The Dominican Difference AT MOUNT DE SALES ACADEMY
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Brian P. MacLean P’14 | President Sister Mary Raymond Thye, O.P. | Principal Thomas Campbell P’14 | Vice President Kate Ohlmacher McAuliffe ’02 | Treasurer Elizabeth Gibbons Jennings ’80 P’12 ’19 | Secretary GENERAL BOARD Thomas Brinker P’16 ’20 ’22 Larraine Clark P’02 Father Michael DeAscanis Ronald C. Diegelman P’00 Timothy Dignan P’12 ’14 Paul M. Finamore P’11 ’16 William Glover P’15 Kim Martel P’00 ’02 ’08 ’15 Lynda Geier Mules ’77 P’05 ’13 Peggy Stromberg Pasquarella ’81 Jackie Seboda Pfeiler ’86 P’23 Reverend Michael J.P. Roach John Teixeira James Zalucki, M.D. P’12 ’15 ’20
ADVANCEMENT TEAM Elizabeth Saverino ’87 | Director of Advancement Karen von Lange P’09 ’16 | Director of Communications Claire M. Cohagan ’78 P’07 ’11 | Director of Development Virginia Shenk | Development Coordinator Denise Zambotti P’15 ’17 ’19 | Development Assistant Elizabeth Mahon ’07 | Director of Alumnae Relations Kim Dignan P’12 ’14 | Volunteer Coordinator Rachel Sweeney | Graphic Designer
ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION BOARD Megan McCawley ’10 | President Carol Nettina Dygert ’08 | Vice President Jeanne Schaible Langeluttig ’84 | Treasurer Danielle Wilson ’11 | Secretary Special Appreciation: Elizabeth Mahon Photography
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Letter from the Editor “With a gentle spirit, the Dominican Sisters joyfully share the truth of the Gospel, bringing others closer to Christ.” Dear Friends of Mount de Sales Academy, Newcomers to our Mount de Sales Academy (MDSA) community often notice what we describe as the Dominican Difference. In this publication, we will see and celebrate how the Nashville Dominicans of St. Cecilia Congregation’s years at MDSA have helped our young people to become strong, faith-filled, and confident young women for today’s world. This anniversary publication intends to recognize and share the Dominican Sisters’ beautiful witness to Christ at MDSA. Their faithful presence makes a profound difference not only in the lives of our students but also in the entire community, including parents, faculty, and staff. We recall the arrival of the Sisters in 1985 and how their 35 years of faith-filled service have enhanced our almost 170-year-old mission of educating young women. As you peruse these pages, you will discover: • MDSA Trustee and Historian Father Michael J.P. Roach honors the contributions of the founding Visitation Nuns and The Dominican Renaissance.
• Sister Philip Joseph Davis, O.P., a member of the 1985 Pioneer Team, provides her first-person account of arriving at Mount de Sales Academy and her view of the school’s miraculous transformation. • Members of our community recount their fond memories and the personal impact of the Dominican Difference. A caring and wholesome community life strengthens the Sisters in their loving devotion to the people they humbly serve. With a gentle spirit, the Dominican Sisters joyfully share the truth of the Gospel, bringing others closer to Christ. We are blessed with the presence of our beloved Dominican Sisters and are grateful for their 35 years of service to Mount de Sales. We hope after reading this issue, you will be equally inspired. Visit our website to read the unabridged versions of the reflections in this issue at mountdesalesorg/ about/dominican-sisters. In Christ’s love,
Karen von Lange P’09 ‘16 Director of Marketing and Communications
TABLE OF CONTENTS 04
The Dominican Renaissance of Mount de Sales Academy
06
A Day in the Life of a Dominican Sister
08
Laughing While You Learn: My Dominican Education
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Reflections from Sister Philip Joseph, O.P.
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Letter from the Board of Trustees President
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One Family’s Intersection with the Sisters from Nashville Dominican Difference 3
The Dominican Renaissance of Mount de Sales Academy A belief in God’s powerful divine providence is indispensable to understanding this “Academy of Every Virtue’s” phenomenal flourishing over the last three and a half decades.
