Be it in the South Bronx, Sparkill, or Nyack, NY or inMontana or Missouri or half a world away in Pakistan –YOU are helping us respond to the needs of people of allages – in many and varied ways.

The proceeds from our November Calendar Raffle aresupporting projects that range from:

• stocking shelves in a food pantry at Thorpe FamilyResidence, Bronx, NY;

• providing pastoral outreach for the Catechesis of the GoodShepherd Educational Centerprograms at St. Mary’s Rocky

Boy, St. Anthony’s, Box Elder and St. Margaret Mary, BigSandy, Montana;

• enabling some of the poorest of the poor in Dodama,Tanzania to receive assistance that fosters health-careconsciousness efforts for families in dire need, via the Building Sustainable Communities program in St. Louis, MO;

• purchasingequipment andfurniture forOne-to-OneLearning – fortheir ‘new digs’in Nyack, NY;

• providing educational materials for students who needsome extra help to reach satisfactory levels of academicachievement – students who attend the DominicanLeaning Center, Sparkill, NY;

• promoting Education & Human Development at theIbn-e-Mariam High School in Loreto Pakistan, whereyoung Christian girls live together in a simple hostelpursuing an education that prepares them for life’smany challenges;

• installing playground equip-ment and water coolers andbuying library books and educational games for the children who attend the schools administered by our Sisters in Loreto, Pakistan.

In the name of all of our Sisters, in particular:

Sr. Barbara Lenniger, Sr. Kathleen Kane, Sr. Pius Fagan, Sr. MaryJo Heman, Sr. Cecilia LaPietra, Sr. Kathleen

Gorres, Sr. Monica Lewis, & Sr. Nusrat Lewis

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!You enable us to be Women Making A Difference and to bring the words of our goal/mission as a

congregation to life:

“Joyful women of prayer and compassion proclaiming the reign of God through a Ministry

for Justice with reverence for all creation.”

DOMINICAN SISTERS

175 ROUTE 340

SPARKILL, NY 10976

WINTER 2009

Staff Members

Helping Us Make A Difference

Good Shepherd EducationalCenter

Students at One-to-One Learning

Children who live at HostelLoreto, Pakistan

St. Rita’s Center BRONX, NY ~Celebrating 25 Years! 1983-2008

St. Rita’s mission is ‘to stand as a beacon of welcome andhope for those in need, a place where people of many cultures can come to find friendship and empowerment.’And that is exactly what Sr. Jean Marshall, OP, ExecutiveDirector and her staff offer to the people immigratinginto the Fordham Road/ University Heights section of

the Bronx. From teaching the3R’s to providing child care whileparents are in class, to familycounseling, working with at-riskyouth, assisting with skill devel-opment for decision-making andconflict resolution to respondingto needs as they arise, St. Rita’sCenter is the place that peoplecome for hope and hospitality.

However City and State fundinghas been drastically cut – whichhas resulted in lay-offs for staffand ‘stretching the dollar’ morethen ever! When Sr. Jean reachedout for financial help one of ourformer members, Mary McGannBurns, offered her support via a$10,000 gift. Mary understandsthe ‘plight of the immigrant’ andhow important St. Rita’s is in the

lives of the manypeople who cometo the Center for amyriad of services.From Sr. Jean, Sr. Theresa, and the entire staff at St. Rita’s, ThankYou Mary!

For further information regarding St. Rita’s contact: Sr. Jean Marshall @ 718-365-4390.

Introducing our First Annuitant:

Frank BradicichIn the fall of 2008 we wrote to our benefactors who live in New York, Missouri, Connecticut,and Florida (states in which we are presently registered)introducing our Charitable Gift Annuity Program.

Almost immediately we received a call from FrankBradicich who had been ‘waiting’ for us to get all thelegal pieces of such a program in place. On November 29,2008, Frank Bradicich signed a Charitable Gift Annuity(CGA) agreement – becoming the Dominican Sisters ofSparkill’s first of hopefully many) Annuitant.

Frank has been part of the Sparkill family for many years.In 1930, at the age of 6, he, along with two brothers anda sister, arrived at St. Agnes Home for Children, Sparkill.Frank’s mother had taken ill and was no longer able tocare for him and his siblings. Under the care of theDominican Sisters Frank lived at St. Agnes until 1941. A year later he enlisted in the US Navy and after ‘basictraining’ was assigned to the USS Hickox and served withgreat honor in the capture and occupation of Saipan, inthe Mariana Islands. During his naval years Frank wasawarded five medals, sixteen Battle Stars, the US NavyUnit Commendation, and the Phillippine PresidentialCitation and Combat Ribbon. Upon his discharge Frankstudied for and took the police test, one of 16,000 eligible at the time, where he ranked 3rd in his class. Hebecame a New York Police Department Patrolman andduring his 34 years of service achieved the rank ofLieutenant and received several awards while working inthe 9th, 77th, 80th, and 120th precincts. After retiringfrom the police department Frank became the AssistantChief of Security for Smith Barney/Harris Upham & Co.In 1990 Frank retired from full time work and enjoyedretirement years with his late wife Anne and their daughter Carol and her family.

Frank and his granddaughter, Catherine, and daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Frank.

Mary McGann Burns

Sr. Jean

St. Rita’s Classroom

We Invite You to Visit our Websitewww.sparkill.org

~ Learn more about the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill Click the link Who We Are & Our Mission

~ Click the link into The Center Shop located at DominicanConvent for sale items that range from books, cards, candles,

CD’s + much more!

