By Sister Gina Fleming, O.P.
Last fall, students from St. Agnes Academic H.S., College Point; Albertus Magnus H.S. in Rockland County; and St. John the Baptist H.S., West Islip, came to St. John the Baptist for a weekend of prayer, study and the forming of community. These students were one the latest groups attending one of the Dominican Sisters of Amityville youth preaching workshops. They learned how to bring to life their baptismal call to “preach the Good News” by using the gifts and talents that have been given to them by our loving God.
We began the weekend on Friday evening with pizza, fun and prayer. Then, we began by learning about St. Dominic and the Dominican Order. They were shocked to hear that the Order of Preachers is celebrating “800 years.” They were also told that they were part of the first program to be held under the new corporation Dominican Youth Movement USA. They loved the thought that they were pioneers. So began our weekend together as a community of young Dominicans. After staying the night we arose early for breakfast and prayer and prepared for our trip to our Motherhouse. This is always a fun day for the participants who enjoy the presentations on preaching through drama, art, music, and dance. They also met our retired sisters for an ice cream social on Saturday.
This is a fun event for all who participate. These young people are hungering for any opportunity to come closer to God. One need only listen to their reflections during our prayer times to hear the hunger in their hearts for relationship to the divine! How blessed are we to be able to provide a venue to foster and ignite that relationship.
The weekends are completed with the Sunday liturgy at our motherhouse. The students use what they have learned during the weekend to be lectors, dancers, and leaders of intercessory prayers. They take a very active role in the liturgy that morning. Following the mass, the students and their parents are invited to join us for lunch in our dining room. The participants find the weekends very spiritual, prayerful and a great deal of fun.
Most importantly, many stay connected to us after experiencing the weekend. Some return as youth mentors and have the opportunity to lead a new group of young preachers, and some have volunteered as part of their service requirements at school. Many of these same young people will attend this year’s National High School Preaching Conference in Michigan. However they choose to stay connected, we are grateful for their presence amongst us.
I am forever grateful for the continued presence and assistance by our sisters. I am also grateful for the willingness of our sisters who reside in the Motherhouse to come and join us. These programs have been a blessing to the participants, and also to the Congregation-at- large in whose name the programs continue.
If any group is interested in participating, please contact me. All high school age students are welcome.
Sister Gina is the co-director of the National College Preaching Conference and the Promoter of Youth for the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, New York. She can be reached at domsis@aol.com.
