About Us:
Our Ministries

Ministry is at the heart of our vocation as Dominican Sisters. Our service to others is deeply rooted in our relationship with God and our call to be preachers of God's compassionate message. We serve in a variety of ministries from childcare, education, and pastoral ministry to health care, social services, and ministry to the blind and developmentally disabled. We believe where one Blauvelt Dominican Sister serves, we all serve.

Over the years, our Sisters have generously and graciously responded to the needs of the Church in a changing world. Here are a few of the Sisters who are continuing the mission of the Blauvelt congregation today...

Sister Patricia Horan, O.P. (Sister Owen Marie)
English as a Second Language Teacher, Montebello, South Africa

Like Saint Dominic, Sister Patricia (Pat) Horan is truly itinerant. She has lived in New York, Italy, Virginia, Michigan and is now living and ministering with the Dominican Sisters of Montebello in South Africa.

Sr. Pat has worked with students, as the director of formation, on leadership, as well as many other ministries. She most recently spent three years at the Dominican Ashram, where she lived a life of very intentional time in prayer, contemplation and ministry. However, like Dominic, Sr. Pat knows that contemplation leads to action, and she realized her gifts could best be used serving as an ESL Teacher in South Africa.

A relationship between the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt and the Dominican Sisters of Montebello, South Africa was developed between Sr. Mary Ann Collins and Sr. Michael, then presidents of their respective congregations. That relationship has continued to be nurtured as sisters between the two communities exchange gifts, services and sharing of their lives. It became evident that one of the needs in South Africa was for education, especially in the areas, of English, Health Care, Social Work and Education.

Sr. Pat, who empathizes with her ESL students as she tries to learn Zulu, loves that she has been given the opportunity to live, work and pray with her South African sisters. As she wrote in a recent journal post, "Yesterday's liturgical readings from the Old Testament and the New Testament were invitations to a banquet. I felt that all I did was part of the banquet from early morning until my return that evening from Lourdes Convent. All was blessing." Sister Pat truly receives all as blessing and is, in turn, a blessing to those around her.

Sister Mary Jo Lynch, O.P. (Sister Mary Alan)
Principal, St. Pius H.S., Bronx, NY

Sister Mary Jo Lynch was recently honored by the South Bronx Catholic Vicariate for her service to the community as Principal of St. Pius High School. The numbers of students, teachers and community members she has influenced are countless. Sister Mary Jo began teaching at St. Pius in 1966, after a few years of teaching at St. Anselm's and St. Anthony schools, both in the Bronx. In 1972, Sr. Mary Jo became principal of St. Pius, where she has been ever since.

Despite the fact that many Catholic schools in the area have closed, Sister Mary Jo has fought, successfully, to both keep St. Pius open, and affordable, to students in the neighborhood.

Sister Mary Ann Collins, O.P. (Sister Agnes Michael)
Chaplain, Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, Bedford Hills, NY

"My sense of call to religious life came through my teachers, the Dominicans of Blauvelt. When I entered the congregation, I never dreamed where my response would take me. Since then, I have been privileged to respond to our Dominican call to preach the gospel in a variety of ways: teaching in elementary school, high schools and in ESL Programs, vocation and formation work, and congregational leadership," says Sister Mary Ann.

Sister Mary Ann now ministers as a chaplain at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women. The women in Bedford prison preach through their trust in God, through their courage, and through their compassion. They trust that their children will be cared for and that they, as a result of their prison experience, will become different persons. Their courage, in trying to change their lives and their compassion in their interaction with each other are powerful and inspiring to see. Challenged by their neediness and vulnerability, they are most attentive to each other, sharing what they have, be it advice, a smile or perhaps only a bar of soap.

Sister Mary Ann's love and respect for those to whom she ministers is evident when she speaks of them. They cannot fail to see it in their interaction with her. As they are led to encounter God through her, they in turn preach to her as well. And so the preaching continues. "I would hope my life is a preaching and that people would respond and see something of God in me. I try to be an instrument of God's word in whatever I do each day," she says.

Sister Ellen Hublitz, O.P. (Sister George Marie)
Pastoral Associate, Catholic Churches of Wakefield, Bronx, NY

Sister Ellen Hublitz began her ministry as a teacher at St. Luke School in the Bronx, where she taught for seven years. A few other Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt had her as a teacher and speak lovingly of the way she worked with them in their formative years. She then continued her teaching career at St. Mary's and St. Anselm's in the Bronx, as well as St. Paul's in Daytona Beach, Florida.

More recently, Sister Ellen has been a minister in Bronx parishes. She ministered with the homebound of St. Francis of Rome Parish and now is a Pastoral Associate for the Catholic Churches of Wakefield.

Sister Dorothy Wieting, O.P. (Sister Jeanne Ricarda)
Leader of Bible Study, St. Catharine and St. Augustine Parishes, Blauvelt, NY

Sister Dorothy Wieting has spent most of her life teaching and ministering with and to children. This included elementary and high school education as well as fifteen years of teaching speech at Dominican College. However, in her retirement years, she has found great pleasure in leading Bible studies at two local parishes. Sister Dorothy, along with leading the studies, is a true student herself. She diligently researches information about the Bible passages in preparation for meetings. She also takes advantage of lectures, continuing formation opportunities, and programs that help her grow - in faith and knowledge - of which she has plenty at over 80 years old.

Sister Diane Forrest, O.P.
Theology Teacher and Musician, St. Pius High School, Bronx, NY

"I like to write songs that people can sing," shares Sister Diane Forrest. Sister Diane is a self taught musician and songwriter/preacher whose music ministry was subtly sown when she joined her high school glee club primarily to be with her friends. She goes on to smile a little as she discloses that her first guitar was given to her by a boyfriend for her 18th birthday.

She sees her gift as a medium for sharing God's love that burns within her and for helping others discover their own creativity. "I put myself in a place where God can work through music. It is a gift that has been given totally for others-something about music moves people to another place." Living out of this philosophy, Sister Diane has used her music in her different ministries. As a teacher, she offered her music as a way to encourage children to explore musical arts. She urges parents to let their children try musical instruments and other avenues of creative expression they may be inclined toward, so they may find their gifts. She enjoys playing for various liturgical celebrations and most of her songs have been written for special occasions. For example, her first song, "Magnificat" was written for a friend's first vows.

"My music," says Sister Diane , " is Blauvelt Dominican music because it comes out of the lives of our community." Sister Diane has recently been published in a compilation of prayers and songs entitled, Prayers for Hope and Comfort: Reflections, Meditations and Inspirations.

Sister Joan Smith, O.P. (Sister Catherine Joseph)
Communications, Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, Sparkill, NY

Sister Joan Smith began working in the Communications Office in Blauvelt in 1989. She really established the office and began the process of bringing communications up-to-date with the then new technologies. Once she knew the office was running well, she began ministering in the communications office for the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, a congregation of Dominicans who are just a few miles down the road.

One of Sister Joan's loves, and talents, is her art. She began her ministry as an elementary school teacher, then worked as an art teacher. She has also created many religious art pieces that are used by the Dominicans in Blauvelt and Sparkill, as well as by the Dominican Order. (Some of her art may be found at http://www.domcentral.org/album/joansmith/default.htm) Working in communications allows Sister Joan to combine technology and her love for art in creating beautiful presentations, videos, and photographs.