Sister Terri Schell, OP and Sister Paula Danforth, OP, professed their first vows as members of the Dominican Sisters of Peace at the congregation’s Columbus Motherhouse on Sunday, Aug. 17.
The ceremony was part of a Mass celebrated by Father Dan Millisor, a Dominican Sisters Associate. A reflection was offered by Sister Elyse Marie Ramirez, OP, who was director of the Collaborative Dominican Novitiate where both sisters studied in their canonical novitiate year. Sister Paula’s daughter, Janelle, and Sister Terri’s nieces and nephews presented the offertory gifts to the altar.
Both sisters entered the congregation as candidates in 2022 and entered the novitiate in 2023.
Sister Terri is director of Shepherd’s Corner, a 160-acre site in eastern Franklin County operated by the sisters as an environmental center. She is concentrating on exploring land justice as a fundamental way to address climate change and promote racial healing.
A native of North Carolina, she earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Her work experience before joining the congregation includes positions in environmental education and parish ministry.
Sister Paula Danforth is an accounting specialist at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut, an education ministry of the congregation Dominican Sisters of Peace, and worked in the College’s finance office during her time as a candidate.
Sister Paula holds an Associate’s degree from Hesser College in Manchester, New Hampshire, and a bachelor’s degree from Castleton (Vermont) State College. She was introduced to the order during retreats at the Dominican Retreat and Conference Center in Niskayuna, New York.
The congregation has four women in formation for consecrated religious life. If you are interested in learning more about life as a consecrated woman religious, visit its website at oppeace.org.