Recent Ceremonies
Iraqi Refugee Crisis
Death Penalty Moratorium
Our Centenarians
Mosquito Nets to Tanzania
International Day of Peace
Sisters on Vacation
The Northern California Community Loan Fund

Recent Ceremonies

Our most recent ceremony - June 11, 2006 - was the Entrance into the Novitiate of Sister Roselli Tria, OP. To enter into the journey of women who have responded to God's call lived through the lifestyle of the preacher in the tradition of Dominic, and view photos of recent ceremonies, please click on the link below:

Ceremonies >

Iraqi Refugee Crisis

Sister Marion Irvine will be attending the Iraq Action Days in Washington, DC, from April 14-16. Please read more about Dominican participation by clicking on this link.

The Moratorium Movement

On Sunday, November 18, we joined with California People of Faith and Death Penalty Focus for our vigil of Thanksgiving for those who care for our brothers and sistes on Death Row. There is, in effect, a national moratorium on the death penalty while the US Supreme Court grapples with the question of illegal protocols on lethal injection. There is other evidence that also gives us hope that the tide may be turning on the issue of the death penalty, and that it is turning in the favor of life.

One of the walkers in San Rafael on November 18th.

Sister Marion Irvine, addressing the crowd assembled at San Quentin.

Our Centenarians

Mosquito Nets to Tanzania

When Sister Ann Providence Frasinello was inspired by a presentation at the POINT 7 NOW! Action Conference in San Francisco, she made a proposal to the sisters' Earth Charter Implementation Committee that we ask the individual sisters to reach into their pockets and make personal donations for bed nets in Africa. The committee agreed that, not only was this a wonderful project, but that they could commit to matching the funds that the sisters collected. The sisters dug into their pockets, and many of the generous people that work with them in San Rafael, and the residents of Rose Court in San Francisco, did so too.

The scourge of malaria, spread by mosquitos has cost the lives of many in sub-Saharan Africa. Those who have suffered the greatest are the young. By providing inexpensive bed nets, many lives can be saved.

Father Paulinus Mangesho, pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Redwood City, makes regular trips to his homeland of Tanzania. He can deliver nets, purchased with the $3,400 from the sisters and their friends, directly to the families who will use them there. And because he will purchase the nets in Tanzania, he can purchase them for $3 a piece, instead of the $10 that we would pay for them here in the U.S.

Sister Marion Irvine presenting check for mosquito nets to Fr. Paulinus Mangesho, ALCP.

Father Paulinus standing by a mosquito net that is displayed.

International Day of Peace

On September 21, 2007, the Dominican Sisters continued their annual celebration of the International Day of Peace, by rededicating their Peace Pole. In 1981 the United Nations Genearl Assembly passed Resolution 36/67 declaring an International Day of Peace. In 2001, the United Nations Genearl Assembly adopted a new resolution, 55/282, declaring 21 September of each year as the International Day of Peace.

We invite you to join with us, and others all over the world in praying for a culture of peace and non-violence. The following are a few photos from our prayer service.

Sister Pat Simpson welcomes all who gathered to pray for peace.	Sister Marion Irvine incenses our Peace Pole, rededicating it, ourselves, and our world to peace and non-violence.
There were over 100 gathered at this prayer service. Part of the ceremony included a procession.	Students from St. Raphael School also came to the ceremony and sang a very special song that expressed their hope for peace in our world.

Sisters on Vacation

Sisters are energized by their ministries and enlivened by community life. Their lives are centered in prayer, and study informs their preaching. That pretty much covers the "Four Pillars" of Dominican life: Common Life, Common Prayer, Study and Service. There is one more thing necessary for a balanced life, and that is PLAY. So the following are a few pictures of the sisters at play.

Sisters Brigid Noonan and Abby Newton in a helicopter in the Yukon.	No longer in the helicopter!
Sister Kit Hamilton rowing in a river in the Delta near Stockton.	Sisters Christine Wilcox and Sally Lowell rowing on a lake.
Sister Pat Farrell in Florence by the bridge, Ponte Vecchio, while on the Lands of Dominic Pilgrimage.	Sisters Patty Dougherty and Cyndie Cammack in the tiny airplane on their trip to a Nevada sheep ranch.

Northern California Community Loan Fund

The Northern California Community Loan Fund (NCCLF) provides financing and expertise to strengthen low-income neighborhoods and enable disadvantaged people to build a better future. The loan fund started in 1987 and the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael were among the seven initial religious community investors. In 2002, these seven religious communities were honored with a special award, signified by an original painting from one of the entrepreneurs supported by NCCLF. The painting is shared and passed from one honoree to the next.

t this 20 th anniversary event, the Dominican Sisters passed the painting to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, California. Sister Marie Jean Gaillac was present to receive the award from Sister Margaret Diener, chair of the Dominican Sisters Socially Responsible Investment Committee. Mary Rogier, President of NCCLF, again thanked the religious communities for their abiding support throughout the history of the loan fund, acknowledging the match between the values the sisters support and the goals of the Fund.

Welcome to the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Northern California Community Loan Fund.

Sister Margaret Diener, OP, presenting the award to Sister Marie Jean Gaillac, CSJ. Also present are Sister Patricia Bruno, OP, and Mary Rogier, President of the NCCLF.