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August 13, 2026, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – Through the initiative of Adrian Dominican Sister Rosa Monique Peña, OP, the City of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, unveiled a statue of St. Dominic on August 5, 2026, to commemorate the 528th anniversary of the city’s founding. Below is the translation of a speech that Sister Rosa Monique gave on that occasion, outlining the involvement of many in creating and bringing the statue to Santo Domingo.

Genesis of the Saint Dominic Statue Project
By Sister Rosa Monique Peña, OP

Some years ago, upon returning to my country after 53 years of mission as a religious sister of the Order of Preachers, I was struck by the fact that, except in the gardens of Colegio Santo Domingo – now the Catholic University of Santo Domingo – there was no sculpture of St. Dominic de Guzmán, founder of the Dominican Order, in our city.

It was surprising to me that the man who gave his name to the city since the dawn of our colonial history did not have a monument in a public space, precisely because his name has been intertwined with the history of Santo Domingo for more than five centuries. His emblem is part of the city's coat of arms, and numerous institutions have found inspiration in his legacy and the work he began.

I immediately felt that we had to do something!

The first step was to share the idea with the Dominican friars in this city, who embraced it enthusiastically and made it their own from the very beginning.

I spoke with my sister, Mónica de Gamundi, and thanks to her, we consulted our dear friend and architect, César Iván Feris Iglesias. He, his wife Ingrid, and their daughter Rosalía embraced the initiative from the start. César Iván gave the project a decisive boost by inviting the renowned Dominican artist Dustin Muñoz, who agreed to create the sculpture with the same generosity and enthusiasm.

The next step was to present the initiative to the civil and ecclesiastical authorities. We received a wonderful reception! We were supported and approved by the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, the National Office of Monumental Heritage, the Office of Cultural Heritage, and the Mayor's Office of the National District, represented by Mayor Carolina Mejía, who is with us today.

Very soon we invited a distinguished group of people who generously offered their time, talent, financial resources, and effort to make this shared dream a reality. Among them, in addition to those already mentioned, are Friar José Alberto Hidalgo, Maruja Álvarez Reyes, Alejandro Peña-Prieto, Lucile Houellemont, Carolina Acra, María Teresa Ruiz de Catrain, Francette Calac, and Rosa Margarita Bonetti.

We received the approval and strong support of my Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan, and then, as if sent from heaven itself, Rosa Margarita Bonetti de Santana, our dear Doña Pirigua, came to our aid. She fell in love with the initiative, embraced it, and with her discreet generosity, undertook the cost of this sculpture that we inaugurate today. We also received substantial help from Fernando Armenteros Márquez, Ligia Bonetti Dubreil, Ernesto Elías Armenteros Calac, Hector José Rizek Sued, Victoria Brache de Acra, and the Dominican friars. Our gratitude to all of them and to all the friends who contributed to making this dream a reality.

Before continuing, the organization committee wishes to highlight the immense work and driven effort of our artist Dustin Muñoz and Mr. Miguel Valenzuela, who worked for weeks on end, and more than 18 hours a day, on the execution of the sculpture. We also acknowledge the work of the company ARKES, whose architects René Guzmán, Elsa Cáceres, and Génesis Camilo were in charge of the construction and cladding of the pedestal, and the installation of the statue. 

From the beginning, we wanted to represent St. Dominic in the act of preaching, because that was the mission that gave meaning to his entire life. More than writing books, he traveled the roads of Europe proclaiming the Gospel, engaging in dialogue with people, and carrying a message of hope, truth, and mercy. His preaching transformed lives and gave rise to a religious family that, eight centuries later, continues to serve the Church and the world.

Here he is.

It is our greatest hope that those who approach this image of St. Dominic may contemplate it, offer a prayer, speak with him, and ask for his counsel, just as so many men and women did who turned to him during his life.

May this statue be much more than a monument; may it remind everyone who passes by that truth, faith, compassion, and hope always find a way to continue illuminating the human heart.

Thank you!

 

Caption for above feature photo: Sister Rosa Monique Peña, OP, left, and Santo Domingo Mayor Carolina Mejía unveil a statue of St. Dominic in the plaza in front of the Dominican convent in the capital city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

August 11, 2026 – The celebration of the Feast of St. Dominic took on even greater significance and exuberance as Sister Jamie Caporizo, OP, made her first Profession of Vows before a packed St. Catherine Chapel at the Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse August 8, 2026. 

Her proclamation of faith as she made her temporary vows was witnessed by Adrian Dominican Sisters, Sisters from other Dominican congregations and other congregations of women religious, Associates, Co-workers, family members, and friends.

In First Profession, a woman makes a formal vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience for a certain amount of time. During this continuing time of discernment, the woman and the Adrian Dominican Congregation mutually discern whether the woman’s vocation with the Adrian Dominican Sisters is a good fit for both. Ultimately, the professed Sister could discern that she is called to make Final, or Perpetual, Vows.