Fr. Roach celebrates Mass at the Capital Campaign Kickoff 2018
When pressure was brought on the Visitation Nuns to close their monastery, the last of the Superiors, Mother M. Bernard Schiltzer, presented Father Robert Duerr with a brass crucifix, which was also a reliquary of all twelve apostles. She told him this reliquary had belonged to all twelve of the Mother Superiors at MDSA since the Foundress, Mother Mary Cecilia Brooks, had come over from Georgetown. She said, “I entrust this to you; keep this Academy going!”
Students singing 1952
Mount de Sales Academy 1880
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Visitation Nun and boarding student 1942
For several years after the Nuns retired, a Board of Trustees kept the Academy going with the dedicated assistance of Mrs. Ann Cichowicz. A parent mentioned to the president of the Board, Chris Cuddeback, that there was a great young community of Dominican Sisters in the South who might be interested in staffing a school like Mount de Sales. Mr. Cuddeback made the contact; Mother Assumpta Long and her council answered that they would be visiting Washington and would stop over to look at our Academy. She did remind us that they received close to one thousand requests a year to staff schools. When the Sisters arrived, they toured the facility from the attic to the sub-basement. Next, they
went across Maiden Choice Lane had been sent. The Nuns were to the former Convent of the overjoyed to see these wonderful Cloistered Dominican Nuns and Sisters who would continue the prayed in their Cemetery. Mother dream of “This Academy of Assumpta thanked us every Virtue.” “We prayed and they graciously and said A residence for the we would hear from prayed, and several Sisters was not quite weeks later we were them. We prayed ready at Mount de and they prayed, and informed that three Sales; therefore, Dominican Sisters several weeks later the Nashville Sisters we were informed from Nashville, under sought the hospitality that three Dominican the leadership of of the Little Sisters of Sisters from Nashville, Mother Assumpta’s the Poor on Maiden under the leadership own sister Mother Choice Lane. It is of Mother Assumpta’s said that when Sister Gabriel Long, would own sister Mother be coming to Baltimore Portress opened Gabriel Long, the door and saw in late summer.” would be coming the white-habited to Baltimore in late Dominicans, she cried out, “Allies!” summer. The first stop for the A postlude: Much later it was Sisters was at Stella Maris, where learned that from the time of our the remaining Visitation Nuns
inquiry, Mother Assumpta heard a nocturnal voice saying to her, “Go to Catonsville. Go to Catonsville.” Their favorable decision was also prompted by the similarity of Mount de Sales to the Saint Cecilia Motherhouse in Nashville. The Council was further impressed by the valiant struggle Mount de Sales had waged to keep this venerable school viable. As they say, the rest is History! By: Reverend Michael J.P. Roach, MDSA Board Member
Dominican Sisters at MDSA’s 150th Anniversary celebration
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A Day in the Life of a Dominican Sister The daily life of a Dominican Sister is marked by the balance of prayer and work, silence and students, laughter and quiet acts of community kindness. It is a simple life devoted to furthering the kingdom of God within each of us and throughout the world.
Sister Marie Genevieve, O.P.
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Characteristics of the Dominican Charism: Contemplative Focus • Active Apostolate • Strong Community Life •
Daily Schedule The Sisters’ silence and prayer in the morning entrust their students and their teaching to God’s grace. Daily Mass in the Chapel of St. Francis de Sales provides the encounter and the grace that sustains the daily life of the Sisters and the faculty, staff, and students. Between classes, the Sisters serve Christ in their interaction with the students. The day’s needs are brought to prayer in the evening Rosary and Vespers that precede dinner. Sisters spend recreational time together in the convent and around campus. They enjoy going for walks, playing music together as a community, reading, crafting, and sometimes playing games. The day and all it held are offered back to God and entrusted to Mary’s motherly prayers as the Sisters pray Compline and chant the Salve Regina in procession.
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Laughing While You Learn: My Dominican Education While the Visitation Nuns shaped the first century of Mount de Sales history, the Dominican Sisters steered the school during my student years in the early 2000s.
But you know what I realized. It’s really hard to be joyful, intelligent, and interested every day. Teaching feels like performing a stand-up routine for a bleary-eyed 8 a.m. audience and then asking your listeners to achieve high scores on the SATs.
