Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa facts for kids
The Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa are a group of Catholic religious women. They are part of the Dominican Order, which is a very old group in the Catholic Church. These sisters were started in 1847. Their main home, called the Motherhouse, is in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.
Contents
History of the Sisters
The group was founded in 1847 by a man named Samuel Mazzuchelli. He was a Dominican friar and a missionary priest from Italy. He worked in the Midwest United States.
When Father Mazzuchelli died in 1864, there were about 25 sisters. Ten years later, there were 100 sisters! By the end of the 1800s, almost 400 sisters were working in schools. The group kept growing. In the 1960s, there were nearly 2,000 sisters. After that, like many other religious groups, their numbers started to go down.
About Sinsinawa Mound
The main home of the sisters is called Sinsinawa Mound. Some people call it the "Hill of Grace." Since 1847, more than 3,200 women have come to Sinsinawa Mound. They took their vows there to become Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters. Then, they went out to share the Gospel and teach.
Today, Sinsinawa Mound is still the main home for about 250 sisters. It is also a place for more than 200 "associates." These are people who share the sisters' mission but do not take vows.
What the Sisters Do (Apostolate)
Sinsinawa Dominicans believe they are called to share the Gospel. They do this by preaching and teaching. They also work to help build a fair and good society.
These sisters are connected to two colleges:
- Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin
- Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois
Their Work Today
The Sinsinawa Dominicans have a plan for their work from 2023 to 2028. They want to:
- Work for fairness and be responsible for the environment and money. This follows ideas from a special letter called Laudato Si’.
- Speak out against unfairness in the Church. They want to help bring people together.
- Work to stop racism and use peaceful actions and words.
- Be honest and true in their relationships with God, each other, and all living things.
- Be kind and helpful to each other and to people who are struggling.
- Welcome everyone and celebrate differences.
- Help each other grow in their faith.
Sinsinawa Dominican sisters are focused on preaching and teaching the Gospel. They believe that building relationships is key to their work. The sisters have many different jobs. Some are teachers, counselors, or caregivers. Others are doctors, lawyers, or church ministers. They work in over 30 different places. These places are in the United States, Bolivia, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Important People
- Sister Mary Clemente Davlin: She was a well-known expert on the Middle Ages. She also worked to make campuses more welcoming for everyone.
- Sister Rosemary Gannon O.P.: She was the director of choirs at Trinity High School in River Forest, Illinois. She even appeared in the movie Home Alone.
See also
In Spanish: Dominicas de la Congregación del Santísimo Rosario de Sinsinawa para niños
