Who knew a three-week power outage could become a lesson in creativity, flexibility, and community building?
When the Aquinas College campus lost power for three weeks just as our September programs were getting underway, Dominican Center Marywood (DCM) suddenly found itself becoming a “pop-up” Center for Spirituality! Rather than letting the disruption stop us, we packed up our programs, carried our contemplative spirit wherever we could, and discovered some wonderful new spaces along the way.
On the Aquinas campus, we found welcome in the OLLI space in the Library and the Loutit Room in the Wege Building. At Marywood, we discovered an unexpected gift: spaces that often sit quietly waiting for use were given new purpose. The Marywood Fireplace Room, Aquinata dePorres and Lima Rooms, and the Veritas Conference Room became places for learning, gathering, and connection. In the midst of disruption, we were reminded that hospitality is not confined to a particular building—it is the spirit we carry with us, creating places where people feel welcomed, connected, and at home.
We are so grateful for the people who helped make it possible. The Dominican Sisters community welcomed and supported us, and Sr. Maureen Geary, President of Aquinas College, made sure we were taken care of—even when no one knew exactly when the power would be restored. Their generosity and encouragement gave us spiritual fuel!
This experience reminded us of something we already know deep down: community isn’t defined by a building. It is created through relationships, hospitality, and the willingness to show up for one another.
If you were someone we unexpectedly crossed paths with during these weeks, thank you! Thank you for your prayers, your encouraging words, your patience, and especially those smiles that helped lighten our days. You became part of our pop-up community in ways you may never have realized.
And perhaps the biggest gift of all? We didn’t have to cancel a single program. We had to pivot, improvise, carry a few extra boxes and snacks, and occasionally wonder where in the world we were going to land—but somehow, it all came together.
Beneath the scrambling and shifting, we sensed something deeper at work: God was already there, making space.
Three weeks, many rooms, lots of flexibility, and one very important reminder: the Dominican Center may have been on wheels, but the Spirit was never without a home.
With deep gratitude for this wonderfully resilient community.
Acts 17:28
“In him we live and move and have our being.”
