Our Charism
Our charism includes hospitality and caring for the Spiritual needs of women.
In addition to the Dominican motto: To Praise, To Bless, To Preach, Lucy Eaton Smith, the founder of our congregation, added a special focus on Adoration, Reparation and Thanksgiving to the practice and spirit of her sisters' daily lives.
Adoration
Today, we seek to find God's living presence in the world around us. Adoration of God is expressed in the quiet of prayerful hearts and the activities of our lives and ministries. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is offered during retreat programs and special community occasions
Reparation
Today, reparation is expressed in the many ways in which we minister to bring healing of body, mind and spirit to all God's people. As a reminder of this commitment each sister receives a ring with the word Reparation engraved on it at the time of Final Profession
Thanksgiving
Today, thanksgiving for God's countless blessings is expressed in Eucharist, daily prayer, celebrations, relationships and all the ordinary experiences of life
Our Ministries
Our living history reveals the ebb and flow of life and mission as we followed Mother de’ Ricci’s prophecy that we must find God’s will and our work in the circumstances of the hour. Today Dominican prayer, study, community and ministry still provide the source and support to discover new ways of following her lead. Our charism is expressed in the ministries of parish service, retreat ministry, artistry, campus ministry, diocesan service, spiritual direction, liturgy and music, counseling, and other works of compassion and care. Standing on the shoulders of those Sisters who went before, we prepare a legacy for those who will come after us, believing with our foundress that some capable hands will cultivate and develop that which is not ours but God’s.
We were originally founded to provide for the spiritual needs of women and did this through retreat ministry, religious education and residences. Currently, in the New York area our ministry is primarily retreat, counseling and spiritual direction. We are grateful that we were founded in upstate New York in 1880 and we have been able to continue ministry in the Albany Diocese ever since.
Mission Statement
The Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de’ Ricci are a community of vowed women religious rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ and in the spirit of St. Dominic and our founder, Lucy Eaton Smith. Our lives of contemplation, study and community strengthen us to give prophetic witness by preaching the word of God to all, with a special concern for the spiritual growth of women.
I believe that religious life is a viable, life-giving option for people today. I believe it is challenging, supportive, engaging and has much to offer. Whatever work a person may be interested in can most likely be done through one or another Congregation.
What I do varies from day to day and is unpredictable. However, most often I am being present to people: either in ministry or in community.
I believe some of the qualities that are helpful in life for anyone really I expect are: flexibility, sense of humor, compassion, energy, other-centered and inwardly grounded, willingness to learn and a willingness to fail, belief in the goodness of people.
Website addresses
www.catherinedericciop.org
www.catholicdominicansisters.org
www.ned6.org
For more information contact:
Sister Barbara Ebner, O.P.
bebnerop@nycap.rr.com.
