants courageously
questioned systemic thinking and behaviors, and in doing so, changed history.
We celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the Dominican Order of Preachers from
November 7, 2015 to January 21, 2017. What an amazing legacy our Dominican
Family is living as we share the glory of the Gospel around the world.
Highlighted on this page are some of the ways that our Congregation lives our commitment to teaching and preaching the
Word of God in what we say and what we do. We preach the Gospel of love, mercy, and hope. We stand in solidarity with
those who live on the margins of society. We affirm the need for collaboration and community so that all may flourish.
“In my job as Promoter of
Justice for the Dominican
Sisters, one of my goals is to
promote learning opportunities
and dialogues that continue
the legacy of St. Dominic and
St. Catherine. Annually, we
welcome visitors to participate
in dialogues and workshops
that encourage learning about
justice and injustice. These
are powerfully transformative
conversations and are open
to everyone.”
~ Sister Mary Brigid
Clingman, Promoter
of Justice, Dominican
Sisters ~ Grand Rapids
“Paying attention to the
words we use is important. We
speak of ‘children who have
refugee status’, NOT of ‘refugee
children’. Likewise we refer to
‘people who are homeless,’
NOT ‘the homeless’. And the
word ‘humankind’ evokes the full
inclusion that ‘mankind’ misses
in today’s society. We strive to
use ‘people first’ language in
the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand
Rapids organization. It is just
one way that everybody can
show respect and influence a
community that is inclusive.”
~ Maureen Geary,
Prioress, Dominican
Sisters ~ Grand Rapids
“At Dominican Center at
Marywood, we create programs
for people of diverse faiths,
cultures, and heritage. We host
organizations with missions that
run parallel to that of ICARE.
We welcome organizations
into our conference center to
provide intentional teaching and
training programs on topics that
promote awareness and attitude
and behavior changes that can
help dismantle institutional and
societal racism.”
~Margarita Solis-Deal,
Director of
Dominican Center
at Marywood
www.grdominicans.org
10
Inflamed with Mercy
A Brief Immersion in Scripture
Barbara Reid, OP is currently Vice President and Academic Dean of Catholic
Theological Union in Chicago. Sister Barbara holds Bachelors and Masters degrees
from Aquinas College, and a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from The Catholic University
of America. She is the author of many books and articles dedicated to the study,
preaching, and teaching of scripture. Sister Barbara offered to share from the
writings of some of history’s great teachers and preachers, as well as Pope Francis’
perspective on mercy.
When we receive divine mercy, it becomes possible for
us to do likewise, as Jesus instructed, “Be merciful,
just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). Thomas
Aquinas defined the virtue of mercy as "the compassion
in our hearts for another person's misery, a compassion
which drives us to do what we can to help him” (Summa
Theologiae, II-II.30.1).
DSGR Archives
By proclaiming a Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis has
shone a spotlight on what is the very essence of God,
revealed most fully in the person of Jesus. Theologians
and believers have long struggled to understand God’s
mercy in relation to divine justice with questions like: If
God is all merciful, how can God also be just? Doesn’t it
re-victimize a person who has been hurt if the perpetrator
is let off with mercy? What is the point of trying to live a
good Christian life if God mercifully saves all – even the
most egregious of sinners? Theologians through the ages
have tried to work out answers to these deep questions,
but it is never possible to fully explain the mystery of
God. The Scriptures and our Dominican tradition help
us to live into the mystery of divine mercy.
St. Dominic’s quest for truth went hand in hand with
mercy. His commitment to study and preach truth was
not an end in itself, but was motivated by his heartfelt
compassion for those who had distanced themselves
from God’s mercy. He was known to have spent many
nights before the cross, pleading with God to have
mercy on sinners. Another of his acts of mercy took
place when a severe famine broke out: Dominic sold
everything, including his precious books, to feed people
who were starving.
St. Thomas Aquinas wrote of God’s mercy as “the
primordial root and the prior element to which
everything else must be traced back.”1 Mercy is not just
one of God’s attributes. It is the very core of who God
is.2 Pope Francis has put it simply: The Name of God is
Mercy.3 Mercy is not only at the heart of God’s being.
