F.L.O.W.cast

We Springfield Dominicans have taken on as a General Chapter commitment the goal of learning to be more intentionally intercultural in the way we live our religious life.

Last spring, during our congregation’s general chapter, we made a commitment to "to walk together into a future of authentic intercultural living.”  

The concept of interculturality often raises more questions than it answers.  What does it mean? Why does it matter? And how do we get there 

—meaning how do we attune ourselves to living prophetically enough to provide a foundation for a world of flourishing for people of every culture, race, and creed? Indeed, how do we create a world that comes closer to the beloved kingdom Jesus proclaimed? 

Today our guests are Tony Rothering, who teaches biology at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield and Angelea Cook, a biology student, who works with Tony managing the bird banding site at Jubilee Farm.  

Next week marks the tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis ground-breaking encyclical about the urgent need to care for Earth, our common home. In addition, this year, we celebrate a quarter-century of care for creation at Jubilee Farm.

The hospice nurse carries a pocketful of medical tools; the chaplain, a pocketful of the Word of God. This is how hospice nurse Cyndi Lawson describes nurse-chaplain collaboration in hospice care. We will learn more from Cyndi and Sister Kelly as they share insights into their ministry during this edition of FLOWcast, a podcast “For the Life of the World” from the Dominican Sisters of Springfield. After their conversation, I talk with Springfield Dominican Associate Marianne Chevalier about her experience with hospice in the final weeks of her husband Dan’s life. Dan died at home in December 2023. 

What difference has it made that for two decades the Dominican Sisters of Springfield have been working to dismantle systems that perpetuate racism? In this episode, we talk with two founders of SDART—that's the Springfield Dominican Antiracism Team—about why they persist in their efforts, what difference it's made and why their work is still necessary today. 

What does the future hold for the Order of Preachers?  

After completing a term in elected leadership for the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Sister Mila Diaz Solano was freer to travel and engage in the scholarship and global dialogue that is her passion. In this conversation she unpacks her experience to share her “dreams and visions” for the future of Dominican life worldwide. 

Is coffee the key to Christian unity? During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Dr. Jon Nilson, professor emeritus of Theology, Loyola University Chicago joins Sister Beth Murphy for a conversation about ecumenism in light of the most recent synod’s “conversations in the Spirit” about the ways Christian unity can enrich Catholicism, lead to a more synodal church, and bring about deep healing in the Body of Christ. Coffee and other seemingly mundane things may be the key.

This time of year, Christmas memories flash on like the lights on our Christmas trees. Here are some joyful, exuberant, touching true tales from four of our Dominican Sisters. 

Three months into their term of service as leaders for the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, the new team discusses their approach to implementing the decisions of the 2024 General Chapter, their thoughts on leadership, and the changing realities for consecrated women religious.

Challenges related to language-learning for immigrant women often mean they are among the last in their families to learn English. The Springfield Dominican Sisters have opened a new literacy center to meet the language-learning needs of women and we need volunteer tutors to join us.

Sister Katherine O'Connor and tutor-volunteer Tammy McCormick talk about the new center and the rewards of being in relationship with women passionate about learning English.