MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS /
The Ministries of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville focus on literacy, family support services,
pastoral care, environmental sustainability and education, homelessness, and access to affordable
health care. Sisters serve as administrators, nurses, counselors, chaplains, liturgists, volunteers,
teachers and more. Some of these ministries include the following…
The OPening Word Celebrates 25 Years
April 26th, 2017 marked the 25th Anniversary of the
OPening Word. Alumni, teachers, staff, honorees and board
members joined the Sisters at the Crest Hollow Country
Club to commemorate over two decades of empowering
women through education.
The OPening Word Program seeks to recognize the
uniqueness of each person made in the image of God. Their
commitment is not to a course of study, but to the person.
The approach is completely individualized to meet the needs
and development of that person.
This year the OPening Word was selected as a Bank of
America Neighborhood Builder. This two-year $200,000
grant includes opportunities for leadership development and
further strengthening organizational capabilities, enabling
Recognition Day at the OPening Word is always an inspiring event.
the OPening Word to grow strategically, build community,
effectively manage change and respond to complex challenges,
enhancing its ability to improve the communities they serve
now and into the future.
Molloy Students Assist Sister Flor in El Salvador
Students from Molloy College (shown above) joined Sisters Flor de Maria
Buruca and Diane Capuano in El Salvador to assist with the camp program
for children (shown below). The ministry helps dispel gang influence.
2
2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT
For the past four years, young people have assisted our
S. Flor de Maria Buruca, OP at her faith-based camp for
children in the small village of Sol Naciente, El Salvador. In
January, 9 students and 4 employees from Molloy College
in Rockville Centre and Dominican College in Blauvelt
visited there with S. Flor and S. Diane Capuano, OP.
Participants volunteered to work with 45 camp kids,
ages 3 to 12. At camp, the children learned about St.
Catherine of Siena and also enjoyed music, arts and crafts,
and sports, as well as a community service project. In
addition to their work at the camp, Molloy students
explored other areas of the country including the town where
Blessed Oscar Romero ministered and was murdered in
1980. They also celebrated the Feast of the Three Kings,
joining a street procession led by children.
The camp season closed with a beautiful liturgy during
which four children were baptized and four received First
Holy Communion. At the end of the Mass, students and
mentors received a Dominican Cross and a beautiful plate
with St. Catherine painted on it—all powerful symbols of
Dominican charism.