DOMINICAN SISTERS OF SPARKILL, NY SUMMER 2016

Dear Friends, In Gratitude This year marks the 28th anniversary of Sister Peggy Scarano, Development Director our Congregational Development Oce. The Congregation extends a heartfelt We have been blessed over the years thank you to Sister Peggy Scarano with your generosity. Your support has for the 28 years she has served as enabled our community to continue Development Director. Throughout our ministries, helping them to thrive the 28 years of Sister Peggy Scarano’s as they meet the needs of the people ministry she has consistently given of being served. You truly are our partners her time and talents to promote the in mission. mission and the goal of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill. Your goodness and generosity has a long reach. From Haiti to Pakistan, in ministries in St. Louis, New Jersey and New York, Sister Peggy has been a positive presence to our donors and always expressed appreciation for you have been there supporting Dominican Sisters in our each of you and your generosity and goodness in supporting mission to address the needs of those people most in need the mission of the Dominican Sisters. She has shared our story of our presence, support and care. with a vast public and has reached out in numerous ways to This year your contributions have helped in the purchase and engage you, our donors, in sharing our mission through your prayers and donations. She has worked tirelessly to support installation of solar panels for Dominican Convent School in the needs of our elderly Sisters who pray daily for you and your Bahawalpur as well has supporting Dominican Primary School in intentions. In her own words: Multan, Pakistan. Your donations have also provided support for the mobile medical unit in Haiti. Here in the States your “I will be forever grateful for having served as our Development contributions have supported childhood education at St. John Director. It has truly been my honor and privilege and a blessing in my life. I leave feeling really proud of all of our accomplish- Chrysostom in the Bronx, NY and an after-school program for ments through the years and look forward to the new challenges children attending the Family Center in East St. Louis. Your and the many surprises God probably has waiting for me.” continued support in helping our elder sisters is very much appreciated. These are just some of the ways in which your prayers and contributions have helped the Dominican Sisters Welcome, Karen Ellis in our mission and life as a Congregation during this year. You Director of Mission Advancement will find more stories about the impact of your generosity in Karen comes to us with a wealth of the pages that follow. experience in this field. We are looking Our Constitutions call us to the “proclamation of the reign of forward to Karen’s time with us. Karen God through a ministry for justice wherein we focus on enable- began working at Dominican Convent in the spring and has already shown a ment of the poor, of the powerless, of the oppressed, and of great interest in our mission and in the spiritually deprived people of our times. Our mission is one connecting with you, our donors, to in which we strive to be about building the reign of God. We are further that mission. In her own words: deeply grateful to each one of you for your prayers and generous support. Be assured of our daily prayers for you and your inten- “I began my career in development in 1998 when working for the Soros tions. You truly are our partners in mission. Foundation. Over the years, I have held God Bless You! positions at Baruch College, the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA, City University of New York, and Fordham University. I am both thrilled and honored to be working for Dominican Sisters here in Sparkill. Everyone has been very kind to me. I am Sister Mary Murray truly blessed to be here! I look forward to getting to know each President of you and to creating a robust mission advancement program.”

DOMINICAN CONVENT OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY DOMINICAN CONVENT • 175 ROUTE 340 • SPARKILL, NY 10976 • 845 359-4173 WWW.SPARKILL.ORG Honoring Sister Margaret Ryan’s 50 Years of Service at Aquinas High School

On Wednesday, May 18th, Aquinas High School pulled out all the stops for a celebration of Sister Margaret Ryan’s 50 years at the School. The day began with a presentation of roses to Sister Margaret by Scarly Ramirez, President of the Student Council (pictured with Sister Margaret). Msgr. John Graham celebrated Mass at St. Martin of Tours Church with the students, faculty and members of our Executive Team. In recognition of the 800th Anniversary of the Order of Preachers, banners depicting the four pillars of Dominican life were part of the entrance pro- cession. At the o•ering of gifts, Sister Catherine Rose read a procla- mation from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. He declared the day Sister Margaret Ryan Day and called for “all citizens to join with the Aquinas High School community and educators through- out this great borough in celebration of 50 years of visionary leadership by Sister Margaret Ryan, OP, President of Aquinas High School.” At the reception which followed, Msgr. Graham blessed a bronze plaque which designates the cloistered walkway between the school and the convent the Sister Margaret Ryan Way. The plaque’s inscription reads: “For fifty years Sister Margaret Ryan walked this path as a way of VERITAS. We remember, we celebrate, we continue on this path.”

