Two women made their first profession of vows as members of the Dominican Sisters of Peace on Sunday, Aug. 27 at the congregation’s motherhouse in Columbus. They are Sister Cathy Buchanan, OP, who is from New Jersey, and Sister Tram Bui, OP, a native of Vietnam.
For the next three to six years, they will seek to deepen their Dominican apostolic lives by continuing to study and to reflect on what they have learned and experienced during the stages of candidacy and the novitiate.
The study program for those in temporary profession is designed according to the needs of the individual. Workshops, articles and books on a variety of topics might be considered for study. If the women discern at the end of this period that they are called to be Dominican sisters, they will make a permanent profession of vows.
Three other women were accepted into the Dominican novitiate on Wednesday, Aug. 2. They are Shingai Chigwedere, a native of Zambia, Paula Danforth of Vermont and North Carolinian Terri Schell.
As novices, they will spend one year mainly in prayer and reflection and a second year in community ministry to deepen their spirituality and their understanding of the vows and mission of the congregation.
Because of pandemic constraints, entrance ceremonies for Sister Tram and Sister Cathy took place via Zoom. Both entered the novitiate in 2021.
The three new novices conducted much of their early discernment via phone, email and video chat. As the world opened up post-pandemic, each was welcomed as a candidate to the congregation.
A grant from The Catholic Foundation helped the congregation use technology to reach out to discerners interested in gathering for support, prayer sessions and retreats via computer.
“We never could have guessed that we would spend nearly 12 months conducting vocational discernment via a television set,” said congregation member Sister Bea Tiboldi, OP. “But God’s timing is perfect – and even with travel restrictions caused by COVID, we were able to continue God’s work and bring new sisters to the congregation.”
The sisters said they are grateful for the prayers of many including the Serra Clubs of Columbus, and the support of the foundation for allowing these women to continue their discernment through a stressful period.