As a student, I often heard that we would appreciate our Dominican education once we left Mount de Sales—our professors “And our Sisters would faint in awe at our cheerfully throw writing, our employers would marvel at our work themselves into ethic, and our new friends that seemingly would be slightly confused impossible when we waxed and task morning waned about a high school after morning with no air conditioning, a for decades of haunted fourth floor, and, their lives. They lo and behold, Sisters who radiate happiness were nice! That all seemed lovely, but when I graduated in 2006, I could not yet recognize the deeper anchor set in my heart.
and share their academic expertise with faculty, staff, students, and parents.”
During my first teaching assignment a few years later, I needed to figure out this new persona of “Ms. O’Friel.” Thankfully, I had inklings of my educational vocation as a student years before and had carefully watched my high school teachers. I copied what I remembered from the Dominican and lay faculty at Mount de Sales. They were joyful, intelligent, and always interested in our lives. I tried to carry those practices into my own classroom.
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Top: Laura teaches in her classroom. Middle: Laura at her 2006 graduation Bottom: Laura and her mother, Jennie O’Friel, at the Mother-Daughter Tea.
And our Sisters cheerfully throw themselves into that seemingly impossible task morning after morning for decades of their lives. They radiate happiness and share their academic expertise with faculty, staff, students, and parents. When I walk through the building now and hear laughter rolling out from classrooms, I remember how much I smiled while I learned. Mount de Sales teachers make joyful classroom experiences normal, not impossible.
In times of trouble, we need to know our faith and look to role models who live out their beliefs. The Sisters trained us to be both walking catechists and women of compassion. Thought and action, reason and love. For any alumnae or current students reading this, I am sure you can call to mind a particular Dominican Sister who sacrificed her grading time to help you review for a test or counseled you in a moment
of worry. The Sisters showed us how to reach out with mercy and without judgment. By 2018 my career path led me back home. In a moment of great delight, I accepted a job in the Social Sciences Department at Mount de Sales. That summer, stepping onto the cobblestones on a humid August day, I had one of those nostalgic Hallmark movie moments where I imagined running up the stairs and hugging a white column. Instead, in true MDSA form, I fell up the stone steps and sprawled on the highest point of land in Baltimore County. It was a fitting homecoming—four years at Mount de Sales under Dominican training taught me that while I am imperfect, God is loving, merciful, understanding…and has a very good sense of humor. The school looked both the same and different from my era. My beloved 19th-century high school was still creaky, but had become a technological marvel with projectors, high-speed internet, 1:1 devices, and digital platforms that supported classroom activities. I would learn that the administrators and faculty carefully balanced
that change by continuing to foster relationships among students. That steadiness of purpose and emphasis on the importance of the human person transfers Dominican values across generations. I, like over a dozen other staff and faculty alumnae at Mount de Sales, am a product of Dominican (and some Visitation) education. Though we may have tried to push the envelope with uniform adherence or sat in detention on occasion as teenagers, our eager return to climb these MDSA stairs is the sincerest way we can say, “We get it.” To all the Mount de Sales Dominicans, past and present, thank you for guiding us, thank you for praying for us, and thank you for anchoring our hearts. By: Ms. Laura O’Friel ’06 Director of Professional Development & Social Sciences Teacher
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Reflections from Pioneer Team Member, Sister Philip Joseph Davis, O.P. I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (Jn.15:5) Mount de Sales is God’s work. It exists today solely because He wants it. The Dominican Sisters are the instruments He is using to bring about His plan. In May of 1985, Mother Assumpta Long asked Sister Mary Gabriel Long, Sister Mary Rebecca Horton and me to accompany her to Mount de Sales Academy in Baltimore, Maryland to attend the school’s graduation ceremony. She said we were taking over the administration and would begin teaching there in September. That sounded like an enormous and fun adventure to me, and a return to my ancestral heritage. My paternal grandmother’s people (Greene) originated from Pomfort, Maryland and gave the property for the building of Saint Joseph Catholic Church.
