Prioress Letter
Dear Friends,
As vowed women religious in the Dominican tradition, we believe that the power of faith and presence can, indeed, transform society for at the heart of all transformation is the Holy Spirit at work in our midst.
Earlier this year, our Congregation held its 34th Chapter and elected new leadership who will serve until July 1, 2030. During Chapter, we were invited into transformation as we considered the needs of the congregation, Church, and world for the next six years. Today, we continue living into this contemplative space that welcomes and embraces change.
Our new neighbors at the new Academy Manor will soon be moving in. Academy Manor, our former motherhouse, was developed as affordable housing for seniors. We are very excited to see the fruition of months and years of chaotic processes, filled with lots of questions, which caused discomfort and, at times, second guessing. Today this new mission on our campus reminds us Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids to be gentle as we continue to live into our evolving future.
It’s been two-and-a-half years since our Congregation marked our move out of our 100-year-old motherhouse. The prayer card we received that day was a quote from Teilhard de Chardin. I share it with you on the facing page. Chardin’s thoughts so perfectly capture my own hope for the expression of caring presence we can offer each other and our neighbors near and far.
In this election season in the United States, all of us in our country have already spent months, even years, barraged by unrestrained voices spouting ideas and words that – depending on where we stand – birth fear, hatred, and division. How do we transcend this time in our country and remain civil with one another and sane in spirit?
The way of love, as demonstrated by Jesus, is hard work. Jesus has always asked that we be in relationship with one another; that we sit at the table, find common ground, work through our differences, and celebrate our diversity, and then put in a table-leaf to invite more people to the gathering and begin again.
It takes courage, risk, and vulnerability to encounter those with different opinions, stances, and beliefs. We are called to evolve, and such is no small feat. We have more questions than answers right now. But this is nothing new. Haven’t we always had questions into which we lived the answers?
As you walk with us, we invite you to contemplate the direction and invitation we share with Sisters and Associates: Enlarge the table at which you sit. Together, let’s observe our witness on Earth as disciples of Jesus and listen for God’s voice on our hearts about matters of the world.
As Dominican Sisters, our desire is for our presence to nurture hope in the world. For hope is that aspect of faith which makes us certain that the world is cared for, and loved, by God. Hope obliges us to work toward the realization of the promises found in Jesus: freedom, peace, justice, and reconciliation.
With Love & Hopefulness,
Megan McElroy, OP
… to believe deeply in the transformation of society
~ Tahirih, 19th Century Prophet, Poet, Advocate for Women’s Rights
that we dedicate our lives to laying down the building blocks
of a better world.
A world we may not even live to see.
We understand the power that sacrifice has
in awakening a collective consciousness.
In every moment,
we too can bravely choose to do the next right thing,
knowing that we are planting seeds that will grow into trees
under whose branches future generations will find justice and peace.
