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
18 Dominican Difference
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