The presider of the Mass was Father Michael Driscoll, a priest of the Diocese of Helena, Montana, and a professor emeritus from Notre Dame University, who knew Sister Jamie since her own studies at Notre Dame.

Sister Sara Fairbanks, OP, added inspiration to the liturgy as she reflected on the readings, focusing on the Gospel story of the rich young man who could not give up his wealth to follow Jesus. “Clearly this man had not found his true purpose in life, what Jesus calls the pearl of great price, the prize of people whose lives have changed forever because they have found it,” Sister Sara said. “Jesus challenges the man and all of us to discover what is the treasure, the deep gladness God is inviting us to uncover.” 

Sister Sara, Sister Jamie’s novice director, noted that Sister Jamie has spent her years in initial formation in discernment – discerning the messages and calls of great Dominicans such as St. Dominic, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Catherine of Siena. “Today Jamie is beyond thinking about it,” and is ready to profess her vow as a Dominican Sister, Sister Sara said. 

Sister Sara offered Sister Jamie a final piece of advice as her novice director, quoting from Father Pedro Arrupe, SJ, Superior General of the Jesuits during the Second Vatican Council. “What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what gets you out of bed in the mornings, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekend, what you read, who you know, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.” 

The Rite of Profession 

The Rite of Profession began with a formal examination of Sister Jamie by Prioress of the Congregation Elise D. García, OP, as to Sister Jamie’s willingness and readiness to “unite [herself] more closely to God by a bond of religious profession.” Sister Sara testified as to Sister Jamie’s readiness to profess her first vows. 

Sister Jamie then shared her intent to profess vows with the Adrian Dominican Sisters in response to God’s call. “Today I intend to ask God, our Congregation, and the Church to profess vows as a Dominican Sister,” she said. “I desire to consecrate myself to the truth, who is Christ. I seek to open myself to the transformation of the Spirit and in so doing become the hands, the feet, and the voice of Christ to those to whom I am sent ... May I be a reed of God through whom the music of God is always singing.”

The Rite continued with Sister Jamie lying prostrate as the assembly sang the Litany of Saints, calling down the support and prayers of the Dominican saints as she took this next step in her vocation. She vowed obedience to God, the Blessed Mother Mary, St. Dominic, and Sister Elise and her lawful successors. The Rite continued with the presentation of the Congregation’s logo, and signing formal profession papers by Sister Jamie, Sister Elise, Father Discoll, and Sister Jamie’s two witnesses, Sisters Tarianne DeYonker, OP, and Pat Walter, OP.  

In her affirmation of Sister Jamie’s profession, Sister Elise welcomed her into the worldwide Dominican family, noting that her many gifts – including music and service to others – would help to form that Dominican family in the years ahead.

The First Profession of Vows is a significant step in Sister Jamie’s vocation journey. She entered the Adrian Dominican Congregation in September 2023 as a Candidate, the first year of the formal initial formation process for vowed life, and in August 2024 was received as a Novice. She spent her first year as a Novice at the InterCongregational Collaborative Novitiate (ICCN) in Chicago and her second year with the Dominican Sisters of Peace in New Haven, Connecticut, learning more about the Dominican Charism.  

Ultimately, after years of mutual discernment with the Congregation as a temporary professed Dominican Sister, Sister Jamie could request final, perpetual, vows.

Sister Jamie will move to Miami, Florida, to serve as the Director of Health, Arts and Spirituality (HAS) and Coordinator for Music Ministry at Barry University, founded and sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. She will live in community with Sisters Lenor Esnard, OP, Xiomara Méndez Hernàndez, OP, and Marílin Llanes, OP.

Sister Jamie’s Background

The middle of the three children of James and Sheila Caporizo, Sister Jamie was born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut, giving her easy access to New York City. The performances she attended sparked her interest in music, leading her to earn a bachelor’s degree in music and choral conducting from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

After teaching music at her elementary school alma mater, Rippowam School, she earned a master’s degree in sacred music from the University of Notre Dame, simultaneously serving as a liturgy intern with the Sisters of the Holy Cross and continued working with the sisters after graduation.

During her time of initial discernment with the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Sister Jamie began a new ministry at Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters. Even during a pilgrimage to Assisi, she continued to feel the call to enter the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Jamie said the next chapter in her life, her ministry at Barry University, “will be a chance for me to grow in a lot of ways.” Over the years, she said, “I have felt the love, the challenge, and the commitment of the Sisters. I’m almost speechless, I’m so grateful.”

 

Caption for above feature photo: Sister Jamie Caporizo, OP, second from left, holds the hand of Prioress Elise D. Garcia, OP, while professing her first vows. Formal witnesses are Sister Tarianne DeYonker, OP, holding microphone, and Sister Patricia Walter, OP.