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When we returned to Nashville, I (President Parents’ Club) and candidly asked Mother Assumpta, Father Michael Roach (Trustee). “Why did you take Mount de First on the agenda was prayer. Sales?” The school looked like it Carol and Chris Cuddeback was falling apart, on its last leg initiated a holy hour before the with plaster coming off the walls Blessed Sacrament on Sunday and floors literally caving in as we evenings in the school chapel. toured the building. She replied We were asking God for direction without hesitation, “It’s like a and financial assistance. Repairs dead Saint Cecilia, Sister Philip came first to the chapel. We Joseph; it’s like our Motherhouse knew if we did not take care of without Sisters.” the Lord, we could That was the key. not ask Him to take “Mount de Sales is She was sending God’s work. It exists care of us. About sisters with the goal the third week of today solely because to revive a once the holy hour, a He wants it. The flourishing school Dominican Sisters are man walked into that, through lack the chapel, handed the instruments He is of finances, had me a $10,000 check, fallen into disrepair. using to bring about and said, “Repair This would prove His plan.” the chapel.” Thus, to be a miraculous a great revival of adventure for all. We were Mount de Sales began in the supported by Chris (Board of fall of 1985. Trustees President) and Carol Coming out of the Deep South Cuddeback, Jerry and Ann and going to what we considered (Principal) Cichowicz, Russ far north, we were not sure if the and Linda (Vice-Principal) two cultures would blend. We Schumann’69, Joe Saverino P’87 soon learned that Mount de Sales
William Carrigan, one of our top benefactors, believed in the limitless potential of MDSA and demonstrated it by investing his time and treasure. Pictured at the Padre Pio Library dedication in May 1987, he was a friend of the saint and will forever be remembered for establishing the MDSA devotion to Padre Pio.
fit us like a glove. Immediately we sensed that we belonged at Mount de Sales. There was a spirit of genuine fidelity to the Church, support for family life, and a spirit of charity. The students, faculty, and staff who filled the school were courageous. They wanted to see the school flourish. Mount de Sales had survived with the help of the alumnae who cherished their God-filled education under the Visitation Nuns, and who wanted their daughters to experience the same. The Visitation Nuns were holy, religious women who had consecrated their lives to God. They left a spirit that only God could have ordained. It reigned in the halls, and we, the Dominican Sisters of Nashville, Tennessee, became the recipients of this Holy Spirit. Mount de Sales was and is a gift to the Dominican Sisters.
William Carrigan, Samuel Pistorio, John Hussman, William Held P’89 and a host of others, along with recruitment, curriculum change and the acquisition of a library, the school enrollment began to increase yearly. Today the Dominican Sisters alongside an excellent faculty and staff bear witness to the flourishing of God’s plan.
With hard work, financial support from generous people such as
By: Sister Philip Joseph Davis, O.P.
As I see pictures of the newest addition, the Center for the Performing Arts and Student Life, I can only thank God for allowing me to be part of the heritage that is Mount de Sales. It is a wonderful place for young women to grow into adult life. A place where they can forge lifetime friendships; a place they can be proud to call their alma mater; and a place to which they can always come home.
Top: L to R: Sister Philip Joseph, Samuel Pistorio ( transformational donor) and Fr. Michael Roach in 1996. Mr. Pistorio’s philanthropy, often in memory of his beloved wife Constance, provided for the sports complex and other important projects including the future Center for Performing Arts and Student Life and science laboratory renovations. Bottom: Turf Field Blessing L to R: Patrick Farno, Sister Mary Thomas, O.P., Archbishop William E. Lori, Cal Ripken, Jr., Sister Philip Joseph, O.P., Joe Geier, and Pete Waskiewski.
Celebrate the Sisters with a gift to the CPASL! Making a gift in honor of a specific Sister or all of the Sisters to their dream project, the Center for Performing Arts and Student Life (CPASL), is a meaningful way to honor the Dominicans’ service and dedication to MDSA. Your honoree will receive notification that you made a gift in her honor. For your convenience, a giving envelope is enclosed or you can visit www.mountdesales.org. As always, for any questions related to giving to MDSA, please contact Beth Saverino, director of advancement, at 410.744.8498 ext. 139 or esaverino@mountdesales.org.
Center for Performing Arts and Student Life as of March 4, 2021
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Uniquely Mount de Sales Reflections from Dominican Sisters SISTER MARY THOMAS, O.P.
PRINCIPAL 2012-2018
At Mount de Sales, I appreciated the ability to be a source of prayer for the school community. Praying for the school and working for the school was all one. This has been a grace the whole community has participated in from the beginning, with the Visitation Nuns and the Dominican Sisters living, praying, and working right there in the midst of the activities. This shared grace led to one of my favorite memories. One year, the basketball team had a tournament game on Sunday that happened to be a retreat day for us sisters. When
SISTER ANGELA MARIE, O.P.
