Lead, Serve, Inspire
AM celebrates Dominican Day
On Friday, April 26, 2024, the Albertus Magnus High School community gathered for Mass to celebrate Dominican Day. Several members of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, founders of Albertus Magnus High School, attended this special Mass.
Fr. Raaser, pastor of St. Margaret’s Parish in Pearl River, celebrated the Mass. In his homily, Fr. Raaser mentioned three outstanding Dominican saints: St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominican Order; St. Albert the Great, the patron saint of our school; and St. Catherine of Siena, the first woman Doctor of the Church whose feast day is celebrated on April 29.
Several times during his homily, Fr. Raaser referred to St. Catherine of Siena’s memorable words: “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” He concluded his homily by speaking about Truth – Veritas – and that following Jesus is the way of seeking the Truth.
At the conclusion of Mass, Sr. Diane McSherry OP '78, Director of Campus Ministry, shared an important focus of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill – the Care of Creation. In recent years, the sisters have studied Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si - On Care of Our Common Home.” In this encyclical, Pope Francis invites the worldwide community of Catholics to join with others, challenging us to respond to the cry of Earth and the cry of the poor by acknowledging the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path. Sr. Diane showed a short video entitled “Canticle of Creation”, a prayer using the words of St. Francis of Assisi that begin Pope Francis’ encyclical: “Laudato si, mi Signore” (“Praise be to you, my Lord.”). Sr. Diane ended her presentation by introducing Dahissa Auguste ’24, a participant in last summer’s Dominican High Schools Preaching Conference, who performed a rap she wrote about the four Dominican Pillars.
Several times during his homily, Fr. Raaser referred to St. Catherine of Siena’s memorable words: “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” He concluded his homily by speaking about Truth – Veritas – and that following Jesus is the way of seeking the Truth.
At the conclusion of Mass, Sr. Diane McSherry OP '78, Director of Campus Ministry, shared an important focus of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill – the Care of Creation. In recent years, the sisters have studied Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si - On Care of Our Common Home.” In this encyclical, Pope Francis invites the worldwide community of Catholics to join with others, challenging us to respond to the cry of Earth and the cry of the poor by acknowledging the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path. Sr. Diane showed a short video entitled “Canticle of Creation”, a prayer using the words of St. Francis of Assisi that begin Pope Francis’ encyclical: “Laudato si, mi Signore” (“Praise be to you, my Lord.”). Sr. Diane ended her presentation by introducing Dahissa Auguste ’24, a participant in last summer’s Dominican High Schools Preaching Conference, who performed a rap she wrote about the four Dominican Pillars.
The Dominican Sisters enjoyed light refreshments after Mass as well as a visit with several students and staff members. The AM community was happy to have the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill join them in this celebration of Dominican Day.
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