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St. Catherine of Siena, a 14th century Dominican saint and Doctor of the Church, once said, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” On the centennial anniversary of their Sacred Heart Chapel, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill shared that message with young visitors from two parishes in Rockland County.
The event, called “Catch the Fire,” was held April 27 on the beautiful grounds of Domican Convent in Sparkill. Some 60 seventh- and eighth-graders preparing for confirmation at St. Joseph’s in Spring Valley and St. Paul’s in Congers attended.
During the event, the youths had an opportunity to interact with the sisters and participate in Mass in the chapel. The Christian band Full Armor provided musical entertainment.
The idea for the event came about through a simple question, “How do we celebrate 100 years of this wonderful sacred space?” said Sister Mary Palliser, O.P., a planning committee member.
The planning committee was comprised of sisters, priests and lay people, including: Sister Bridget Kiniry, O.P.; Sister Eileen Gannon, O.P.; Sister Margaret Palliser, O.P.; Sister Nancy Richter, O.P.; Father Thomas Kunnel, S.D.B., parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Tappan; and James Russell, a Sparkill Dominican associate and youth minister at St. Francis of Assisi parish, West Nyack.
From the beginning, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill have worked with youths.
“We hoped that the day would provide an opportunity to welcome the young people to our home, Dominican Convent; celebrate the history of Sacred Heart Chapel, which was the spiritual home to thousands of young boys who lived at St. Agnes Home, here at our motherhouse; and instill a sense of mission to the young people to respond to the Gospel call to go out and be a light to the world,” said Sister Mary Palliser, O.P.
Confirmation student, Britney Zuniga, a seventh-grader who belongs to the religious education program at St. Joseph’s, said, “It was an amazing experience. I kind of want to live there. It got me interested in being a sister. They all praise God. It’s a nice way to live.”
She said she was surprised at how in tune the sisters were with the students. “They knew all about the trends and everything,” she said with a laugh.
“At our confirmation we are saying ‘yes’ to God,” she said, noting that being with the sisters was a wonderful way to celebrate that “yes.”
She added, “All the kids celebrated, they wanted to participate. It was exciting.”
