SINSINAWA — The Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary, Sinsinawa, elected new leadership and set direction for the next five years at their 25th General Chapter in Brookfield, Wis., April 15–23, 2023. The newly elected will begin their term July 1, 2023, after an installation ceremony at St. Joseph Chapel, Edgewood College, Madison.
As Catholic Sisters called to proclaim the Gospel through the ministry of preaching and teaching in order to participate in the building of a holy and just Church and society, the Sinsinawa Dominicans set forth a five-year direction that states, “As joyful contemplative preachers, the Dominicans of Sinsinawa will take the risks that the Gospel demands to respond to the needs of the world. Ignited by our search for Truth, we call ourselves to —
- Advocate for justice and practice social, ecological, and economic responsibility as called for in Laudato Si’ and our corporate stances;
- Challenge injustices in the institutional Church and be a reconciling presence in the spirit of Dominic and Catherine;
- Become antiracist and practice nonviolence in word and action;
- Strive for authenticity and integrity in our relationships with God, with one another, and with all Creation;
- Be a healing and compassionate presence to one another and to those on the margins;
- Embrace diversity as a blessing and cultivate a spirit of invitation and belonging; and
- Nurture and honor one another in our spiritual growth and expressions of faith.”
Elected to leadership to serve from the summer of 2023 to 2028 were Sr. Christina Heltsley, OP, as prioress with the following Sisters as councilors: Christine Feagan, OP; Elizabeth Pawlicki, OP; Judith Schaefer, OP; Julie Schwab, OP; and Jeanne Tranel, OP.
Sister Christina has ministered in Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and California since professing vows in 1979. Her ministry has been dedicated to nonprofit work. She currently serves as executive director at St. Francis Center, Redwood City, Calif. Sr. Christina’s home parish is St. Pius, Redwood City.
Sister Julie has served in a variety of ministries, including grade school teaching in Marshfield; Chicago, Ill.; Denver, Colo.; and Palo Alto, Calif. She also served as a hospice chaplain for persons with AIDS in San Francisco, Calif. Sr. Julie served in Guatemala from 1995 to 2005. She also served as codirector of EarthLinks in Denver. She then served on the congregation’s Leadership Council from 2011 to 2016. She presently works with Restoring Roots in Madison. Her home parish is St. Clement, Lancaster.
Sister Elizabeth’s home parishes are SS. Peter and Paul and St. Gregory the Great, both Williamsville, NY. Her ministry has been dedicated to pastoral and administrative services and civil law. Prior to entering the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1996, she ministered as director of residence life at University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind. She served as volunteer coordinator at DominiCare, Chewelah, Wash., 1993-1994; assistant director at Sacred Heart Adult Education Center, Washington, D.C., 1996-1997; and community center director for the Office of the Social Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, 1997-1999. She graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2002 and served as law clerk and associate attorney at Katz Friedman Law Offices, Chicago, 2001-2007, and associate general counsel for the labor union representing Illinois education professionals with Illinois Education Association-NEA, 2007-2016. She is a member of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago and serves on the Board of Governors. She has served on the Leadership Council for the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa congregation since 2016.
Sister Christine professed vows in 1967. Her home parish is St. Mary, Freeport, Ill., and her religious life has been dedicated to Hispanic ministry. Sister Christine taught at Central Catholic, Bloomington, Ill., 1970-1975. She taught at St. John Cathedral, Milwaukee, 1975-1976, and then taught at Aquin, Freeport, 1976-1979. In Bolivia, Sister Christine served in parish and youth ministry at Santa Cruz Parish, 1979-1988 and served in youth and radio ministry in Riberalta, 1988-1994. Since 1999, Sister Christine has served as director of Hispanic ministry at St. Mary Parish, Marshalltown, Ia.
Professed in 1972, Sister Judith’s home parish is St. Dominic, Denver. Her ministry has been dedicated to parish religious education and secondary and higher education. Sister Judith served as director of religious education at St. Matthew Parish, Kalispell, Mont., 1976-1983, along with several other area parishes. In Madison, Sister Judith served as director of the initial membership team for the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, 1988-1994, and as adjunct professor at Edgewood College, 1994-2000. She then ministered as professor and in administration at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, 2000-2012, and as president of Cotter Schools, Winona, 2012-2021. She currently serves as the promoter for the Cause of Beatification of Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP.
Sister Jeanne’s ministry has been dedicated to pastoral work and education since her profession in 1971. Her home parish is Nativity BVM, Menominee, Ill. She served as pastoral associate at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton, Ia., 2003-2012, where she also ministered with the Hispanic community. Sister Jeanne served as pastoral associate and director of religious education at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Peña Blanca, New Mexico, and its missions, 1997-2003. She also served in Riberalta, Bolivia on the river ministry from 1988 to 1997. Since 2012, she has served as pastoral associate at St. Patrick Co-Cathedral, Billings, Mont. Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters invite you to learn more about their work by visiting www.sinsinawa.org. The Sinsinawa Dominicans are part of a worldwide Dominican family, the Order of Preachers. For over 800 years, Dominicans have continued to preach the Gospel in word and deed. Today, thousands of sisters, nuns, priests, brothers, associates, and laity minister in more than 100 countries around the world.