John Robinson
Contributing Writer
Although times are changing at Dominican University with fewer Sinsinawa sisters on campus, sisters continue to reach out to students and pass along the spirit that Dominican University was first founded on.
With the close of the convent on campus last year and the departure of beloved sisters, Sister Clement Davlin and Sister Jeanne Crapo to the order’s headquarters at Sinsinawa-Mound, the Sinsinawa sisters’ presence isn’t as visible as it once was.
Now that there are no sisters living at the convent on campus, the area has been converted to administration offices. Several sisters still work here, and a few reside at a convent located on the edge of campus.
Sinsinawa sisters founded and built Dominican University – then known as Rosary College – and were the majority of faculty members for decades. As the sisters grew older and fewer young women entered the order, the proportion steadily dropped.
But the Sinsinawa spirit is still here, just in different ways, according to Sister Melissa Waters, OP, associate academic dean of advising.
“The professors are Sinsinawa sisters with us,” said Sister Melissa, seeing the professors as torch bearers of the Sinsinawa spirit at Dominican.
According to Sister Marcella (Marci) Hermesdorf English Department chair and OP, the sisters continue to reach out to students, just not in the traditional manner.
“They’re doing it in a lot of different ways, and it is not necessarily in classrooms anymore,” but in the form of retreats and events, said Sister Marci.
Founded in 1847, The Sinsinawa Dominican Order is located in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, in a southwestern corner of the state. Many of Dominican’s retreats are still located in the Sinsinawa-Mound.
Every year, Dominican students, faculty, and staff are invited to different retreats at the Mound to reflect on and learn more about the university’s Sinsinawa heritage.
One of the retreats is “Mission to the Mound”, that takes place over spring break.
The Sinsinawa sisters welcome Dominican Students to the Mound to immerse themselves in Sinsinawa teachings and learn about the Four Pillars of Dominican Life – prayer, common life, study, and preaching.
“When the students and faculty come here they are exposed through study of our history by sharing our exhibits, our prayer life, our appreciation of the arts and our community life,” said Sister Ellie Hoffmann, OP, a resident sister at the Motherhouse who is involved with Mound retreats.
Junior English Major and theology minor Mia Powell went to the Mission to the Mound retreat and has had the joy of befriending many sisters both on campus and at the Mound. “The Mound was beautiful! The second you see the building over the hill you sort of get filled with this peace and excitement,” said Powell.
Students also have the opportunity to meet and talk with the sisters at ‘Sundaes with Sisters’, an event held at Dominican University in the Social Hall.
Sister Ellie believes it is important for students to “see who we are” and “know our mission.” The sisters also strive to keep close connections with faculty at Dominican, “They are part of our congregation,” she said.
As years go by, and sisters retire back to the Mound, their spirit will continue to live on through the Dominican community.
robejohn@my.dom.edu