New Missions:  North, South and Across Town

The Spring of 2004 has seen changes not only on Motherhouse soil as construction continues with visible progress, but in the acceptance of future missions, as well.  As large number of sisters complete their initial formation and the Teacher Education Program at Aquinas College, the Congregation continues to expand to new territory.  It is commonly known among Dominicans that our founder observed that seeds scattered bear much fruit.  This Fall our sisters will head out in three directions under the patronage of St. Pius V, St. Catherine of Siena and St. John Vianney. 

Pius V- Providence, Rhode Island

When the announcement was made that the Congregation will be joining the work of the Friars of the U.S. Eastern Province of the Dominican Order, the sisters responded with great enthusiasm.  Sharing the ideal of the Order in a Dominican parish makes for a rich experience of our religious life, both apostolically and communally. 

Pius V Parish was founded by the Dominicans at the same time they established Providence College.  In 1929 the school was opened with the help of the Dominican Sisters from Blauvelt, New York. 

Presently there are 250 students in grades P-K through 8.  While the Friars have assured us that we will enjoy New England, as well as the benefits of Providence College across the street, it will be a common exchange of the vision of St. Dominic that will most enrich our sisters. 
 

St. Catherine of Siena - Atlanta, Georgia 

For several years now the Dominican Sisters have been regular visitors to Atlanta after invitations to vocation days, youth events and the Eucharistic Congress held each year in the  Archdiocese. The vibrancy of the Archdiocese and its unprecedented growth has made the invitation of Archbishop Donahue a compelling one.  His belief in the Catholic school system as a response to this growth has necessitated a rapid increase in the number of Catholic Schools.  The Congregation was happy to accept the responsibility to administer and help staff one such Archdiocesan initiative. 

St. Catherine of Siena Parish was established in Kennesaw, Georgia in 1981. The school itself was opened in the Fall of 2002 and presently has over 300 students in grades 1-4 from over 3,500 registered families.  A new school building is under construction and the plan is to add a grade each year.  While much could be said about the parish, its school and its patroness, the key to its success is attributable to the presence of Perpetual Adoration.  The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia will be well-nourished in such a setting!   

St. John Vianney - Gallatin, Tennessee 

In the summer of the Great Jubilee Fr. David Choby joined one of our pilgrimage groups as chaplain through the lands of St. Dominic.  Upon his return to Nashville he began plans to reopen the school in his parish north of Nashville, with the expressed hope that the Sisters would come.  A long-time friend of the Sisters,  Fr. Choby was educated at Aquinas College and also claims family ties, as two of his cousins were professed members of the Congregation.  The Dominican Sisters had staffed the parish school between the years of 1948-65.  It was with great delight that Fr. Choby received the news that the sisters would be returning in the Fall of 2004.

 St. John Vianney School has an enrollment of 100 students in grades K-8.