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St. Thomas Aquinas tells us of the “infinity of the Divine
Mercy, which is greater than any number and magnitude
of sins.” Moreover, “the mercy of God grants pardon to
sinners through penance without any limits" (ST III.84.10).
But God will never force us to accept this mercy. One of
Jesus’ parables illustrates this well. In Matthew 18:23-35,
a king, moved with compassion, forgives the debt of a
slave who owed him a huge amount. The slave, however,
instead of doing the same for one who owed him a much
smaller amount, exacted payment in full and threw
him into prison when he could not pay. The king then
demanded of the first slave, “Should you not have had
mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?”
The parable ends with the king handing him over to be
tortured until he would pay his entire debt. The point
of the parable is not that God is fickle and might revoke
mercy. The constant biblical message is, “Mercy courts
every human being to the very end.”4 But if we do not
choose to “pay forward” the mercy we have received, the
consequences are dire. When we do choose mercy – both
to accept it and give it – we are set free.
As Pope Francis urges us to open ourselves more fully to
receive divine mercy and to practice works of mercy, he
also speaks of the relation between mercy and justice.
He reminds us that unjust structures of domination,
including that of humankind over the earth, cut off
the wellsprings of mercy: “Dominion over earth….
seems to have no room for mercy.”5 Further, he insists
that mercy is not opposed to justice: it is God’s way
of reaching out to the sinner, offering that one a new
chance. “God’s justice is his mercy given to everyone
as a grace that flows from the death and resurrection of
Jesus.”6 Our sister, St. Catherine of Siena invites us,
“If I were wholly inflamed with the fire of divine love,
would I not then, with a burning heart, beseech my
Creator, the truly merciful One, to show mercy to all
my brothers and sisters?’”7 
~ Barbara Reid, OP
Salt + Light TV Interview
Grand Rapids Dominican Sister Barbara
Reid, OP was interviewed for WITNESS,
a production of Salt and Light TV, that
premiered February 28, 2016, on various
Canadian cable and satellite channels. She
was interviewed by Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB,
who delved into her scriptural studies and
teaching, as well as her personal vocation
story including her formative years taught by
Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan, and
college studies among the Dominican Sisters
of Grand Rapids at Aquinas College.
She spoke of being enthralled by Dominican
Sisters since age six. “I had fabulous teachers.
They were the most intelligent, kind, and caring
women, and they were very joyful. And that
was very attractive to me,” responded Sister
Barbara to an interview question about what
led to her vocation.
“After having gone to an all-girls high school…
I chose Aquinas College in Grand Rapids,
Michigan, because it was a co-ed college,
liberal arts, and a beautiful campus…”
She spoke warmly about meeting and
getting to know the Dominican Sisters ~
Grand Rapids Congregation. “They were
joyful, caring, smart, hospitable and before
long I found myself inquiring about joining
their community.” 
Salt & Light TV is an award-winning digital network
that offers a variety of programs, event coverage,
Many of the books and articles that Barbara Reid, OP
has authored can be found in the libraries of seminaries
and other academic institutions. We are fortunate that
several of her books can also be found in our bookstore at
Dominican Center.
1
Summa theologiae pt. I, q. 21, a 1 ad 2 and 3.
2
Cardinal Walter Kasper, Mercy. The Essence of the Gospel and the Key to
Christian Life (trans. By William Madges; New York: Paulist Press, 2013), 88-89.
3
See The Name of God is Mercy, published by Random House, 2016.
4
Kasper, Mercy, 110.
series, documentaries, and other hope-filled content.
You can see the full interview here:
saltandlighttv.org/witness/?f=sr-barbara-reid
Pope Francis, Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Par. 11.
http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/
papa-francesco_bolla_20150411_misericordiae-vultus.html
5
6
Ibid., Par. 21.
