A group of students from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut, traveled to Columbus for a spring mission trip designed to celebrate religious sisters and serve others.
They delivered cards of thanks to the Dominican Sisters of Peace during Catholic Sisters Week, celebrated March 8-14. Albertus Magnus College was founded in 1925 by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, now Dominican Sisters of Peace.
Students from the college were set to distribute 300 cards, engage in service projects and spend time with the consecrated religious in Columbus.
Sister Joanne Lamert, OP (Order of Preachers) was thrilled to receive one of the students’ cards.
“This is unusual to receive this greeting directly from the students,” she said. “It’s just really thoughtful.”
“Albertus Magnus is a founded ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, but we are fairly far away (geographically) from Columbus. So, our trip answers the question of, ‘Where is our motherhouse?’ for the students,” said Sr. Cathy Buchanan, who serves as Albertus Magnus’ campus minister.
Owen, a junior at Albertus, was a driving force in the mission trip.
“It is just amazing to see the motherhouse, get to know the sisters, to learn more about our history and see how we are connected,” he said.
The visit to Columbus was also set to include time serving at the Dominican Sisters’ central Ohio ministries and organizations such as LifeCare Alliance.
On March 9, students spent the day on an assembly line, packing thousands of lunches for homebound individuals in a five-county area.
Mia, a freshman student, understood the trip as a positive way to spend spring break.
“The service projects help you grow as an individual,” Anna, a sophomore, added. “Doing something ‘little’ like this in Columbus is a way to contribute to a bigger problem.
“The sisters are inspiring to me; … they serve so many in their ministries. I hope others realize this, and it will motivate them to help out in their communities.”
Anna, sophomore student at Albertus Magnus College
Sr. Cathy said it is the first trip from New Haven to Columbus. The college campus minister is interested in making it an annual trip.
“I expect the students will return to school with a wider picture of the influence of the Dominican Sisters of Peace in their school and across the United States,” she said.
“It is quite a road trip, but it is well worth the drive.”
Dominican Sisters of Peace,members of the Order of Preachers, are vowed Catholic women who preach the Gospel of Christ through lives of service and peace-making. The Dominican Sisters of Peace are present in 22 states and Nigeria. The Sisters serve God’s people in education, health care, spirituality, pastoral care, prison ministry, the art and care of creation. There are nearly 280 sisters and more than 300 lay women and men associated with the congregation.