Is coffee the key to Christian unity? During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Dr. Jon Nilson, professor emeritus of Theology, Loyola University Chicago joins Sister Beth Murphy for a conversation about ecumenism in light of the most recent synod’s “conversations in the Spirit” about the ways Christian unity can enrich Catholicism, lead to a more synodal church, and bring about deep healing in the Body of Christ. Coffee and other seemingly mundane things may be the key.

This time of year, Christmas memories flash on like the lights on our Christmas trees. Here are some joyful, exuberant, touching true tales from four of our Dominican Sisters. 

Three months into their term of service as leaders for the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, the new team discusses their approach to implementing the decisions of the 2024 General Chapter, their thoughts on leadership, and the changing realities for consecrated women religious.

Challenges related to language-learning for immigrant women often mean they are among the last in their families to learn English. The Springfield Dominican Sisters have opened a new literacy center to meet the language-learning needs of women and we need volunteer tutors to join us.

Sister Katherine O'Connor and tutor-volunteer Tammy McCormick talk about the new center and the rewards of being in relationship with women passionate about learning English.

Our focus is the Sunday liturgy. The Catholic Church, and other Christian traditions, too, use a lectionary, a kind of schedule of readings from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, so worshipers can know what biblical texts will be used on any given Sunday. Here our guests share their experience preparing for Sunday liturgy using lectio divina—“holy reading.” Sister Phyllis has led a lectio divina group for several years, and Sister Jude has been a faithful participant. Here they share the fruits of what they’ve learned from this fruitful way of preparing for preparation in the Sunday assembly at Mass.

Gardening is good for the soil—and good for the soul. Springfield Dominican Sister Kristin Crawford shares lessons from the permaculture garden at Jubilee Farm with our Dominican Associate John Malanchak, who talks about the impact of gardening with persons with disabilities. 

On the Feast of the Holy Rosary in 1972, a relaxing island holiday in the Minnesota Boundary Waters brought four Springfield Dominican Sisters to the brink of tragedy. Sister Margaret Grueter and Sister Marie Michelle Hackett share their poignant memories of this heart-racing experience in a special Catholic Sisters Week edition of F.L.O.W.cast.

The greatest gift of Christmas is the one that most matters: the Incarnation of the Son of God. In this special F.L..O.Wcast episode, Sister Lori Kirchman, a liturgical musician, and Sister Joanne Delehanty, a pastoral minister, share their mutual love for an ancient poem set to a haunting medieval chant. They unpack the lyrics and explore the intricacies of the text, the chant, and their healing and life-transforming properties.

Do you have a favorite hymn? One that touches your heart? Perhaps one that changed your life in some way? On this episode of F.L.O.W.cast we explore hymns and songs our listeners told us were their favorites, in our first ever fan participation episode.

Give yourself—and God—the gift of time during this holy season of Advent and let Sister Phyllis Schenk , an experienced spiritual guide, lead you in a few moments of quiet reflection. You may want to get a hot drink and your journal and Bible before you sit down for this timeless prayerful retreat.