With
the passage of time over the decades, the Adrian Dominican spirit has
of course changed in accidentals, but essentially it remains alive and
well today.
In 1967, the Congregation observed the 75th anniversary of
the establishment of St. Joseph Province in Adrian, the Midwest "rural
outpost" of the Dominican Motherhouse in New York City. To help celebrate
that anniversary, the sisters were invited to contribute to a booklet
showing some of their artwork, such as paintings, poems, musical compositions,
ceramics, weaving, calligraphy and sculpture. Among the free-verse offerings
was a piece that began with these words: "Adrian
today is a point in time . . . neither beginning nor end but encompassing
both in the moment that is NOW!"
Today, these words seem quite applicable to us as Adrian Dominicans
of the new millennium. We tend to take seriously St. Dominic’s advice
that seed, to be productive, must not be left to moulder in the ground
but must be scattered and sown. We are women ready for new challenges,
risk-takers looking to our forebears for wisdom and courage. We Adrian
sisters lay claim — in both humility and pride — to the hardy
spirit of the early members. Friends have
been heard to observe: "When you’ve met one Adrian Dominican,
you’ve met one Adrian Dominican." Resisting regimentation has
been characteristic of the Dominican tradition from the time of our founder,
St. Dominic, in the 13th century. We see in our sisters a wonderful
diversity of gifts and personalities and we rejoice that each woman is
encouraged and helped to develop in the way best for her in her own life’s
journey and ministry. By and large,
we are friendly, hospitable, cooperative, hard-working, socially conscious
Dominicans. Grateful for the educational and ministerial opportunities
afforded by our Congregation, we know we still have much to do and learn
if we are to be faithful to the special Dominican ministry of preaching
— that is, "communicating the Word of God through word, style
of life and manner of service" (Constitution and Statutes, 6.1).
In 1967, the Congregation observed the 75th anniversary of
the establishment of St. Joseph Province in Adrian, the Midwest "rural
outpost" of the Dominican Motherhouse in New York City. To help celebrate
that anniversary, the sisters were invited to contribute to a booklet
showing some of their artwork, such as paintings, poems, musical compositions,
ceramics, weaving, calligraphy and sculpture. Among the free-verse offerings
was a piece that began with these words: "Adrian
today is a point in time . . . neither beginning nor end but encompassing
both in the moment that is NOW!" 
