Novitiate Learnings

Part of my year in St. Louis involves learning about the history of the Dominican Family in the United States. When I came into the year I thought I knew a good amount of the history…wow, there is so much more to learn. Of course some of this learning comes from books and articles, but I enjoy the conversations more. Whether it is talking with some of the women that visioned the Collaborative Dominican Novitiate (CDN) into being or visiting motherhouses around the country, the history is coming alive for me. Over Labor Day weekend we took a road trip to St. Catherine Kentucky. This is where the first Dominicans settled in the United States, and I could tell it was holy ground. We visited St. Rose Church and spoke with one of the older friars who lives in the parish about how it was a long time ago. We also spent time with the Dominican Sisters of Peace who live in St. Catherine Kentucky learning about their history and the role they played in the history of the area as they were developing.

Even though the Sinsinawa Dominicans did not branch out from Kentucky, our stories crossed at a couple points. I then became interested in how these other communities told the stories I had read and heard about from the Sinsinawa side.

I look forward to learning more about the Dominican presence in the United States and how each of the stories intersects with the other stories.

When have you been brought back to a founding place and encouraged to look at the events in a new light?

Krissie Koll, Novice - St. Louis, Missouri