TEACHER 2014-2017
I consider my time teaching at Mount de Sales one of God’s most precious gifts to me. Sharing in students’ and faculty members’ joys, trials, and common passion, I was filled with life “and life to the full” (John 10:10). Too many memories full of humor and joy leap to mind. I relish the memory of the last day of study hall when Lizzie ‘18 and her accomplices asked if they could perform a dance for the class. After waiting all period, they whipped out corndogs, hidden in their skirt waistbands from lunch, and performed an original “corndog rap.” Or the moment when an impromptu study hall was called. To distract the students from worrying,
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the girls asked us to come to their game, we explained that we had a retreat day, but that we would pray for them especially during the time of the game. That evening as we were praying night prayers in the convent chapel, the team bus pulled into the school grounds and started to come up the hill. Suddenly we heard this screaming, “We won! We won!” As we looked out the windows of the chapel, we could see the girls leaning out of the bus windows, yelling and waving at us to tell us of their win. We all laughed and waved back, happy to be part of their excitement that evening.
Kirsten ‘18 and I pretended to Irish step dance. We had real Irish step dancers in that study hall, but Kirsten and I made fools of ourselves for the good of all. There were spiritual and academic moments of victory as well. I was just as proud as my juniors were when they conquered their English research papers with such panache. And when Sodality members promoted Marian consecration to their classmates, we received such a positive response that I had to order a second box of 33 Days to Morning Glory. Their enthusiasm brought their peers (and me!) closer to our Blessed Mother. I thank God for all Mount de Sales has given me and pray for all whom God calls to walk through its halls!
SISTER ANNE CATHERINE, O.P.
PRINCIPAL 2009-2012
I loved my time at Mount de Sales Academy. What a blessed community! I think what makes MDSA special is the wonderful, generous Catholic community where the faith is at the core of everything. Families come to Mount de Sales because of its strong Catholic identity and focus on its mission; teachers are drawn to the school for the same reason. Because everyone is on the same page, the faith becomes a lived experience integrated into all aspects of the school’s life in a way that is quite unique. So many things I loved during my time there—learning about the school’s rich Visitation history and realizing how compatible it was with the Dominican charism our Sisters brought to the school; being immersed in the life and history of our country’s oldest Catholic diocese;
SISTER ELIZABETH ANNE, O.P. PRINCIPAL 2003-2009 The years at Mount de Sales were so blessed for me. My first memory of Mount de Sales predates those years though. In fact, I think I wrote about it in my first letter to “the Family of Mount de Sales.” I only had a quick visit there once but the place made an immediate impact. I remember going up the front steps of the building and having a sense of something stable, valuable, and lasting. It was many years before I was assigned there, but that feeling never left. And, of course, after being there for those six years, that sense of connectedness only deepened. It is my hope and my prayer that every young woman who attends Mount de Sales, every parent who entrusts a
traveling with students to Mount St. Mary’s, World Youth Day, or downtown for the Palm Sunday youth pilgrimage; meeting so many fun and down-to-earth students, families, priests, and friends of the school. We Sisters had many happy (and hilarious) memories there as well, particularly when the convent moved from the Gate House to its new location. One of my favorite memories was walking up to the school every morning from the old Gate House convent. This scene never got old for me—gazing upon that massive old school with the elegant windows and front entrance. So stately, so beautiful, so resonant with the history of past generations and so alive with the footsteps and laughter of present students and teachers. It is truly a special place and I remain extremely grateful for my brief time there.
daughter to the Mount, every person who works there, understands that you don’t just “go” or “choose” Mount de Sales. You belong. You will always belong. The Mount forms you and you, in turn, help form the identity of Mount de Sales. You, first receive the heritage; then you contribute your part to that heritage. Then, you hand it on. Mount de Sales teaches lasting lessons: the values of academic excellence, lifelong learning, moral responsibility, service to others, and the dignity of the human person. It is more than a mission statement; it is a belief system and a way of living. It involves truth and charity and virtue. In the words of Francis de Sales, “Be who you are and be that perfectly.” The world will be a better place for it! God bless you!
