Sister Diane Zerfas, OP

“ trust the tiny whispering sound that calls me by name and claims me as God’s own, and I trust the hand of my friend, Jesus, inviting me to bear abundant fruit that will last.”

~ I Kings 19:12; Isaiah 43:1; John 15:16

My heart overflows with gratitude for all the abundant blessings of my life.

The gifts of being: daughter, sister, aunt, friend, Dominican Sister, and co-worker in the vineyard.

The gifts of doing: teacher, preacher, storyteller, liturgy and retreat planner, spiritual director, pilgrim and traveler.

The gift of remembering: our family dinner table, the farm in Dorr, opportunities for education beginning with Marywood Academy, the beauties of nature – especially the National Parks, the joy of swimming and of reading, savoring and sharing the experiences of the Holy Land and the Lands of Dominic.

And the gift of faith: family prayer, singing in the choir, the power of the sacraments, the eloquence of the Word of God, the presence of the Spirit in my daily life and ministry.

Biography

Vicaress, Sister Diane Zerfas, O.P. –– Sister Diane currently serves on the Leadership Team. She has coordinated and facilitated Dominican Center Marywood spiritual formation programs for the past 18 years. She is an adjunct at Aquinas College in Women and Spirituality. She has served the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids in formation ministry, pastoral ministry, and preaching at Dominican Chapel/Marywood. She previously served in elected leadership 2000-2006. Diane graduated from Marywood Academy where she explored a love of learning and learned to love liturgy and the Dominican charisms. She entered the Grand Rapids Dominicans when she was a sophomore at Aquinas College. She received her Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies – Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, MO, Master of Arts in Religious Studies – Aquinas College, and Bachelor of Science (Math, Chemistry, Theology, Education) Aquinas College.

Sister Diane grew up on a small dairy farm in Dorr, Michigan. From her father she inherited a love of story-telling and she witnessed her mother’s patience and good humor raising seven children before clothes dryers and dish washers. Diane graduated from Marywood Academy where she explored a love of learning and learned to love liturgy and the Dominican charisms. She entered the Grand Rapids Dominicans when she was a sophomore at Aquinas College. She was a member of the first group after Vatican II who were not postulants, celebrating flexibility in the face of a renewed religious life.

She taught high school math, chemistry and religion which morphed into prayer presentations for the parents as part of parish programs. She also served the Congregation in formation ministry, pastoral ministry and preaching at Dominican Chapel Marywood, elected leadership, and for the past 18 years at Dominican Center Marywood in the spiritual formation programs.

She is gifted in preaching, prayer planning, story-telling, and process development. She loves to travel, learn, and read and is happy to share those experiences with others. She has been blessed with a large, loving family and a loving community.