Welcome To Our New Leadership The Dominican Sisters, Associates and friends celebrated the transition to a new leadership team with great beauty at a Mass in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on Saturday, June 25. The five members of the new Executive Team will serve the congregation for the next six years.

L-R, Sisters Irene Ellis, Eileen Gannon, Mary Murray (President), Margaret Palliser, and Grace Anne Hogan.

2 DOMINICAN WEAVINGS SUMMER 2016 Pope Francis Visits with Sisters In May Sister Mary Murray, President of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, attended an international meeting of the major superiors from around the world. This meeting is scheduled every three years and is held in Rome, Italy. It is a very special time for the major superiors to share their concerns, hopes and dreams for their congregations. One of the highlights of these meetings is the opportunity to have an audience with the Pope. In May of 2013 Pope Francis was in o™ce only a few months, but graciously agreed to New Postulants speak with the sisters. On March 12, 2016, the Sparkill community in This year Pope Francis Pakistan gathered in Bahawalpur for the Entrance held an audience again Ceremony that welcomed three young women to in the Paul VI auditorium the congregation. Shabnum Robia Francis, Sadaf near the Vatican. William, and Robina Komal Nazir (l-r, pictured above, holding their congregational pins) became postulants, Throughout the audi- the first o™cial step in becoming members of the ence Pope Francis was Sparkill congregation. They had spent the previous 6 months living with members of the community in Multan, Pakistan, gracious, where they completed a Religion Teachers Course at open and the Pastoral Institute and taught at Dominican Primary very engaging School. The Sisters and Associates here in the United States join with our community in Pakistan in thanking in his manner God for the generosity of these women as they begin of addressing their journey with us. We are truly blessed! the sisters. His genuine appreciation for the gifts and talents that women religious have shown and continue to use to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ came across In memory of… so clearly. Sister Mary mentioned that she was greatly moved by his presence both in his humility and in Sister Alma Maria Van Buren 8/8/15 the words he spoke to the sisters gathered there. He Sister Judith Maender 8/8/15 impressed her as very Sister Margaret Hanratty 8/18/15 holy man of God and Sister Margaret Thomas Morahan 8/18/15 how fortunate the Sister Una McCormack 8/26/15 Church is to have Sister Adele Myers 11/7/15 such a pastoral Sister Marie Murphy 11/21/15 leader at this time. Sister Anne Barbara Greene 12/4/15 Sister Barbara Lenniger 4/2/16 Sister Alberta Blase 4/3/16 Sister Agnes Cunningham 5/7/16 Sister Cecilia McCarthy 5/19/16 Sister Raymond Louise Zimmerly 6/25/2016

3 DOMINICAN WEAVINGS SUMMER 2016 Thank You Sparkill Girls’ Schools in Pakistan Support from the Sparkill Dominicans provided their schools in Pakistan with computers, classroom furniture and two new bathrooms. The students come from more than 500 families living in great poverty. Yet, because of the partnership with their donors, the Sisters are able to ensure that these children continue their education and gain skills that will prepare them to help their families.

