Persistence.  If ever one word could describe the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, this would be it.  It started on August 26, 1853 when four women from the Holy Cross Monastery in Germany arrived in New York City.  Forgotten at the dock by their intended host, they might have turned back and headed home.  Instead, they persevered.  They made contact with a pastor in Brooklyn who provided them with shelter in the parish basement.  Within a week, the Sisters had taken charge of the parish school.  And, continuously to this day the Dominican Sisters of Amityville have served the people of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Williamsburg.  That is over 153 years!

So many lives have been touched by the Dominican Sisters of Amityville.  And, despite difficult economic conditions of past years, and our diminishing numbers, we continue to fulfill our mission.  By establishing the 150th Anniversary Campaign in 2003 and our Major Gift Program – “And the Preaching Continues…” – in 2007, we will continue to persevere as our foundresses did.  Your gift will help us keep our ministries alive, care for our retired Sisters who have served God’s people for so many years, and allow the Dominican Sisters of Amityville to positively effect lives for years to come.

Dominican Sisters of Amityville in Action
    With Dominic and Catherine as our guides,
    help us continue the Holy Preaching through our ministries.
Many people remember us as teachers and health care providers.  Today, we continue to preach the Good News through a variety of ministries.  We share our gifts and talents as preachers, educators, lawyers, doctors, artists, and social justice advocates to name just a few.  Our efforts in education have broadened to include outreach to the marginalized and to the immigrant community.  Even with an aging Congregation and diminishing numbers we have been able to initiate ministries that respond to the pressing needs of our time, while continuing to support our traditional ministries.  As Dominican women we are committed to proclaiming the Gospel in an ever changing world and to serve the people of God.  As responsible stewards we strive to utilize our resources in new and creative ways, allowing the signs of our times to direct our responses.

Pastoral Care of Our Retired Sisters
    Help us follow in Dominic’s footsteps as we care for our Sisters.
The lifelong commitment of a Dominican Sister of Amityville is extraordinary.  From the moment she enters the Congregation she gives over all she has to support the common mission of the Sisters.  In turn, the Congregation honors the dedication of our Sisters by caring for them throughout their retirement.  Unfortunately, with a median age of 72, the financial challenge of providing for our retired Sisters is growing.  With no support from any Diocese and with healthcare costs rising, our Retirement Fund is being stretched to the limit.  Many of our “retired” Sisters continue to work and volunteer in the communities where they live well into their nineties.

The Future
    As Dominic and Catherine called upon You for help,
    may we call upon Your Spirit to guide us into the future with gentleness and hope.
As Dominican women, we are committed to serving the people of God by utilizing our resources in new and creative ways.  We continue to look to the future at key points on our journey.  We listen, we pray, we act.  Often we do all three in partnership with our Dominican Associates and the lay people we minister with.  We engage our youth preachers and the children and young adults that we teach.  “We commit ourselves to incarnating the Gospel, deepening our life of prayer, searching for truth, discerning the needs of the Church and ministering to the people of God.”

Join Us
    Bless all those who have come and joined us on our journey, and all those who will join us     along the way.
Our journey over these 150 plus years has brought us many challenges and each time our Sisters have risen to meet the challenges.  We are here today because of the courage and vision of the Sisters before us and it is their example that compels us to be courageous.  And, always along the way we have been blessed with companions who have joined in the journey.  We invite you now to continue to travel with us and help us continue to be women of courage and vision.  Please consider pledging a gift to our “And the Preaching Continues…” Major Gift Program.  Pledges may be paid over three to five years and gifts of $5,000 or more will be recognized on our Tribute Wall in St. Albert’s Chapel in Amityville, NY.  Learn more about the giving levels here.