Introducing the 2013 Dominican Associate

Candidates

The Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois proudly welcome these individuals who

are making their commitment as Dominican Associates on May 19, 2013.

Associates are women and men who enter into a

covenant relationship with the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois. This covenant is the Associate’s response to and the community’s affirmation of a call from God to live the Dominican vocation, charism and

mission in communion with Sisters and other Associates.

Dominican Associate Mission

We, Dominican Associates of Springfield, Illinois are called to embody

the Dominican charism, hear and proclaim God’s Word, and promote the dignity of all persons.

We commit ourselves to lives rooted in prayer, study,

community and ministry. Through our gifts of diversity, we strive to participate in the mission of the church

by putting into action our call to preach the Word with our lives.

Madonna Marie Berry Madonna is a member of Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville, Illinois. Originally from Jerseyville, she attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and went to St. Francis Catholic School. Madonna was educated by Dominicans in grade school, Ursulines and Redemptorists in high school and Franciscans and Jesuits in college. She has also taught school under Divine Providence Sisters, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Dominican Sisters. In her parish, Madonna teaches RCIC classes under Sr. Cecilianne Duello and is a member of the adult choir and funeral choir. Madonna’s Sponsor is Sr. Cecilianne Duello, OP. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Gabriella Luebbers, OP.

Sharmin Leigh Doering Sharmin attends Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, Illinois. She is a former Sacred Heart Academy student and a friend of Dominican Associate Mary Schaefer. Sharmin serves as Executive Director of Sangamon County Community Resources and recently earned a professional credential as a certified community action professional. She is Co-Chair of the Faith Coalition Education Truance SubCommittee. Sharmin’s Sponsor is Dominican Associate Mary Schaefer. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. John Vianney Rudolph, OP.

Sharon Fulton Sharon is a member of St. Jude Parish in Peoria, Illinois. She attended Sacred Heart Academy and was taught for 12 years by the Springfield Dominicans. Sharon is a Pastoral Care Volunteer at Methodist Hospital and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. She has ministered as a Pastoral Care Volunteer for 15 years. In her parish, she has been a member of the church choir for over 40 years and is a Eucharistic Minister for Saturday morning Mass. She also ministers to the homebound on Sundays and has done so for the past five years. Sharon’s sponsor is Dominican Associate Gail Eck. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Judith Pfile, OP.

Nora Gessert Nora has belonged to St. Bernadette Parish in Evergreen Park, Illinois all her life. She attended St. Bernadette School, where her daughter is now a student and where she regularly volunteers. In her parish, Nora is Children’s Liturgy of the Word Catechist and assists with the Children’s Choir. She works for Sr. Mary Ventura in the Essential Learning Solutions Lab at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy. Nora’s Sponsor is Sr. Mary Ventura, OP. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Aniceta Skube, OP.

Pat Grady Pat is a member of Little Flower Parish in Springfield, Illinois. She attended Cathedral and Little Flower Schools in Springfield, Illinois. Pat is a member of the rail task force with Faith Coalition for the Common Good and Inner-City Coalition of Neighborhoods. She is also Sr. Michaelene Grady’s niece. Pat’s Sponsor is Sr. Pauletta Overbeck, OP. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Regina Marie Bernet, OP.

Robert Guretz Robert is a member of Our Lady of the Wayside Parish in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He is also an active participant on our Facebook page. Robert is Sr. Janet Guretz’s brother and was taught by the Springfield Dominicans at St. Edward School in Chicago. In his parish, Robert is a Eucharistic minister, usher, greeter and lector. He also serves as a Minister of Care to the sick and elderly and teaches religion to fourth grade students. Robert’s Sponsor is Sr. Janet Guretz, OP. His Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Mary Dominic Joerger, OP.

Jane Hurshman Jane is a member of Little Flower Parish in Springfield, Illinois. She is a church lector, Eucharistic minister and president of the church’s Right to Life committee. She also helps count the church collections once a month and is a member of a prayer group that meets monthly. Her two sons were educated at Little Flower School and Sacred Heart-Griffin. Jane’s Sponsor is Sr. Norma Somers, OP. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Ann Catherine Radosevic, OP.

Myrtle Jockisch Myrtle attends the Church of Our Saviour in Jacksonville, Illinois and is a friend of Dominican Associate Winifred Probst. She assists at RCIA and attends Bible study in her parish. Myrtle was a daycare provider for 29 years. She continues to provide babysitting services. “This commitment is a step in spiritual growth and openness to what God is calling me to do,” she says. Myrtle’s Sponsor is Dominican Associate Winifred Probst. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Samuella Volk, OP.