7
Quoted in Kasper, Mercy, 110.
www.grdominicans.org
12
Saying Thank You
For Helping Shape Young Minds and Hearts
from the development office
DSGR Archives
The Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids
are grateful for the memories and the
support we receive from generous
donors like Ann Gautraud. Thank you
for sharing your family’s story, Ann.
For a dozen years in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ann
Gautraud and her late husband, Michael, sent their children
to Sacred Heart Catholic School in Muskegon Heights,
where many of their teachers were Dominican Sisters.
Sister Regina Goeldel Moves As a Quiet Force
“There was something very special about the Sisters,” Ann,
now 85, said. “I respected them very much. They were very
dedicated women; they were very open and friendly to the
parishioners in church and the children in school.”
There’s a quiet force in the development
office at Marywood – a Sister with a
dry sense of humor, a sharp mind, a
compassionate heart and the ability to
wrangle a complex database.
They left such an impact on Ann and her family that
she and her husband made the decision decades ago to
support the mission of the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand
Rapids. That support has been unwavering, a constant
blessing that is greatly appreciated by the Congregation.
In her 57 years as a Dominican Sister,
Sister Regina Goeldel has ministered
through supporting roles. She has served
as a secretary and administrative assistant
at Marywood, Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Aquinas College, St. Pius X, and years
later she is back again at Marywood. She
will tell you she's “being recycled.”
Every donation that is received by the
Dominican Sisters is touched at some
point by Sister Regina. And Sister Regina is
touched by every donation that crosses her
desk. She marvels at the generosity of donors
and has a special admiration for each of them,
whom she likens to giving the widow’s mite.
She relishes a challenge, she’s discreet, and
she has an uncanny knack for effortlessly
connecting with people. A donor who calls
with a question will find a keen problem solver
in Sister Regina. She makes connections
that bring people together, listens to stories
about Sisters whose ministries have been
instrumental in someone’s life, and freely
shares messages of gratitude.
Sister Regina also has stories to tell of
being influenced by the Sisters. She looks
with gratitude upon her formative years
at Grand Rapids Catholic Central. “The
Sisters there were a major influence in my
life, not only as a student but in my three
years working there after graduation. These
faith-filled women seemed so happy, so
knowledgeable, so ready to listen and help.”
Joyful and sharp, with a listening ear and a
helpful spirit – these are qualities exuded by
this quiet force. Sister Regina may choose
to remain out of the spotlight, yet her willing
presence and gracious voice are treasured
for the incredible role she plays in making
the ministries of the Sisters possible. 
~ Susan Halteman
“I think it’s a way of saying thank you for all they gave
us,” she said.
Ann and Michael, who died in 2012, had nine children –
Richard, Patricia, Margaret, Kathleen, Ann, Robert, Daniel,
Peter (deceased) and Michael J. (deceased). They moved to
Muskegon Heights from Brooklyn, N.Y., for Michael to
take a job as chief engineer at Brunswick Corp.
The couple became close friends with the Sisters,
including Sister Mary Lee Pitre, who served as the school’s
principal for many years.
Ann credits the Sisters with helping her children become
such wonderful adults, including one of her sons who
went through a stage of challenging the Sisters.
“He’s a hard-working, kind and generous young man,”
she said. “I think that’s from how he interacted with the
Sisters and how they accepted him.”
Ann, who now attends St. James Catholic Church in
Montague with some of her children, also is thankful for
Ann shared this treasured 1965 photo of her family.
the impact the Sisters had on her faith. “It was a heritage...
a line that connected us all together,” she said.
Throughout the decades-long relationship between Ann
and Sister Mary Lee, there is one day that stands out
in both of their memories – the day in the early 1970s
when Michael invited Sister Mary Lee to go sailing with
him. Michael was an avid sailor and life member of the
Muskegon Yacht Club.
“Over the years, Mike always told Sister, ‘Someday I’ll
take you sailing,’” Ann said. Finally, the day came, and
Sister Mary Lee joined Mike on his boat, Full House, for a
regatta on Muskegon Lake.
Boisterous Michael endured some teasing that day from
friends who saw Sister Mary Lee with her habit blowing in
the wind. “They told him he was going to have to keep his
mouth shut,” Ann said. “But Sister said, ‘You don’t have to
change for me.’”
