Family Celebrations

These past several weeks have been an extended time of family celebration - a time truly representative of what religious life, Sinsinawa Dominican life, and life, in general, is about. A time of honoring the cycle of life and the family that makes that journey with us. 

The Celebration of my first profession of vows on August 2 came on the heels of a huge family reunion that we call Community Days.  These distinct yet intertwined joyful events had as bookends goodbyes said to two of our beloved Sisters - Florus Castle and Jean Brennan.  As I sought the mercy of God and of all, Florus and Jean had fulfilled their profession promises, ‘even unto death’.  What an extraordinarily graced cycle of birth, life, death, and birth into new life!

During these sacred celebrations, my family experienced the truth that they were not losing a sister (or mother) but are now loved by and part of a much bigger family… a family of Sisters, Brothers, Associates, Mound brothers and sisters, friends.  Florus’s and Jean’s families can attest to that truth.  Evolution of family in the context of my vows and our Sisters’ deaths is not an unraveling of the threads that connect us, one to the other, but is, rather, a binding together. 

           

We are family – all children of God.  What better reason to celebrate! 

Kathy Flynn, OP

Sinsinawa, WI