Marian Catholic 2013-2014 Dominican Preachers (L to R): Victoria Daugherty of Mokena, Michael Anderson of Tinley Park, Theresa Milazzo of Matteson, Caitlin Henry of Lansing, Sophia Sesto of Chicago Heights. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)
Chicago Heights, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Five Dominican Preachers of Marian Catholic High School attended the Dominican High School Preaching Conference at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Mich., from June 23-29. The conference is an immersion experience that offered incoming seniors an opportunity to experience Dominican community, prayer, study, and preaching.
Dominican tradition highlights the call and practice of preaching from the earliest days of the Order to the present. These young preachers joined with youth across the country as they engaged in prayer, studied the history of the Dominican Order and Dominican Saints through the centuries, and reflected upon Dominican life today. Within this context, the participants discussed and evaluated world issues in which the word of preachers is needed today, and then enliven their preaching through service.
Marian Catholic’s Dominican Preachers who participated in the conference were Victoria Daugherty (Mokena), Michael Anderson (Tinley Park), Theresa Milazzo (Matteson), Caitlin Henry (Lansing), and Sophia Sesto (Chicago Heights). Each preached the Gospel in his/her own unique way during the six-day conference while meeting many Dominicans who preach the Gospel in a variety of settings.
Marian Catholic’s Assistant Director of Campus Ministry, Justin Thirstrup (2008), explained:
“The conference is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about the Dominican charism that is at the heart of our Marian Catholic identity. It’s so inspiring to see young people fired up about their faith and celebrating the amazing gift that all of our schools share—Dominican life.”
Thirstrup further commented that perhaps the best aspect of the conference is the opportunity to make new friends with members of the Dominican family from across the United States, including Puerto Rico, as well as from Marian Catholic’s Springfield Dominican Sister-Schools of Rosary (Aurora, Ill.) and Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield, Ill.).
For Marian Catholic’s students, this conference prepares them for their ministry roles as Dominican Preachers in the upcoming school year, providing ideas about how they can further celebrate, educate, and share the Dominican life with the larger community at Marian Catholic.
For further information on the Dominican High School Preaching Conference, please contact the Assistant Director of Campus Ministry, Justin Thirstrup ’08 at[email protected].