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Lasting Impressions The Dominican Sisters at Mount de Sales Academy were instrumental in my education, both academically and spiritually. They are a constant reminder of faith, service, and sacrifice, and I am a better person for having had the opportunity to learn from them. Julie Simon Gilless ’94 I have very fond memories of all the Dominican Sisters while I was at MDSA from 199295, but one is very special to me, Sister Philip Joseph. Her sharp wit and mischievous tendencies were balanced by her southern charm and love of her girls. She taught us the importance of loyalty and unwavering support, and most of all, she instilled the benefit of always believing in ourselves. Go Sailors! Lisa Banbury Vogel ’95 The Dominican Sisters at Mount de Sales are a beautiful example of joy and peace. I will never forget the friendships formed with them, and what a guiding light they were to me as a young person. They continue to be an example to so many, and I am always excited when my children get to meet them or be around their joyful witness. Lauren Escol Arconti ’06
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Since I left MDSA, I have carried the spirit of the Dominican Sisters with me everywhere I go. Their impact on me is nothing short of life-changing. Everyday interactions and moments with the Sisters brought me and my peers closer to God. If the Sisters wanted to be close with us in all of our silliness and inquisitions, it was a tangible reminder to me that God wanted to be close with us too. Christina Eichelman Gordon ’07 The opportunity to be taught by the Dominican Sisters and Mount de Sales Academy was such a gift for me! The Sisters create a calming and joyful presence throughout the school. They are beautiful witnesses to our Catholic Faith and mirror our Father’s love to all who encounter them. While attending Mount de Sales, the Dominican Sisters provided me a special daily reminder of what it looks like to give one’s life to God and to truly love and serve Him through serving others. They showed me the true joy that comes for a life lived for Christ. I will forever be grateful for the impact that the Dominican Sisters had in my life! Maria Schuberth Schuster ’09 Mount de Sales is incredibly unique and special for many reasons but one in particular is the Dominican Sisters. Sister Thomas Moore and Sister Mary Cecilia were both teachers of mine. They were women of such strong faith and it radiated out of them. I am forever grateful for Sister Thomas Moore and Sister Mary Cecilia. Lauren Offerman ’17
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Sister Maris Stella was my senior religion teacher. I will never forget her. Sr. Maris Stella gave me an understanding of my faith that I take with me in my life wherever I go. In times of uncertainty, when I feel lost and dejected, I know there are concrete truths of His presence and mercy that I can rely on to hold me together. She allowed me to know that there is more beyond just this world and for that I am forever grateful to Sr. Maris Stella and Mount de Sales. Natalie Popper ’18 I have a fond memory, even after graduation, of visiting Sister Angela Marie in Scotland. I studied abroad in Ireland during the fall of 2019, and I was able to take a weekend trip and visit with her and the other Sisters for a weekend over a retreat. It was truly an amazing opportunity to see her again after the amazing time at Mount de Sales. I truly connected with Sister during my freshman year and continued until she left in 2017. Sister Angela Marie made my experience at Mount de Sales special in so many ways and I will always remember being able to visit her a couple years after graduation. Sarah Endres ’18 As freshmen, we were slightly nervous about the unfamiliarity of the Sisters. As it turns out, they are the heart of our school. You’ll never see the Sisters without a kind and warm smile or wave. It doesn’t matter if you know them or not, they always make you feel welcome. The Sisters make us feel loved, protected, important and above all, loved by God. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be taught by the amazing Sisters and be opened to the face of God through them and their teachings. Sophia Hess ’23
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Letter from the President Dear Friends,
meaningful and remains with us forever. We also realize we will have the opportunity to meet another Sister or will possibly have a good friend return; always something to look forward to.
The Dominican Sisters are truly a blessing to Mount de Sales Academy (MDSA), our community, and very importantly, our students and their families. Their commitment to providing an education that nurtures the whole person has and continues to distinguish our school. The Board of Trustees and the entire MDSA family are grateful for the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia and proud of our unique and collaborative relationship.
Many of us who serve on the Board of Trustees do so because of the significant impact the Sisters have had on our daughters and our families. We strive to do everything possible to ensure that others can experience the Dominican Difference. Together, we are part of the team that continues to flourish while developing young women of character and faith.
