Word ESL
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Sr. Mary Courtade: Jubilarian 2023 – 75 Years a Sister
July 28, 2023
I praise and thank God for these seventy-five years as a Grand Rapids Dominican. Most of these years I taught elementary students who were a source of energy and joy, and who challenged and enriched me in many ways. I also enjoyed other opportunities to serve in varied ways as being a Eucharistic Minister, visiting […]
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A Dream and Courage Lead to Citizenship for WORD ESL Student
March 24, 2021
All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. Meet Maria Isabel Hernandez, formerly from El Salvador, and a student of our ESL program. Maria didn’t let the COVID-19 Pandemic deter her from her hopes of learning English and eventually becoming a U.S. citizen. I was privileged to encourage and […]
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Citizenship is Goal of Dominican Sisters~Grand Rapids Ministry
February 20, 2019
As the Dominican Sisters~Grand Rapids WORD~ESL ministry grew and expanded, students expressed a desire to become citizens, so our tutors began to prepare them individually. Within a brief time, we began to form small groups of students who were eligible and wanted to study with us. When they were ready, we would contact Liz Balck […]
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Sister Inspiration: Diane Dehn, OP
December 28, 2018
As an academic advisor with students at Aquinas, I was often inspired by the dedication, determination, and drive of non-traditional students returning to the halls of education. Some students were returning to college to complete a degree or program that they had been unable to finish earlier in their lives. Others were just beginning college […]
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WORD ESL Ministry Celebrates Year 20
November 4, 2018
This fall marked the 20th anniversary of the WORD~ESL a program founded by the Grand Rapids Dominicans twenty years ago in response to our Direction Statements and the needs of the local community. A luncheon celebration was held at Dominican Center in May. Sr. Carmen Rostar has served as Program Director for the past seventeen […]
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A Jubilarian Shares Her Story: Sr. Mary Courtade, OP
July 27, 2018
Dominican Sisters taught young Rosemary from first to 12th grade at St. Francis Catholic School in Traverse City, Michigan. Several of these teachers whom she admired and loved, along with her parish priest, helped prepare her for entrance into the postulancy. The avid student, former cheerleader, usher at the Michigan Theater, and summer cherry picker […]
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Graduation Time for ESL
May 3, 2017
The semester will close in two weeks and we rejoice with all our students who have accomplished so much this year. Graduates of the program are: Emaway Mekuria, Stephanie Ochoa, Tatiana Karandasheva, Kestutis Grinciunas, Mayra Pinto and Binta Bah. This is always a hard time as we say “good bye” to folks we have come […]