Sister Dominica remains thrilled with life as nun

"As a kid, I wanted to be a trapeze artist," she said. "Then I thought I'd be a nurse. Then I thought about the convent."

The example of the sisters at St. Colman's Home in Watervliet inspired her to consider religious life. St. Colman's Home is the Motherhouse for the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

'Thrilled'

Today, St. Colman's is home to a school for emotionally disturbed children, a daycare center and a school for autistic children. When Sister Dominica was a child, however, it was an orphanage where siblings could be raised together.

"I grew up in St. Colman's," Sister Dominica said. "I was three when we went. Mother was very sick and eventually died of tuberculosis. I remember the Sisters coming down the hill in a horse and buggy to pick us up."

One of ten children, Sister Dominica is grateful that she was able to grow up with her siblings. "I still have a close relationship with my siblings," she said.

Memories

Sister Mary Assumption inspired her as a teacher. "I had her as my seventh- and eighth-grade teacher," Sister Dominica said. "I remember we had to listen to the news every day."

She also learned about strength and commitment from the sisters. She was sick with bilijaundice, and as she lay in her bed, the sisters never left her side.

"I just marveled at how the sisters took care of us," she said. "At St. Colman's, most of our sisters are very happy. I think they really spread the joy of Christ. They know it's important to have a sense of humor."

Into the classroom

Education has changed during Sister Dominica's years as a teacher, she noted.

"Children today come to school with so much more information," she said. "They pick it up from the television and what they hear. School is also more challenging for the kids. I learned a factor tree in college, not in grade school."

She enjoys the smaller class sizes that exist in schools today because "we can get to know the children and zero in on their problems. The smaller classes help create a real special bond between the children."

Catholic schools

She disagrees with those who think that a Catholic school must have women religious on the staff in order to be Catholic. "Passing on the faith is sharing your faith," she said. "The laity do that."

Teaching methods have also changed. "There is a lot of hands-on learning now," Sister Dominica said. "We do more in groups, and the kids help each other."

Parents, she said, play more of a role in sacramental preparation than in years past. As their children prepare for First Communion, parents help their youngsters with a textbook at home.

Her advice to parents whose child is preparing to receive communion is "to spend as much time as they can working with the child. Follow up on what's been done in class and reinforce it at home. Parents set the example, so it's important that they go to Mass."

Lifelong gift

"Catholic schools are building community," she said. Children "learn love and responsibility, and they develop lifelong friendships. Catholic schools are a wonderful way to develop a relationship with Christ as you grow in faith."

Her goal as a teacher is to help the children develop a relationship with God -- and to enjoy reading.

"I love to read," she said. "That's why I try to get the kids to love reading. I want the kids to stay close to God and to love reading. Reading opens the doors to so many things."

Although she's been teaching for 43 years, Sister Dominica hasn't tired of it.

"I thoroughly enjoy the kids," she said. "They teach me every day. I love to listen to their stories. I enjoy the kids very much. I think they give more to me than I give to them."

(05-10-01) [[In-content Ad]]