Dominican Sisters Grand Rapids

08/22/2026

Happy 60th Jubilee Sister Phyllis Supancheck! ❤️🎉

From teaching and physical therapy to serving refugees, Hispanic communities, people with disabilities, prisoners, and communities around the world, Sister Phyllis Supancheck has spent six decades answering God’s call.

Today, she continues to serve, mentor, worship, and bring joy to those around her: https://www.grdominicans.org/sr-phyllis-supancheck-o-p-jubilarian-2026-60-years-a-sister/

08/19/2026

250 Sisters Who Shaped the USA: Sr. Bernice Garcia, OP
A visionary educator, preacher and entrepreneur, Sr. Bernice Garcia, OP, believed that faith and social mission could create meaningful, lasting change. In 1994, while serving at San Jose Parish in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she partnered with Susan Matteucci to launch Southwest Creations Collaborative (SCC), a sewing and handwork project created to provide dignified, living-wage employment for women from low-income communities.
With a model that also included affordable childcare and other supports, Sr. Bernice and Susan demonstrated that a sustainable business could be driven by a vision for justice and community empowerment. More than 30 years later, SCC’s impact continues, including $19 million in production wages paid to Albuquerque families and contributing to the local economy.
Sr. Bernice’s life reminds us that preaching can take many forms—and that entrepreneurship, education and economic opportunity can be powerful ways to build a more just world. ❤️
Join us as we celebrate 250 Dominican Sisters whose faith, courage, service and gifts helped shape the United States! 🇺🇸

🔥✨ 250 Sisters Who Shaped the USA: Sr. Bernice Garcia, OP

A visionary educator, preacher and entrepreneur, Sr. Bernice Garcia, OP, believed that faith and social mission could create meaningful, lasting change. In 1994, while serving at San Jose Parish in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she partnered with Susan Matteucci to launch Southwest Creations Collaborative (SCC), a sewing and handwork project created to provide dignified, living-wage employment for women from low-income communities.

With a model that also included affordable childcare and other supports, Sr. Bernice and Susan demonstrated that a sustainable business could be driven by a vision for justice and community empowerment. More than 30 years later, SCC’s impact continues, including $19 million in production wages paid to Albuquerque families and contributing to the local economy.

Sr. Bernice’s life reminds us that preaching can take many forms—and that entrepreneurship, education and economic opportunity can be powerful ways to build a more just world. ❤️

Join us as we celebrate 250 Dominican Sisters whose faith, courage, service and gifts helped shape the United States! 🇺🇸

08/19/2026

Visit https://www.grdominicans.org/silent-voices-big-truths-living-in-uncertainty/

08/18/2026

The Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids are pleased to welcome visitors to explore the prairie, woods, and gardens at Marywood.

08/17/2026

08/15/2026

Sister Teresa Houlihan, OP celebrates 75 years of faith, service, and education. 💙

Her journey began with a simple question: “What contribution will you make to the life of the Church?”

"Reflecting on the question, I knew I enjoyed studying and learning and thought I might be a teacher. Could it be to a religious congregation whose ministry was studying and teaching?"

That question sparked a lifelong vocation as a Grand Rapids Dominican Sister: https://www.grdominicans.org/sr-teresa-houlihan-o-p-jubilarian-2026-75-years-a-sister/

08/13/2026

"The call we hear is not for ourselves alone. Religious life has never existed for its own sake. It exists for the transformation of the world," said Vicky Larson, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, at the annual assembly held Aug. 11-14 in Orlando.

08/13/2026

Our Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters Leadership Team -- Sr. Megan McElroy, Sr. Diane Zerfas, Sr. Kathi Sleziak, and Sr. Mary Donnelly -- is at the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) assembly this week. Pope Leo sent a beautiful message of hope and a call to all Catholic Sisters to keep working for peace, justice and truth in our world. Click on the article to see the video message from Pope Leo!

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-08/pope-women-religious-your-witness-confront-global-indifference.html?fbclid=IwdGRjcATq_KtwZG9mAWZkaWQWUMZUSwCUDTonMiD7zdFi7NnK4Bj_3mV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5moITXBCP8Q04nlM9of_IYxtMk9DKQ4_SaxrjHh8ab_TtffDmuO-YJwsIFUg_aem_Fw0FKfBsK8NVtxDBXjH2_g

In a video message to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in the United States, Pope Leo highlights the beauty of different communities, ...

08/12/2026

Saturday, August 15, 9:00 - 11:30 am at Marywood in Grand Rapids.
Come help inventory biodiversity on the prairie and monitor invasive plants -- to guide our future removal of invasives at Marywood. Park at 111 Lakeside Drive NE. Bring your sun hat, long pants, and cell phone!

Register https://forms.gle/dZAjo9ZBFg2LFsdD9

08/11/2026

Lifting up the musicians, the war refugees, the music teachers -- the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids lift up Sr. Amanda Courtaux, OP, whose life was shaped by the years before, during and after World War I. We honor her courage and the welcome she received from the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters upon coming to the United States.

America

🎹✨ 250 Sisters Who Shaped the USA: Sr. Amanda Courtaux, OP ✨

Born in Mauritius, Sr. Amanda Courtaux, OP, brought her remarkable gifts as a musician and teacher to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. After studying at the Paris Conservatory and earning the highest honors in piano, she became a refugee in Switzerland during World War I before joining the Dominican Sisters at age 60.

She spent her religious life teaching music and preparing future teachers—sharing her talents in ways that helped shape generations of students. 🎶📚

Join us as we celebrate 250 Dominican Sisters whose faith, courage, service, and gifts helped shape the United States!