“It was a great day. It was great to see Sister out having a
good time,” Ann said. “Her charm was not lost on all the
people she interacted with.” And that boat – the Full House?
It lives on today in full hearts that overflow with generosity
in support of the mission of the Dominican Sisters. 
~ Alyssa Allen
Do you have a story to share? Thank a Sister. Share a Sister Story. Visit grdominicans.org.
13
mission
ministry • Spring 2016
www.grdominicans.org
14
For the Fiscal Year Ending August 31, 2015
INTRODUCTION TO ANNUAL REPORT
View the full annual report online at grdominicans.org/annual-report-2015
Free to Answer God's Call
Being a Prophetic Voice and Stewards of our Patrimony
“…one of the compelling works of
religious life today is to discern through
the lens of our charisms the moral use of
our influence, credibility and resources
and to place those gifts in service to
the Gospel of Jesus Christ…”
Leaven for our World
The motto of the Dominican Family,
To contemplate and give to others
the fruits of our contemplation, is
alive and well and guides our prayer.
It is in this way that we are Leaven
for our World.
Through our Congregation’s prayer ministry, we
hold up those around us, including you. We are
grateful knowing that you, in turn, hold up the
Dominican Sisters, surrounding us with your
love and support.
DSGR Archives
This was one of the messages our Congregation studied
this year as together we reflected upon the future of our
Congregation and our role as Stewards of our Patrimony:
gifts past, present, and future.
While all of the Dominican Sisters have yearly
individual prayer intentions, 40 of our Sisters
hold their prayer ministry as primary ministry.
Sisters gather in one of our Chapels for Morning
and Evening Prayer daily.
We remain committed to accompanying people who
have experienced oppression and support them through
our resources, our presence, and our prayer. We speak
out on critical issues and join our voices with others
who are concerned with the same issues.
Many Sisters serve in multiple types of ministries. This
chart is a summary of the number of Sisters serving in
primary areas of ministry.
DSGR Archives
from the development office
In this life, prayer holds us mercifully as we trust
what we cannot yet see or imagine. We ask for
freedom from fear. We ask to share our wisdom.
We ask for and trust in God’s loving presence.
We open ourselves to listen to the Holy Spirit.
~ Mary Pelligrino, CST
Every Sister has an individual prayer ministry and
affirms it each year. Sisters Mary Jo Beckett and Donna
Brown both pray for those with Alzheimers and
dementia and their families. Sister Roxane Dansereau
prays for cancer patients and their caregivers. Sister
Constance Fifelski and Sister Marilyn Holmes pray
for abused and neglected children. Sister Maribeth
Holst prays for families in conflict.
15
mission
ministry • Spring 2016
16
Advocacy/Social Service/ Peace & Justice
42
Spiritual Companions/Therapists
49
Congregational Service/Campus Ministries
28
Education/Literacy/Tutoring
15
Faith Formation/Parishes
11
Health Care/Elder Care/Chaplaincy
15
Artists, Musicians, Writers, Bakers
40
Prayer
Sharing the Fruits
As we respond to the fruits of our contemplation, we share our blessings and
presence with hallmark ministries.
Sister Peter Mary Korson’s attention to detail and
organizational skills are invaluable as Manager
of Mailing Services for the Communication and
Development Departments of the Dominican
Sisters. Her individual prayer ministry raises up
Sisters in Catholic education.
hives
Photos from DSGR Arc
Some Sisters hold close the same prayer from year
to year, others re-focus their prayers. As Sister Ada
Dominguez said about her prayers for the children
and the parents of immigrant children, “I need to
pay attention to only one thing right now. Even
with all the problems that we have in the world,
this is the one thing that I can focus on and pray
on and act on.”
Primary Ministries of our Sisters
Aquinas College
Dominican C
enter at Mary
wood
Marywood Health Center
Aquinata Hall
www.grdominicans.org
16
“That which you are seeking is seeking you.”
