From Sr. Cathy Galaskiewicz

Dear Dominican Family,

Here is some news about our Memphis Dominican Family during this autumn season.  We can get good ideas from each other!

Our Memphis Associates meet as a whole group for five special occasions each year.  These are planned by our smaller groups.  Each Associate belongs to the group of her choice, with group names chosen by the group.

The Siena Group is preparing for our Advent retreat on Dec. 9 to be led by Brother Joel McGraw at Siena Hall, SAA-SDS, foyer and chapel. Please respond to rtutor@stlouismemphis.org with a Yes or No. The Time will be 9:30-12:30.  (Their first meeting this semester was at Amerigo restaurant for supper!)

Special thanks to the Spirit Group for the heartfelt Prayer Service for our Deceased Sisters, Associates, Family and Friends who died in the past year. Thirty Associates, Candidates, Spouses, and Sr. Cathy gathered at the Church of the Holy Spirit for this service on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 5.  Interspersed with Scripture readings, the names of each Sister and Associate and Family member and Friend were read.  We shared special memories of these special people.  The Spirit group meets monthly on Tuesdays at the noon hour at Holy Spirit.  They are reading Fr. James Martin’s book, Between Heaven and Mirth. (An earlier book was Praying with St. Catherine of Siena.)

Four Jonquils traveled to St. Catharine, KY this past weekend to visit the motherhouse and surrounding sites in the KY Holy Land.  They are Betty Pate, Mary Anne Giannini, Carolyn Shelton, and Perla Kirkpatrick.  We pray for safe travel and many blessings for them!  After finishing the book Wake Up with Purpose! by Sister Jean, the Jonquils are currently reading The Genesee Diary by Henri Nouwen.  Their next meeting will be Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. at St. Louis School Dining Hall.

The Stars are making arrangements for our annual Epiphany Dinner which usually takes place on the afternoon of the Epiphany, which will be Jan. 7 this year.

We know it will be great as usual, and we will be hearing details from them.  The Stars meet for prayer, lunch, or supper,  and they also collect hats, coats, and gloves for those in need.

The Veritas Group is composed of Associates who minister at St. Agnes-St. Dominic.  They have 4 quarterly meetings.  In September they focused on the Pillar of Prayer and prayed the Rosary together in the Chapel.   Their recent meeting on Nov. 8 focused on the Pillar of Community.  They went out to a Mexican restaurant to share good food, stories, and fun.  Joy is the spirit of the Dominican Order!  This group will provide the Lenten Retreat for us.

The Pillars are reading the book, Set the World on Fire.  It is about the 4 Women Doctors of the Church: Therese of Lisieux, Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena and Hildegard of Bingen.  They sent the commentary below following their first meeting.  You might consider this book for your Chapter Group Pillar of Study (and Prayer).

Blessings on your Thanksgiving preparations!

Sr. Cathy