Since 1985, when the Sisters were called to administer MDSA, they have persevered through many challenges and have adapted as needed. Over that time the school has grown enrollment, built and renovated buildings (to include a convent), educated so many with exceptional results and brought us all closer to one another. They have impacted us for the better. Over the years, we have had Sisters serve at MDSA and then be called to serve others. While we are sad when they leave, we know that their impact was
Thank you to the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia for all they have done for Mount de Sales Academy. With great hope, we eagerly look forward to many more years of the Dominican Difference. Sincerely,
Brian MacLean P’14 President, Board of Trustees
As a former Trustee with three daughters, two sisters, and my mother all alumnae, my family and I have grown close to many Dominican Sisters. In 2014 when we departed from the Motherhouse for Sister Philip Joseph’s 50th Jubilee, I was overcome by how special the Sisters are as individuals and a community. Later I realized, it’s their charism (see page 7) that sets them apart. My father’s recent death reminded me of this. Within one hour of his passing, Principal Sr. Mary Raymond and Sr. Mary Celeste visited my mother’s home and joined by several alumnae family members, led a rosary for my father and family. That is the Dominican Difference. Joe Geier P’08 ’12 ’17, Past board president ’14-’16 Board member ’05-’16 Joe Geier P’08 ’12 ’17 and Brian MacLean P’14
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One Family’s Intersection with the Sisters from Nashville Beginning the high school search with our oldest daughter, I made a spreadsheet that included each school’s mission statement. This aided in quick discernment of the unique characteristics of a Mount de Sales education and brought us to our first personal encounter with MDSA when we started falling in love with the Dominican Sisters. As our three daughters (pictured below) progressed through Mount de Sales, they learned a lot in their classes. They also learned a tremendous amount from the Sisters, like how to be strong young women of faith. But the Sisters taught more than just our daughters, they taught us. Growing up in an era of poor catechesis and a focus on college as, mainly, a means to gainful employment, the Dominican Sisters have given me an appreciation for the richness and beauty of our faith and of the art of learning. Through the Sisters’ dedication to the education of the whole person, and by their way of living each day so joyfully, we desire so much more for our daughters and ourselves. The Sisters are living examples of
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faith as the foundation for a life lived for the glory of God in a world that often ignores the reality of God’s presence. Their perseverance in living out their faith holds fast against a society that often does not understand where it is headed and it has given me, us, a newfound confidence to do likewise. The Sisters possess gentleness, charm, delight, and joie de vivre, derived from their love of God and others, that is nothing short of inspiring. As parents, we have seen this in our daughters and felt it ourselves. In attempting to mimic the calmness and presence of mind they effortlessly radiate, I find myself living (or trying to live) a life that is calmer, slower, and intentional. As our children grow, the worries grow with them, so I appreciate the “instruction” I have gained by witnessing the Sisters. The Dominican Sisters will always hold a special place in our hearts not only because of the impact they have had on our daughters, but also because of the impact they have had on us. By: Karen Arnold P’14 ’16 ’20
Jackie ’14, Claire ’20, and Caroline ’16
Lee and Karen Arnold P’14 ’16 ’20
Celebrate the Dominican Difference! Has your life been touched by a Dominican Sister from MDSA? Make your gift in honor or in memory of a specific Dominican Sister who has served at MDSA (it will be shared with the Sister(s) you honor) or in appreciation of all the Sisters who have served our students. This is a meaningful and impactful way to say thank you by supporting the students and school to whom the Dominican Sisters are so dedicated. Possibly, you may want to restrict your gift to support the long-time dream of the Dominican Sisters, the Center for Performing Arts and Student Life. A giving envelope is enclosed for your convenience.
This order is steeped in prayer, reflection, and the Eucharist. When the Dominican Sisters teach, sit with our daughters, or walk the neighborhood, they bring forth good fruit as Jesus said in Luke 6:45, ‘A good man speaks out of the abundance of the heart’. They have plentiful hearts because of their union with Jesus. So the success, the lives changed, the faith imparted is the work of Jesus who is present to us in Catonsville doing far more than we can ask or imagine. Jack Baronas P’00 ’14
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Mount de Sales Academy 700 Academy Road Catonsville, MD 21228
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Baltimore, MD Permit No. 6341
Sister Mary Madeline, O.P., Class of 1990, is the first alumna to return as a Dominican Sister to teach at MDSA.
mountdesales.org | 410.744.8498
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