Sr. Cecilia Murray, OP, a Dominican Sister of Hope and adjunct professor of Religious Studies at Mount Saint Mary College, will present "The Dominican Contemplative Life, Ever Ancient, Ever New" on Thursday, March 18 at 7 p.m.
The talk will be held in coordination with the McGreal Center for Historical Dominican Studies and the Catholic and Dominican Institute. Admission is free, but there is a suggested donation of $10. All donations will support the work of the McGreal Center to research and write about the history of Dominican Sisters in the United States. To register, visit www.msmc.edu/SrMurray and click on Sr. Murray's presentation.
Join us for a special interview with Sr. Murray about her essay "The Dominican Contemplative Life, Ever Ancient, Ever New," which is part of the book Preaching with Their Lives: Dominicans on Mission in the United States after 1850. The book, celebrating 170 years of Dominican heritage and history, was recently published by Fordham press.
The 13th century saint Dominic de Guzman founded the Order of Preachers more than 800 years ago, a legacy that current day Dominican Sisters continue to preach and honor. Sr. Murray's essay follows the separate journeys of a young American woman and a French Dominican priest, each leading to a foundation in the diocese – now archdiocese – of Newark, N.J.
Preaching with Their Lives: Dominicans on Mission in the United States after 1850 examines the unique legacy of the Order of Preachers in the United States. The book was edited by Margaret McGuinness and Jeffrey Burns, with special thanks to the first director of the McGreal Center, Sr. Janet Welsh, OP.
Sr. Murray, the author of Other Waters: A History of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, New York, earned a bachelor of music from Manhattanville College, a master's in music from Catholic University, a master's in religious studies from Manhattanville and Princeton Theological, and a PhD in American religious studies from Drew University. Sr. Murray entered the Dominican Order of Preachers at Newburgh, N.Y. in 1962 and taught elementary, then secondary music and religion, before beginning research work in Dominican history in 1980. Sr. Murray came to Mount Saint Mary College in 1998.
The Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute promotes the Mount’s heritage of St. Dominic, advances the Dominican charism of study and service, provides a forum for discussion of contemporary ethical issues, and enhances Catholic and Jewish dialogue. The Institute welcomes persons of varied faiths and acknowledges different religious traditions as essential to the college’s intellectual and spiritual life.