Underwriting support from:
Presenters /courtesy of the Dominican Center at Marywood
Map to free Dominican Center parking. /courtesy of the Dominican Center at Marywood
On Saturday, March 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, Dominican Center at Marywood will be offering a morning of conversation about the influences of African spirituality. This presentation is one of an ongoing, semiannual series called Women of God. Women of God is organized around a given theme, featuring the life stories of specific women, the historical context in which they live, and the ways in which their spirituality empowers and sustains them.
Date and time of this program: Saturday, March 9, 8:30 a.m. - 12 noon
Presenters are pictured at lower right: Kate Okolocha, OP; Ann Walters, OP; Matheta Murra Righa and JoMarie Williams, MC. They are four Catholic women whose spirituality has been profoundly gifted by the cultural influences of Kenya and Nigeria. Matheta was born and raised in Kenya, Sister Kate in Nigeria; Sisters Ann and JoMarie were born in the United States, but spent time ministering in Nigeria and Kenya.
Cost: $35.00
Sr. Kate Okolocha, OP is a Nigerian Dominican Sister. She is currently living with the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters studying English Education at Aquinas College. She is a trained formator. While in Nigeria, she journeyed with the young women in formation as a Novice Directress in her congregation for many years before coming to the United States for studies.
Ann Walters, OP has been active in leading adult faith formation classes, workshops, seminars; directing and preaching retreats; and also providing spiritual direction. She has also been active in inner city ministries in Detroit, Chicago, Rural Northern Michigan, St. Louis MO and Gusau, Nigeria, West Africa.
Matheta Muraa-Righa was born in Kenya and was a Missionary for eleven years. She and her husband are blessed with two young men–currently a senior and a junior at Catholic Central High School. As an African woman, her motherhood responsibilities do not stop at home. Her family has other responsibilities in Kenya, where they have taken a commitment and responsibility to support children of relatives who have been orphaned in one way or another. Matheta says that, “In actuality, we currently have eight children, the youngest being only 3 years old. It is such a satisfying feeling to receive word from them that they are able to receive medical treatment or go to school because of the sacrifice we make to reach out to them–a blessing that is ‘a good measure, pressed down and overflowing’ and for that we are grateful.”
Sister JoMarie Willians is a Consolata Missionary Sister. In May of 1984 Sr. Jo received her first missionary assignment abroad: Kenya in East Africa. Throughout her 21 years in Kenya, Sr. JoMarie worked as a primary school teacher and principal, a high school teacher, vocation director and pastoral director. Her fondest memory was working with her students and teachers who were always eager to learn new things. Despite the difficulties she encountered she was very grateful for the chance to be able to enter into a new culture and receive the gifts they had to offer.
You may register for this morning presentation online at http://dominicancenter.com/programs/program/?id=249; or, to register by phone, call the front desk at 616.454.1421 (Option 5). See map for free parking at Dominican Center above at right.
This is one of many programs at DCM that qualify for Catechist Certification Credit by the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
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