Chapters
Each year, the Dominican Sisters of Hope host a gathering of the entire organization to discuss that state of the congregation and other topics. The regular gatherings are called Assemblies, but every 5 years the gathering is called a Chapter and serves a much more important role. At each Chapter a new leadership team is elected for the organization, and a goal/mission is selected for the leadership team to focus on over the next 5 years.
Below are slection of photographs of each of the Chapters and a general description of what was discussed at the chapter.
Mount Marie, 1995
Chapter 1995
The founding Chapter of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, this is where the oprganization was formed and it's named chosen. The Chapter was a collaboration of three separate Congregations in Newburgh, Ossining, and Fall River that were in the process of merging.
Photo of Conference Hall, 1999
Chapter 1999
The goal of this Chapter was to figure out what to do wth the land at Mariandale. The leadership team was elected with the intention to spend the next 4 years survey the property. As well, this is when the organization was stepping up it's participation in activities to help the environment.
Mass at the Chapel, 2003
Chapter 2003
The goal of the 2003 Chapter was to begin the long process of preparing the congregation for retirement. Groups were assigned with speciics tasks to work on, including dealing with finances, figuring out the proccess of transition and retirement, and how the use the Mariandale center. As well, the congregation would spend the next 4 years studying the four pillars of Dominican Life, Community Prayer, Study, and Mission.
Jubilee Pamphlet, 2009
Chapter 2009
The goal of this Chapter was to begin finalizing the sale of the Newburgh campus to Mount Saint MAry College and other potential buyers. Other topics discussed were how long the term of office should be for leadership, creating an agricultural easment on the North Dartmouth property, and a potential merger with the Catherine de Ricci Sisters.
Sister Diane Dupee playing piano, 2014
Chapter 2014
This Chapter was centered around maintaining the legacy and mission of the Dominican Sisters of Hope and ivnestigating how it will evolve in the future. One of the primary tasks was to decide on the goals of the Master Planning committeewhich will evaluate how best to use the congregation's resources for forward the organization's mission.
Sisters leading Prayer, 2019
Chapter 2019
The primary goal of this chapter was to evaluate and affirm the mission of the Dominican Sisters of Hope. Part of this affirmation was to begin sharing and prserving the stories of the Sisters and the founding of the Dominican Sisters of Hope.