Electrical power is erratic and unpredictable in Pakistan. Frequent power outages leave the Sisters preparing lessons and their students studying in the dark. Furthermore, the intensity of the year-round heat makes learning almost impossible. Therefore another gift – enabled by our donors – permitted the Sisters to install solar panels on the roof of the girls’ hostel and school. These solar panels will provide not only a vastly improved learning environment; their use supports the Sisters’ commitment to addressing climate change. Thea Bowman Center at Siena College, Loudonville, NY The Sister Thea Bowman Center for Women at Siena College is committed to building a more just, peaceable and human world. Through donors’ gifts, the Sisters were able to provide more opportunities for the young women at Siena College with the Hope 7 project where they mentored middle school, at-risk girls in an impoverished area in Troy, NY. The gift also helped underwrite a performance of the Children’s Gospel Choir at the Center. The Siena students and their mentees attended the concert. Finally, the gift from the Sparkill Sisters created a scholarship for one Siena student to go to the Dominican Republic for a service project in Los Tres Brazos, an impoverished area in Santo Domingo. Participation in this service project not only helps the young people in the Dominican Republic it has a profound and transformative impact upon the student who is awarded the service scholarship.

4 DOMINICAN WEAVINGS SUMMER 2016 See How Your Gifts Made a Difference!

East Side Heart & Home Family Center, East St Louis, Illinois Two gifts were awarded to the East Side Heart and Home Family Center, which serves the families in one of the poorest cities in the nation. The gifts support an after-school program and summer camp, which provide young people with the skills they need for success and self-su™ciency. While addressing remediation with the students, the programs instill creativity, imagination, and both social and cognitive skills. The older youths are taught mentoring skills and to assume in leadership roles within the community.

St John Chrysostom School, Bronx A gift to St. John Chrysostom School permitted their principal, Sister Mary Elizabeth Mooney, OP, to equip two small playgrounds with new playground equipment. Children who attend this school are often kept inside because they live in unsafe neighborhoods. Furthermore, educating the whole child includes the development of gross motor skills because the ability to perform gross motor skills, such as climbing, jumping, and running, is related directly to physical fitness and a child’s confidence. The school now has tricycles, scooters, helmets, basketballs, soccer balls, stairs, a slide, and sandbox. Sister Mooney’s 150 early childhood students are more focused in the classroom, gaining self-confidence, and learning good social behavior and peaceful interaction in their new playground.

Aquinas High School, Bronx Aquinas High School students are young women from the inner city whose families are, by and large, without the resources to supply private music lessons for their children. Yet, it is known that when a child plays a musical instrument she is developing essential brain functions that not only increase musical abilities but also social skills and traditional classroom strengths such as analytical abilities. A gift from the Dominican Sisters to the students of Aquinas High School gave their principal, Sister Margaret Ryan the resources to hire a music instructor without whom their performing arts program would not exist. Thanks to the supporters of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, the students now have both a marching band and stringed instrument ensemble.

5 DOMINICAN WEAVINGS SUMMER 2016 Lunch Sponsors Puma Lauria Planning Services, Inc. Staten Island, NY Carl & Chad Puma United Healthcare Services, Inc. Staten Island, NY/ Minneapolis, MN Louis DeStefano & Nick Hellmuth Eagle Sponsor 19th Annual St. Thomas Aquinas College Sparkill, NY Dr. Margaret Fitzpatrick, SC and the STAC Community Golf Tournament Birdie Sponsors All American Contracting Corp. Ridgefield Park, NJ Benefitting Robert Jaeger Flik Lifestyles – a Member of the Compass Group Rye Brook, NY the Dominican Andrew LaValle & Rob Ferrucci Fred Alger Management, Inc. New York, NY Sisters at Sparkill Chelsea Clarette & Peter Latara Grassi & Co. CPA’s Jericho, NY David Rottkamp On Wednesday, June 1st, the Dominican Sisters’ McManus Electrical Contractors, Inc. Pearl River, NY Michael McManus Annual Golf Tournament opened to a picture Werner Construction Corp. New City, NY Rose and Bill Werner perfect day which was celebrated by many friends Par Sponsors and supporters of the Sisters. More than 135 Berry Burner of Nyack Nyack, NY Ed Berry golfers feasted on a barbecue lunch prepared by Brenner, McDonagh & Tortolani Tarrytown, NY John Tortolani Homestyle Caterers at Emmett’s Castle and then Kaback Enterprises, Inc. New York, NY John Murphy drove out for a round of golf at Blue Hill Golf Lincoln Glass & Metal, Waldwick, NJ Course in Pearl River. In the evening, more than Robert Giovannielli Putting Green Sponsor 175 golfers, guests and Sisters attended a dinner J.A.M. Plumbing & Heating, Inc. West Nyack, NY at Old Tappan Manor. During the evening, Billy Joe Mezzasalma ‘Name the 9’ Sponsors Purvis and Tom McFarland – both longtime LAKESIDE GAMCO Asset Management Rye, NY friends and supporters of the Dominican Sisters – Christopher C. Desmarais PINES/WOODLANDS led the crowd in thanking Sister Peggy Scarano, Friends and Benefactors of Dominican Sisters who launched the Tournament nineteen years ago, Hole-In-One Insurance The Scarano Family – In Memory of Jim for organizing another wonderful event. Tee-Green Sponsors Pfister Maintenance, Inc. Paterson, NJ Dieter Pfisterer B. Foschino & Son, Inc. Norwood, NJ The Sisters are grateful to all their sponsors Tony & Pat Foschino

