Delegates Celebrate Mass of the Holy Spirit to Pray for Guidance
February 18, Adrian, Michigan – Delegates to the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ General Chapter 2010 concluded the first day, February 18, with a special Mass of the Holy Spirit, invoking the Spirit’s guidance on their deliberations and decisions. Presiding over the special Mass, held in St. Catherine Chapel on the Motherhouse campus, was the Most Reverend Earl Boyea, Bishop of the Diocese of Lansing.
Sister Donna Markham, OP, Prioress of the Congregation, welcomed the assembly – delegates, other Adrian Dominican Sisters, and friends – and recounted the many blessings that the Congregation had received in the past, focusing on the people who made a difference to the sisters in various ways. She also thanked Bishop Boyea for his guidance and friendship during her office as Prioress.
In his homily, Bishop Boyea thanked the Adrian Dominican Sisters – and particularly Sister Donna and the members of the General Council, for their support and welcoming spirit since he was installed as Bishop of Lansing in 2008. He further thanked the sisters for their ministries and for all that they do for the Church, particularly in the Diocese of Lansing, in which Adrian is located. He was especially appreciative of the ways that they connect him to St. Dominic, founder of the Order, and to St. Catherine of Siena, a great 14th-century Dominican lay mystic and church reformer. “Their blood continues to flow through all of you,” he told the Dominicans in the assembly.
Bishop Boyea also challenged the sisters, reminding them of the importance of mission in their lives as well as in the Church. “Mission is more than activities,” he noted. “Mission means being sent,” serving as the presence of Jesus Christ in our world.
Throughout his homily, quoting St. Catherine of Siena and Mother Gerald Barry, Mother General of the Adrian Dominican Sisters from 1933 to 1961, Bishop Boyea challenged the sisters to continue to be about the mission and open to the workings of the Holy Spirit. In particular, he challenged the sisters, as Mother Gerald did in her time, to be prophetic women.
With the Dominican Sisters of Adrian, he prayed for the workings of the Holy Spirit in General Chapter 2010. “We invoke the Holy spirit to hover, to renew, to refresh us.” The invocation and work of the Holy Spirit was also the theme of the music throughout the liturgy, and of the readings.
During General Chapter 2010, 300 delegates are meeting in Lumen Ecclesiae Chapel, the chapel of Siena Heights University, Thursday, February 18 through Saturday, February 27. The delegates will review the state of the Congregation; legislate for the common good; elect new leadership; and set the direction of the Congregation for the next six years. Chapters are held every 6 years.
Please continue to pray with the sisters and associates during these sacred and important days. Click here for our General Chapter prayer.