Preach in all ways... Service. Study. Community. Justice. Prayer. Joy.

We welcomed and celebrated 10 women and men on Friday, August 2, in Dominican Chapel at Marywood in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Each new Associate gives voice to their deepening faith journey, sharing with our community of Sisters and Associates, and family and friends, their public expression of solidarity with the Dominican Sisters~Grand Rapids.

Dominican Associates are women and men who journey in community with one another and with our Congregation of vowed women religious. They connect and collaborate in Christian mission and spirituality. They embrace the Dominican charism and bring the Gospel of Jesus to life, sharing Dominican values with their families, community, place of worship, and workplace.

They have spent the past year learning about Dominican spirituality and the pillars of prayer, study, community, and service. This formal commitment to Dominican Associate Life is the final step of their mentored year of study.

We are grateful to the Sister and Associate mentors who have walked beside them during this year of formation. The mentoring process to become an Associate draws on the wisdom and practices of spirituality practiced by Dominicans over eight centuries. During the discernment year, prospective Associates and Mentors study and reflect on the Dominican heritage, so focused on the Word of God, which holds up:

  • liturgical and contemplative prayer,
  • personal and communal study,
  • concern for the common life, and
  • service to those most in need.

2019 Dominican Associates~Grand Rapids, we are blessed by your presence:

Barb Derby (Mentors: Catherine Anderson, OP, Yvonne Hebert)
Jennifer Flynn (Mentors: Ann Porter, OP, Yvonne Parrish)
Mindy Hills (Mentors: Mary Ellen McDonald, OP, Pat Jennings)
Ann Karasinski (Mentors: Rosemary O’Donnell, OP, Mary McNeil)
Betty LaDuca  (Mentors: Mary Louise Stauder, OP, Linda Gridley)
Jean Peck (Mentors: Elaine LaBell, OP, Mary Marks)
Regan Postma-Montaño (Mentors: Kathi Sleziak, OP, Jan Zomberg)
Jim Rademaker (Mentors: Mary Catherine Fodrocy, OP, Pat Hawkins)
Sandy Rademaker (Mentors: Mary Brigid Clingman, OP, Jo Carr)
Mary Jo Shivlie (Mentors: Jarrett DeWyse, OP, Dawn Ewald)

Touched by the Holy One, we journey in solidarity with the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids and with one another. Connecting and collaborating in Christian mission and spirituality, we embrace the Dominican charism ministering in joyful faith and compassionate love.

For more information about Dominican Associate Life, connect with Dominican Associate Life Director Lisa Mitchell.