6 DOMINICAN WEAVINGS SUMMER 2016 Moritz Funeral Home Tappan, NY Frank & Joan Pandolfi Nanuet, NY D&G Electrical Supply, Inc. Garnerville, NY Sisters Patricia Ann & Eileen Reilly, OP Bill Grabe Sister Anne Foley, OP M.D. Sass Investors Services, Inc., New York, NY (2 tees/greens) Sister Mary Louise Twomey, OP Bill McGuire Sister Peggy Scarano, OP Higgins Funeral Service New City, NY Mary Furey New City, NY Joseph Damonti Marlene Dass Deerfield Beach, FL Aquinas Painting Suffern, NY (2 tees/greens) Jim & Liz Dugansic Theresa Gizzi Leominster, MA Fred & Elaine Casey Manchester, NJ Linda Sancho, Delanson, NY John Manna Nyack, NY Diane & Gerry Farley Lincoln Glass & Metal Waldwick, NJ Lincoln Glass & Metal Waldwick, NJ Robert Giovannielli Robert Giovannielli In memory of Mary & Ray Hull & Sister Teresa Reeves, OP Special Thanks To... The Hull Family Allied Golf – Mike & AJ – & The Staff at Blue Hill Golf Course, Getler & Gomes P.C. Suffern, NY Pearl River, NY Richard Sutton Meghan Hartnett & the Staff from Homestyles Caterers Yonkers, NY Sister Sponsors Martin Shanley & the Staff at Old Tappan Manor, Old Tappan, NJ Werner Construction Corp. New City, NY The Day’s Helpers Rose & Bill Werner Sister Maureen Bradshaw, OP B Foschino & Son, Inc. Norwood, NJ Sister Marie Peter Buckley, OP Tony & Pat Foschino Sister Patricia Cody, OP In Memory of ‘Buck’ Richter Sister Jude Miriam DePalma, OP The Richter and Dillon Families Sister Eileen Cunningham, OP McManus Electrical Contractors, Inc. Pearl River, NY Sister James David McDonough, OP Michael McManus Development Office Staff East Side Automotive Sparkill, NY Sister Jeanne Burns, OP Joe & Arlene Verrino Sister Margaret Strychalski, OP Beckerle Lumber Supply Co. Spring Valley, NY Katelyn McGovern Robert G. Gray, CPA. P.C. Pearl River, NY Alumnae of Rosary Academy, Sparkill, NY Robert G. Gray Maris Donnelly Connington Margaret Keane Yonkers, NY Yvonne ‘Cookie’ Morales Judy O’Toole The Villages, FL Go To Friends... Richard Feldman Holtsville, NY Debbie Logatto Kevin Hughes Pointe Lookout, NY & Monica Riggs Redding, CT Tom & Kathleen McFarland John & Eileen Lawler Nyack, NY Billy Purvis Capitol Risk Management Services, LTD Nanuet, NY Most Especially to: Richard Kohlhausen The Sponsors and Golfers – for your continued support & Golf Prize Sponsors The Dominican Sisters of Sparkill Yankee Tickets – John Flaherty, West Nyack, NY for your prayers and support ‘An Avid Mets Fan’ (anonymous) - Mets Tickets and Parking @ Citi Field and for being ‘WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE’ Carvel Gift Cards – Jim Salerno Wellington, FL in the lives of people throughout our world! Tote Bags, Bottled Water & Pens - Flik Lifestyles Rye Brook, NY God Bless Each of You! Baby Basket – Sister Theresa Docherty Thanks for a memorable 19 years of Golf Tournaments Golf Lessons – Tappan Golf Center Tappan, NY Bill Baldes Sister Peggy Scarano, OP Golf Lessons – Jon Manos of the Jon Manos Golf Academy Closter, NJ Gift Cards Del’Arte Italian Ristorante - Rosemarie & John Carolla Orangeburg, NY Louie’s on The Avenue - Steve Panteleakis Pearl River, NY Luigi O’Grady’s – Michele & Kay Pearl River, NY La Fontanella Ristorante Italiano Sal & Cathy Stillo Tappan, NY Joe & Joe Restaurant Pearl River, NY The Saloon Pearl River, NY Donations Toward Tournament Prizes and Items for Raffle Baskets New Hope Manor Inc. Barryville, NY Linda Borstelmann Olga & Tom McGowan Hauppauge, NY