Renee Ann LaMarca Renee attends Mass at the St. Thomas Aquinas Center in West Lafayette, Indiana. She was taught by Dominican Sisters in Redlands, California for three years in grade school. In her parish, she is a lector, altar server and Extraordinary Minister. Renee also volunteers at a local reading/resource center for adults and tutors for an English as a Second Language class. Renee’s Sponsor is Sr. Anita Tapocik, OP. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Maira Barry, OP.

Lori Loveless Lori belongs to SS Mary and Joseph Parish in Carlinville, Illinois. She is a Principal and teacher at St. John the Evangelist School in Carrollton, Illinois and next year she will be Principal and teacher at St. Michael the Archangel School in Staunton, Illinois. In her parish, she has served as a Eucharistic Minister, Vacation Bible School Director, Parish School of Religion Teacher, Pre-school and Nursery Teacher and a member of the Youth Group Board. Lori’s Sponsor is Sr. Linda Sue Noe, OP. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Marie Andre Dougherty, OP

Michele Costello Marr Michelle attends Holy Trinity Church in Bloomington, Illinois. She was educated by the Springfield Dominicans at St. Mary’s School in New Berlin, Illinois and taught with the Dominican Sisters at St. Cabrini School in Springfield, Illinois. She once seriously considered entering the Dominican Order. Now, she teaches second grade at Gridley Grade School in Gridley, Illinois. Michele’s Sponsor is Sr. Margaret Therese Hebert, OP. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Mary Gael Daley, OP.

Karen J. Miller

Karen is a member of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Charleston, Illinois. She attended St. Mary’s School in Paris, Illinois from first to eighth grade and Sacred Heart Academy for high school. Karen is her parish representative to the Bishop’s legislative efforts on behalf of Hope and Justice concerns. She also serves as a Eucharistic minister to patients at Sarah Bush Hospital, and volunteers at the homeless shelter run by Eastern Illinois University’s Newman Center. Karen serves as a board member for a teen program sponsored by the Central Illinois Coalition for Community Services. Her Sponsor is Sr. Maria Eck, OP. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Stephanie Kapusta, OP.

Sharon Ray Sharon attends Holy Family Parish in Decatur, Illinois and is a friend of Dominican Associate Jan Mudd. She attended Catholic schools for 12 years and was educated by the School Sisters of St. Francis and the Ursuline Sisters. Sharon is Assistant to the Director of Human Resources for Decatur Public Schools. She has 19 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Sharon’s Sponsor is Dominican Associate Jan Mudd. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Mary Anton Uthe, OP.

Karen Siciliano Karen is a member of St. Joseph Church in Springfield, Illinois. She is a professed member of the Company of St. Ursula, a secular institute in the Ursuline tradition. In her parish, Karen ministers as a catechist, liturgical minister and mentor in ongoing faith formation. She has served on several retreat teams for teens and young adults and has also been involved in prison ministry and ministry to the homeless. She graduated from the Diocese of Springfield’s Lay Ministry Formation Program with a certificate in Liturgy. She also received certification as a Spiritual Director from the Spiritual Direction Training Institute and has completed several faith formation programs. Karen’s Sponsor is Sr. Bernice Juip, OP. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Mary Edwina Finnegan, OP.

John (Jack) Trevillian Jack is a member of St. Bernadette Parish in Evergreen Park, Illinois. He attended public schools and worked as a lithographer for many years before retiring. In his parish, he is a member of the offering counting team. “I have seen a beautiful side of Catholicism with my introduction to many Sisters in Springfield,” he says. Jack’s Sponsor is Sr. Christine Marie Kub, OP. His Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Mary Gael Daley, OP.

Judy Trevillian Judy attends St. Bernadette Parish in Evergreen Park, Illinois. She was born in Chicago and attended St. Basil School. She was taught by Springfield Dominicans from 2nd-8th grade at St. Bernadette School in Evergreen Park. Inspired by Sr. M. Gael Daley, she became a primary school teacher and taught mainly first grade for 28 years. Her Sponsor is Sr. Christine Marie Kub, OP. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Mary Gael Daley, OP.

Carolyn White Carolyn is a member of Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville, Illinois and is a friend of Sr. Cecilianne Duello, OP. In her parish, Carolyn is the Safe Environment Coordinator for the Protecting God’s Children Program. She is also a Eucharistic minister, member of a Cursillo Reunion group and has led a Why Catholic program in her parish. Through her parish, she was able to participate in a mission trip to Haiti. Carolyn’s Sponsor is Sr. Ceilianne Duello, OP. Her Prayer Sponsor is Sr. Mary Rose Schleeper, OP.

Learn more about becoming a Dominican Associate

Contact Sr. Paul Mary Janssens, OP Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois

Sacred Heart Convent 1237 W Monroe

Springfield, IL 62704 217-787-0481

www.springfieldop.org

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more @ SpringfieldOP!