Joseline Cano & Roberto Alonso
Features Editor & Design Editor
In May 2018, Sister Melissa Waters OP left her position as associate dean of advising at Dominican for a life at the Dominican Sinsinawa Mound in Wisconsin. Joined by approximately 200 sisters, the Mound has dedicated its time to uniting the Dominican community and carrying out their mission of service and truth.
The Dominican Sinsinawa congregation was founded under Father Samuel Mazzuchelli whose mission was to spread equal rights to women primarily through providing access to an education at a time when women were denied it. When Dominican University, then St. Clara’s college, was created in 1848, the all female academy carried Mazzucchelli’s mission of community and equal rights.
The Mound is a collection of modern and historical buildings dating more than 800-years-old, brought together with the original purpose to educate women, and now serves as a retirement home for sisters, the elderly, and a community center filled with performances, and exhibits.
Allan Nunez, an intern for University Ministry said, “There’s a lot of work in the building. You had the old building and the more modern ones. I went through a couple of them and it was nice seeing the present and past together.”
The storied past of the Dominican Order is still alive today and can be experienced on campus or in Sinsinawa. The Mound serves as bridge connecting two different generations of the Dominican community.
Sister Melissa Waters OP has been at the Mound since May 2018. The last six months have consisted of community activities and events that the Mound organizes. She is also involved with activities involving the various groups that visit the Mound.
Sister Jean Murray OP, former president of Rosary College of Arts and Sciences, has been at the Mound for about two years. She’s involved in the choir among other things.
In addition to community outreach programs and activities, the Mound serves as a retirement home for sisters and the elderly. Their former academy building has been transformed to resemble apartment buildings where retired, non-sisters can live.
Magaly Escobedo, retreat and vocation intern with University Ministry, has visited the Mound four times in the last three years.
“Each time is different. Some years we get more sisters to interact with, others we are mostly on our own. Some of the beauty is when we do get to interact with the sisters,” said Escobedo. “We have a very linear idea of what a sister is. Half of these sisters have multiple masters degrees, they’ve been involved in civil rights; they teach. They are some empowering and motivational women.”
Today, Dominican continues down the path that Mazzuchelli started and encourages students to visit the Mound to experience rsthand a sense of a strong community away from the rest of the world.
Guillermo PizanoNunez, graphic designer for University Ministry said, “I had no idea what it was going to be like. I’ve been to Wisconsin before but its very, very di erent to what I honestly expected. It’s sort of this little pocket of its own community, kind of tucked away from the world and I thought that was really nice.” He said. “It feels like a step away from the world.”
Despite being on the same retreat, students can experience the Mound differently and interpret their experiences to help shape their life beyond Dominican.
Juan Garcia, graphic designer for University Ministry said, “Prior to that I used to tell people I was atheist. After going, I consider myself more agnostic. There’s a lot of community, not just because they believe in a certain religion. I feel and think that there is something more to them than just living. I feel a higher power, I just don’t know what it is. It did change my mind.”
Sister Melissa coaxes students to visit the mound before they graduate and move on from Dominican. She stressed that students are always invited.
According to John DeConstanza, the director of University Ministry, Dominican takes three trips to the Mound each year. The next trip will be held the first weekend of March.
canojose@my.dom.edu alonrobe@my.dom.edu