7 DOMINICAN WEAVINGS SUMMER 2016 LOOKING AHEAD.... Ways in Which You Can Support Our Work TRIVIA NIGHT Through your gifts – whether large or small – you St. Louis ensure the inspired service of the Dominican Sisters of the Convent of Our Lady of the Rosary to their DESIGN CONCEPT: Elizabeth Slenker, OP Friends of Dominican Sisters ministries. There are a number of ways for you to support the work of the Sisters: Saturday, October 1, 7:00 pm • Make your gift online at sparkill.org (www.sparkill.org/ CBC High School, St. Louis make a donation) Tables of 8 / $240 Per Table • Call us with your credit card or mail us a check Di•erent Category Each Round Bring Your Own Snacks • Create a gift from a foundation Beer, Soda & Bottled Water Provided • Include the Sisters in your estate plans, or Sign up before August 1st and your table • Purchase a charitable gift annuity which will benefit will be in the drawing for $100.00 Cash Prize!. you now and help the Sisters in the future. www.friendsofdominicansisters.org 2016 Awards Dinner For more information, please contact, Karen Ellis at [email protected] or 845.359.4173. Dominican Convent of Our Lady of the Rosary O™ce of Mission Advancement 175 Route 340 Sparkill, NY 10976

2016 Awards Dinner 6

Thursday, October 27, 2016 Learn More About The Dominican Honoring Sisters of Sparkill by visiting our John Tortolani website: www.sparkill.org Founding Parner, Brenner, McDonaugh & Tortolani, Inc. Domenico Seminelli • Click the link Who We Are & Our Mission Chief, Sparkill Fire Department • Click the link into The Center Shop located at Sister Margaret Theresa Oettinger, OP Dominican Convent for sale items that range Director of Spiritual Care, Hospital for Special Surgery from books, cards, candles, CD’s + more. Call: 845-359-4070. Invitation and Sponsorship Opportunities will follow in early September. • To learn more about the Dominican Order, For advanced information, contact Karen Ellis at visit www.DominicanLifeUSA.com [email protected] or 845.359.4173. To Make a Donation, go to Develop- ment’s Home Page on our website Annual November Calendar Raffle and Click: Make a Donation which will take you to the secure page. 75 Chances Thank You! to Win $8000 Calendars will be distributed in September

Proceeds benefit various ministry projects of the Dominican Sisters

8 DOMINICAN WEAVINGS SUMMER 2016