~ Click the link into Faith Life and read about Retreat/Sabbatical/Vacation opportunities at Villa St. Joseph,

Saugerties, NY and/or Villa St. Dominic, Glasco, NY

~ For Special Events, Ways to Help, our most recent newsletter, and how to make a donation via our site

Click the link into Development

Contact Information:The Center Shop: 845-359-4070Villa St. Joseph: 845-246-4531

Villa St. Dominic: 845-246-8941Development Office: 845-359-4173

In Frank’s words:

“I am delighted to be the Sisters’ first annuitant – it is my way of ‘giving

back’ to the Dominican Sisters who raised me as a member of their family”.

Frank continues to be actively involved in the St. AgnesAlumni and joins other ‘boys’ at an annual picnic wherehe enjoys ‘catching-up’ with other members of hisextended Sparkill family.

The Dominican Sisters are very proud of and gratefulto Frank for his continued support of our ministries

and most especially our retirement needs.We are Blessed to Call Him Family!

For further information regarding arranging a CharitableGift Annuity (CGA) please contact Sr. Peggy @ 845-359-4173 or e-mail: peggy.scarano@sparkill.org

As always the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill appreciatethe generosity that so many of you have shared with usover the years. You make it possible for us to continue todo the good works of our Congregation and care for ourretired and infirm members. Please consider remember-ing us in your estate plan. Our legal title is: DominicanConvent of Our Lady of the Rosary.

For who you are and all you do for us, We Are Very Grateful!

This past October nine of our Sisters traveled half way around the world to celebrate a milestone ~ the 50th Anniversary of the Dominican Sisters presence in Pakistan. Seven of the Sisters had ministered

there and were delighted to be a part of the Jubilee Year.

We Celebrated 50 Years 1958-2008Women Making a Difference

In their words:

~ This is a time of harvest. 50 years ago a tiny seed wasplanted which has matured and blossomed into a garden of goodness. Sr. Margaret Rose Moran, OP

~ Being part of the celebration was exciting, overwhelming ~filling me with a sense of pride of our Pakistani Sisters.Sr. Sheila Mullins, OP

~ What a joy to return after thirty-five years and to see allthat our Sisters have accomplished! Sr. Anne Foley, OP

~ It was truly a joy to revisit Pakistan – the land where apiece of my heart still is – and see all the changes that havebeen made within the country. Sr. Anne Tahaney, OP

~ We should be so proud of ALL that God has accomplishedthrough us over these past 50 years. Sr. Meg Sweeney, OP

~ Being a part of the celebration reminded me of our ownearly history as a congregation – a few sisters seeing a needand embracing it wholeheartedly surrounded by a deepfaith, strong prayer life, and a willingness to make the worlda better place in which to live. Sr. Maryann Summa, OP

We invite you to help us continue the celebration. If youare in the Sparkill area plan a visit to Dominican Convent, 175 Route 340 and enjoy a Photo Exhibit of our 50 Yearsof Ministry Among the People of Pakistan. Exhibit isongoing: Monday through Thursday 10:00 am – 4:00 pmand Saturday 1:00-3:00 pm.

WEAVINGS WINTER 2009

SPARKILL

FOR BOTH OF THE ABOVE EVENTS CONTACT:Sr. Peggy Scarano @ 845-359-4173

or e-mail: peggy.scarano@sparkill.org

Gathering of the Friends of theDominican Sisters

Celebrating 109 Years of the Dominican SistersPresence In Missouri, in particular,

metropolitan St. Louis

Sunday, April 19, 200912:30-4:30

Orlando Gardens, Maryland Heights

Contact us for information regarding sponsorship opportunities and/or to make reservations

to attend the event. Deadline: March 25th

2009 GOLF TOURNAMENT

Wednesday, June 3, 2009Blue Hill Golf Course, Pearl River, NY

Fee: $175 per golfer

Join us as we “go green” Curious? Contact us for sponsorship

information and/or to reserve your tee time.

IN MEMORY OF…

Sr. Francis Xavier Broyles, OP(at the ‘young age’ of 100!)

July 18, 2008

Sr. Marian Louise Heinrich, OPJuly 28, 2008

Sr. Jane Reynolds, OP(formerly Sr. Marie St.Anne)

September 9, 2008

Sr. Ann Johnston, OP(formerly: Sr. Ann Joseph)

October 19, 2008

Sr. Rose Anthony Ewald, OPNovember 12, 2008

May their souls and all the souls of the

faithful departed rest in peace.

Looking Ahead...

Hearts of Gold P R O J E C T

We are reaching out to our families, friends, and benefactorsto assist with a unique project. In this time of financialhardship we realize that monetary donations are manytimes difficult. One of our Sisters, Lillian McNamara,OP suggested the following:

“Perhaps you would like to donate pieces of gold jewelrythat may be broken, partially lost (single earrings), oldclass rings or jewelry no longer being worn.

Alone, this jewelry has little value, but when put togetherwith other gold items, it has greater monetary value.”

Sr. Lillian has a dealer to whom she brings ‘the gold’who gives her a good ‘trade-in’.

Your support of our Hearts of Gold Project can help continue the works of our Sisters. Even the smallestdonation or any donation will be most gratefullyreceived. Send your “contribution of gold” to:

Sr. Peggy Scarano, OP Development Office

175 Route 340, Sparkill, NY 10976

WEAVINGS WINTER 2009