An Invitation for You
This quote from Rumi opens the Dominican Center for Spirituality section of our
new Dominican Center website.
If it’s been some time since you joined us for a program at
Dominican Center at Marywood, please consider joining us
for a very special guest speaker.
Mercy. God’s compassion and kindness, to us as favored,
beloved children. Not getting what we deserve; receiving
more than we can imagine. Mercy is a gift from God,
surprising us with wonders that we do not deserve and
yet that we realize we have been secretly desiring. As we
acknowledge the chaos of our world and the inner messes
that can harden our hearts, we know that only God can
bring us peace. Jesus is the face of God’s mercy, a visible
and living sign of love. Mercy is the gift shared with us
that we are asked to share with our neighbor. How we
respond is proof of God’s action in our lives.
Transformation is Personal and Communal
Kim Mulder is a wife and mother of four who is very
active in her own faith community in West Michigan and
is a participant in Dominican Center’s spirituality programs.
Kim reflects that Catholic “things” like Lectio Divina and
saints are new for her and yet she has found Dominican
Center to be a great resource for her spiritual life. I recently
spoke with her about her experiences here.
Sister Diane: How did you find us?
Kim: I’ve known about Dominican Center for quite a few
years. I had a friend who had a spiritual director here, and
my husband liked to come here for retreat days. They both
encouraged me to contact you.
SD: Last year you enrolled in the Foundations in
Spirituality program. What brought you here?
Kim: I was at a pivotal point in my life, deciding if I
should pursue a Master’s in Social Work or become a
spiritual director. Foundations is a course that many
DSGR Archives
The Dominican Center for Spirituality is a place where
people of all faiths seek to deepen their spirituality:
learning to be open to the sacred, the self, the other,
and the whole of creation.
Kim Mulder and Sister Diane Zerfas
people take to deepen their spirituality; it was a course
that allowed me to explore my options.
As Dominicans,
We Advocate for Justice
•
Care of Earth
•
Economic Justice
•
Human Trafficking
•
Migration/Immigration
•
Peace and Security for All Life
•
Ending Homelessness
Campus Ministries
Liturgy
- Dominican Chapel/Marywood
- Chapel of the Word (MHC)
- St. Catherine of Siena Chapel
(Aquinata)
•
•
Dominican Center at Marywood
Health Care & Spiritual
Companioning
- Aquinata Assisted Living
- Marywood Health Center
•
SD: What did you find?
Kim: I made connections with a community that was
both comforting and exciting. As we read the Christian
mystics, I found words that moved me. The biggest
change that blessed me was discovering centering prayer
in the book, The Cloud of Unknowing. It made me much
more contemplative.
SD: You went on to register for the Spiritual Direction
Practicum; please describe your experience.
Kim: Transforming! I’m finding out more and more who
God is and who I am. Learning that “everything belongs”
changes everything. My inner journey is now deepening
and scary and exhilarating. It’s activated a call to action
within my heart, leading me to “do for others”. You know,
there is always something more to do for God. 
~Diane Zerfas, OP, Coordinator of DCM Center for Spirituality
dominicancenter.com
•
WORD – ESL
(English as a Second Language)
•
Partners in Parenting
Overseas Ministries
•
Maternidad de Maria,
Chimbote, Peru
•
Centro de Obras Sociales,
Chimbote, Peru
•
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Mission & Ministry Editorial Team
• Maureen Geary, OP – Prioress
• Danny Lynn – Art Director
• Stacy Spitler – Editor
• Lucianne Siers, OP – Advisor
The hallmark programs at Dominican Center for Spirituality include: Foundations in
Spirituality, Companioning, and the Practicum to become a Spiritual Director. It is
wonderful to see how God’s mercy is at work in our participants’ lives as they experience
our programs and contemplative prayer.
17
mission
ministry • Spring 2016
Prefer a digital copy?
Request to be added to
our electronic mailing
list for the next issue of
Mission & Ministry at
[email protected].
This year at Dominican Center at Marywood we have explored mercy through
the Gospel of Luke, the Gospel of Mercy, as well as a series on Lenten Mercy.
