Aurora's Dominican Literacy Center caps 25th anniversary celebration with 'Mystery' retreat
Aurora's Dominican Literacy Center closed its yearlong 25th anniversary celebration June 1 with "Finding Mystery in the Ordinary," a retreat for 20 literacy center staff and anniversary committee members.
Keynote speaker was Sister Ann Willits, OP, Dominican sister of Sinsinawa, Wis. The morning event was held at Casa Santa Maria, a new venue in Aurora that debuted with the Dominican retreat.
Sister Willits opened the retreat by asking attendees to share on when they began to pay attention to their roles at the Dominican Literacy Center. After a brief break, Sister Willits asked participants to share on what it means spiritually to belong to mystery.
According to Sister Willits, "This retreat invites women to reflect upon the experience of ordinary mystery in their own lives. We explore how God is present in all things."
To close her presentation, Sister Willits led participants in a group litany on the theme "gratitude." "There is something strange about gratitude." Sister Willits said. "It always comes with prepositions.
"We are grateful for something, to someone, or with others. Let us be both intentional and repetitive in saying we are a grateful people!"
Sister Willits presented each participant with "Finding Mystery in the Ordinary: A Guide for Women," a five-CD audio course.
"Finding Mystery" is her third recording for Now You Know Media, Inc., of Rockville, Maryland.
The retreat concluded with a light lunch.
Sister Willits, a preacher, poet, writer and lecturer, has offered retreats, parish missions, lectures and conferences worldwide. She made her profession as a Dominican sister from Sinsinawa, Wis., in 1958.
For 21 years, she directed Parable, a national conference for Dominican Life and Mission. She earned a bachelor's degree from Rosary College, a master's degree from St. Thomas University did postgraduate studies at Marquette University.
Founded in 1993 at St. Nicholas Church in Aurora with five students and five volunteers, the staff has expanded from one to seven people and includes an advisory board and corporation board.
Each year, about 200 women are tutored individually by 200 trained tutors. Staff members register and test prospective students, train tutors and match them with students. Tutor-student pairs meet at the center weekly for 90 minutes. Additionally, a twice weekly conversation class is offered.
Citizenship classes for men and women meet two mornings and two evenings weekly.
Sister Kathleen Ryan, founder and director, said "Since 1993, we've tutored over 2,000 women to read, write and speak English. With our help, more than 1,500 men and women are now U.S. citizens.
The Dominican Literacy Center is a member of the Greater Aurora Area Literacy Coalition, which includes the Aurora Public Library, Waubonsee Community College, World Relief, Family Focus, Hesed House homeless shelter and others.
The Center collaborates with the Coalition, informing clients about the services of all these agencies, as well as Mutual Ground domestic violence shelter, Visiting Nurses Association, and Family Counseling Services.
Volunteers and students are sought for fall classes opening in September. Call (630) 898-4636.
Visit dominicanliteracycenter.org or www.facebook.com/domlitctr/.