Recent Ceremonies
20th Anniversary - We Remember the Fire
27th Annual WAVE Awards
A Day with the "Friends of the Sisters"
St. Joseph's Hospital's New Pavillion
Visiting Sister Gene in Tijuana
March for Life
To Lourdes with Love

Recent Ceremonies

Our most recent ceremony - November 8, 2009, welcomed Sisters Colleen McDermott and Kathy Repass to a special step in their process of Becoming Dominican. They entered the novitiate and became our newest sisters! To enter into the journey of women who have responded to God's call lived through the lifestyle of the preacher in the tradition of Dominic, and view photos of recent ceremonies, please click on the link below:

Ceremonies >

20th Anniversary - We Remember the Fire

Today we remember the fire that burned our Motherhouse. We recall with great gratitude those who guided us in the aftermath, especially Sr. Kristin and the Council at that time: Srs. Linda Burris, Aaron Winkleman, Barbara Green, Lois Silva, Victoria Commins and Francis de Sales Taggart.

We give thanks as we recall the firemen, the policemen, the maintenance workers and all who came to our rescue that day.

We thank God for all our friends, families and neighbors who supported us not only that day, but also through the process of recovery, and who continue to stand with us today.

We give thanks for the architects, the contractors and all who preserved our campus/grounds and made our new beautiful buildings a reality.

We have been deeply blessed by God and by the friends of God. May we be a blessing in the lives of others; may we find new ways to share our blessings with others.

With loving prayers on this day of remembrance, Sr. Maureen

The fire started under the eaves on the fourth floor of the motherhouse on July 12, 1990.	The firemen worked tirelessly, extinguishing the fire. All the sisters were safe.
The motherhouse as it was before the fire.	Dominican Sisters Center today.

27th Annual WAVE Awards

Each year GirlSource, presents the WAVE Award to three exceptional women over the age of 60, who through their leadership and pioneering spirit have made significant contributions to our [Bay Area] community. The event raises funds to support GirlSource programs which provide meaningful mentorship, work, and leadership opportunities for urban, low-income young women. This year our very own Sister Marion Irvine was one of the honorees, along with Arabella Martinez and Betty Reid Soskin. To learn more about the honorees, please go to this website.

Sr. Marion on the stage with honorees (on the left) Arabella Martinez and Betty Reid.

Sr. Marion receiving the award.

A Day with the "Friends of the Sisters"

About fifty "Friends of the Sisters" joined the Dominican Sisters in San Rafael for a presentation by Sister Barbara Green, OP, who is a professor of Biblical Studies at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley. Everyone enjoyed their day together and appreciated a day of study and reflection on "Praying the Psalms."

Sister Adele Gerlach (standing) is the coordinator of the day. Sister Barbara Green (in the pink sweater) is the presenter.	Sister Kit Hamilton acts as docent for some of our guests in our Heritage Room.
Sister Cathy Murray (left) and Valerie Cook enjoy lunch together.	Sister Aaron Winkleman (right) enjoys her time with a breakout group while they write a psalm of their own.

St. Joseph's Hospital's New Pavillion

Our sisters joined in the celebrations at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton, as its new, 78 bed, state-of-the-art Patient Pavillion was dedicated on the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 2010. The growth of the hospital - originally an old men's home and today know as St. Joseph's Medical Center - was due primarily to the determination, care, and commitment of the sisters working with to people of Stockton. The hospital is presently part of the Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) system. The Dominican Sisters of San Rafael are co-sponsors of CHW along with several other religious congregations sponsoring hospitals in the Western region of the U.S.

Bishop Stephen Blaire is accompanied by Sr. Maureen McInerney, Prioress General of the Dominican Sisters, as he blesses the new Pavillion at St. Joseph's.

Around 2,500 members of the Stockton community gathered at the blessing and opening of the Pavillion.

Inside the new pavillion, those gathered enjoy the stained glass window.

Some of the sisters gather for a photo opportunity. Two members of the St. Joseph's community stood in for Fr. O'Connor and Sr. Gabriel, both of whom were very important in the heritage of the hospital. Surely they were with us in spirit!

Visiting Sister Gene in Tijuana

On January 26, Sister Colleen McDermott and Elizabeth Simovich traveled to Tijuana, Mexico to spend a few days with Sister Gene McNally at her mission there in Colonia Esperanza. They visited the church, the clinic, the play area, and the classrooms along with many of the houses and workshops that were built or improved through the mission funds granted by the congregation. 

During the tour, Sr. Gene frequently indicated how donations from specific groups and individuals had been used to fund the work and building projects.  She showed the beautiful work completed by the craftsmen that the program has helped.  She also pointed out a variety of sturdy chairs, cabinets, and other furnishings left over from numerous Dominican sisters’ and Dominican University buildings.

This collaboration can remind us of the reading from I Corinthians 12 where St. Paul talked about how we each have different gifts for the benefit of the wider community and how we need all of them to truly be whole.

If you would like to see some additional pictures and learn more about the individual programs, visit Sr. Gene’s website at http://www.dominicansr-inbaja.org/.

Sister Gene explains many of the services offered at the clinica and in the classrooms in Colonia Esperanza to Sister Colleen.	The play yard is a very special and safe place in the colonia. There is also a basketball court that many love to use.
This is a view of homes on the hillside.	Sister Gene says goodbye to Elizabeth after driving them back over the border to San Diego.

March for Life

As we have in past years, our sisters participated in the 6th Annual Wlak for Life West Coast on January 22, 1011. Despite rain, tens of thousands of pro-lifers filled the streets of San Francisco in support of the dignity of human life. For more information on the event visit the Walk for Life website.

To Lourdes with Love

Eight members of the Dominican College Class of 1959 had such a wonderful time at their 50th reunion last spring that they wanted to get together again. Their brainstorm grew to include invitations to members of other classes they'd gone to school with, and a desire to give something back to the Dominican Sisters who'd taught them.

"To Lourdes With Love" was the result. The Alumni Relations office of Dominican University collaborated with the planning committee and our development office to create a special event. Forty women came to the gathering space at the Dominican Sisters Center on December 9 and enjoyed memories, laughter, a silent auction and a beautiful luncheon. Several sisters attended and the proceeds were donated to the Lourdes Renovation Fund.

Our Lady of Lourdes Convent is home to twenty-four of our elderly and infirm sisters. A multi-phase renovation project will make parts of the 100 year old building more modern and comfortable. For more information, please contact our Development Director, Kate Martin at 415 456 1544.

We are grateful to members of the "To Lourdes With Love" Committee: Lilla O'Sullivan Roll, Paula Peters Avanzino, Nina Concannon Radisch, Carol O'Connor Siri, Mary Nevin Henderson, Mary Lou Mitchell Byrd, Diane Lucas and Peggy McGuire.

Committee chairs Mary Henderson and Carol Siri confer as they set up the silent auction.	Sister Adele Rowland, far right, greets three other redbirds!
A blue and silver Father Christmas graced the silent auction table.	Silent auction action
More silent auction action	Blueprint of plans for the Lourdes Convent renovation and  photos of the Sisters living at Lourdes.
Sister Patricia Simpson who will serve as moderator of Lourdes Convent starting in mid-January 2010, described the planned changes.	A Christmas luncheon is enjoyed by all.