We have also enjoyed several featured guest speakers as we celebrate the 800th
Anniversary of the Dominican Order. We have one more speaker in our
800th Dominican Jubilee Speakers Series: Ann Willits, OP. Her presentation
Meeting Mercy – Looking in the Mirror is not to be missed.
“When we look in the mirror, our prayer might be:
Gracious God of laughter, help me to accept the
truth about myself no matter how beautiful it is.”
– Ann Willits, OP
MEETING MERCY – LOOKING IN THE MIRROR
THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 8:30-10:30 AM
Please join us for the program, followed by brunch. Tickets are $20. Bring
a guest and receive two tickets for the price of one. Call 616.514.3325 to
register or go on online at dominicancenter.com. If registering for two, use
the coupon code “Mercy.”
Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids Essay Contest
Please consider entering our essay contest or help spread the word.
The contest is open to high school, college, and lifelong learners.
ESSAY TOPIC: The Dominican Order of Preachers began 800 years ago in
southern France. Since then all around the world, members of the Dominican
Order, both women and men, have preached the Word of God with their very
lives. St. Dominic’s vision of seeking the truth, preaching God’s mercy, studying
God’s word, and serving those who are most vulnerable was unique in his day,
and is still very relevant today in our quest for peace and justice.
In this essay, explore and explain the connection between St. Dominic’s vision
and our world today. How might his legacy be a compass for today? How might
it provide hope for tomorrow?
Submissions due October 1, 2016.
First, second, and third place cash prizes.
See contest details at grdominicans.org
www.grdominicans.org
18
Nonprofit Organization
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Grand Rapids, MI
Permit No. 451
2025 Fulton St. East
Grand Rapids, MI
49503-3895
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grdominicans.org
About Us
The Dominican Sisters ~
Grand Rapids are a community
of vowed women religious
and Associates who follow the
Catholic traditions of St. Dominic
and St. Catherine of Siena. Since
1877, we have been leading
efforts to educate children and
adults, care for people who are
sick, and advocate for vulnerable
populations. We have established
and staffed schools, a college,
and missions in Michigan, New
Mexico, and abroad. Today we
are teachers, caregivers, spiritual
companions, advocates for peace
and justice, artists, musicians,
authors, and poets. Together we
praise, bless, and preach God’s
love through all we do.
Marywood
Campus Resources
Information 616-514-3325
View Chapel services and upcoming
events at grdominicans.org
View programs at
dominicancenter.com
Dominican Center at Marywood
Event Bookings 616-514-3335
Dominican Associate Life
616-514-3115
Marywood Health Center
616-588-1645
Aquinata Assisted Living
616-259-1702
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Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids
Dominican Center at Marywood
Dominican Sisters
2016 Jubilarians
75 Years – 1941
Carmella Conway
Mary Eloysa Garcia
Helen Jude
Bernice Botwinski
Jane Anthony Cherwinski
Marie Andre St. Cyr
70 Years – 1946
Marie Bernarde Salazar
Thomas Estelle Bryan
Michael Anne Nic
John Anne Paquette
Viola Marie Henige
Marie Eugene Charbonneau
Anne Keating
Mary Lee Pitre
Jean Milhaupt
Olga Mizzi
Dorothy Giglio
Phyllis Brown
JoAn Brown
60 Years – 1956
Dolorita Martinez
Roberta Hefferan
Ellen Mary Lopez
Joanne Toohey
Bernice Garcia
Wanda Ezop
Joan Alflen
Doris Faber
Ann Porter
Madelyn Hronek
Mary Ann Cudzanowski
Rosemary O’Donnell
50 Years – 1966
Susan Keller
Nancy Brousseau
Carol Gilbert
Dorothy Ederer
Phyllis Supancheck
Deceased
We celebrate these 2016 Jubilarians, faithful Dominican Women
preaching the Gospel. Their lives are a testimony of the Pillars of
Dominican Life and Mission: Prayer. Community. Study. Service.
Make a Tribute Gift Today.
grdominicans.org/support