Adrian Dominican Associate Life

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Adrian Dominican Associate Life
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What is an Associate?
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• An Associate is a man or a woman at least
  18 years old who mutually shares in the life
  and Mission of the Adrian Dominican Sisters
  through a non-vowed commitment.

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• Associates lead independent lives and are
  economically independent of the Congregation.

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• The primary purpose of Association is to respond
  to a call to live the Dominican charism within a
  chosen lifestyle.

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What is a Charism?
Gift
Grace
Spirit
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• A charism is a manifestation of the Spirits
  presence in the members of the community,
  causing everything that they are and do to
  be done and ordered for the good of all.

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What is the Dominican Charism?

• Contemplative prayer
• Prayerful study
• Prophetic preaching
• Action on behalf of justice and peace
• Following the teachings of St. Dominic Guzman
  and St. Catherine of Siena

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• We Dominican Preachers of Adrian
• impelled by the Gospel and
• outraged by the injustices of our day,
• seek truth
• make peace
• reverence life.
• Vision Dominican Sisters of Adrian
• General Chapter 2004

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Adrian Dominican Mission Statement

• In the Mission of Jesus we Adrian
  Dominican Sisters discover and identify ourselves
  as women called together to share faith
  and life with one another
  and sent into our world
  to be with others
• bearers and recipients of his love
• co-creators
  of his justice and peace.

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• Associates do not take vows, but rather make
  a commitment to be partners with vowed members,
  and to share the Mission and charism of the
  Dominican Family in their own lives, families,
  churches, neighborhoods, workplaces, and cities.

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• Associates participate in the life of the
  Congregation through their involvement in prayer,
  study and ministry.

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What are the traits of an Associate?

• Some knowledge of the Congregation or of the
  Dominican charism
• Affinity for the Dominican charismprayer,
  study, community spirit and ministry
• Concern for justice, for the poor and oppressed
• Awareness of the works of the Congregation
• Openness to the Mission and Vision
• Compatible religious beliefs
• Defined spirituality

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How do you become an Associate?
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• Initial Contact
• Application
• Interview with Director
• RAL (Representative of Associate Life) is
  introduced
• Applicant becomes Prospective Associate
• Studies with a mentor (Sister or Associate)
• Ritual of Acceptance celebrated

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How are Associates connected to the Congregation?
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• In Mission Groups across the Congregation,
  Associates participate in a part of the
  gathering, usually shared prayer, reflection,
  discussion of the Mission and charism and
  planning an action around the Vision.
• This usually ends with a social around a meal.
  An Associate may choose to leave the meeting
  while the vowed members continue with issues of
  finance or governance.

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• Other options for connection involve
  study/reflection groups in which Associates and
  vowed members come together on a regular basis
  for prayer, discussion and action. These groups
  are facilitated by an individual in the group.
• The time is enriching a concrete means for
  sharing the charism and calling individuals to
  action.

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• Participation in the Dominican charism enhances
  daily life, enriches spirituality and directs
  ministry.
• Associates and vowed members live different
  lives, under the umbrella of the same Dominican
  charism.
• There is less movement to govern each others
  lifestyle and more understanding that we live a
  parallel daily life while enriching each other.

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• Adrian Dominican Associate Life is an opportunity
  to enrich your life, share your values and your
  lifes journey.
• The Dominican charism draws us
• to study, pray and preach.

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• Associates are engaged in all walks of life.
• Whether they are attorneys, homemakers, teachers,
  business owners or factory workers,
• they try to live their daily lives intentionally
  as Dominicans.

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Associates preach the Good News through the
voices of their work, their art, and their lives,
following the example of Catherine of Siena, who
reminds us 

• Preach the Truth as if you had a million
  voices.
• It is silence that kills the world."

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Associates currently reside in these states

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Illinois
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Michigan

Missouri Nevada New Mexico New
York North Carolina Ohio South
Carolina Washington Washington,
D.C. Wisconsin and Dominican
Republic
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• For more information, please contact
• Mary Hentschel Lach
• Director of Associate Life
• Adrian Dominican Sisters
• [phone]
• mlach_at_adriandominicansisters.org