Archdiocesan teachers become Dominican associates
Two faculty members at Lacordaire Academy in Montclair recently answered the call to become lay associates with the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell. Tawana Clarrett and Damaris Herrera of Lacordaire Academy made the commitment before a congregation of sisters and fellow associates during a special ceremony on Oct. 2.
Dominican associates are Christian women and men, who can be married, single, divorced, or widowed. They can be clergy members or lay persons who were first drawn to and then called to live out the charism and continue the mission of the Dominican Order – “to praise, to bless, to preach,” according to Dominican Life USA.
The associate position was created as a “grass-roots effort” in the spirit of Vatican II to respond to the desire of non-vowed persons to be connected with a particular congregation. Associates participate in the life of the congregation through their involvement in prayer, study, and ministry.
Clarrett, who teaches fourth grade at the Lower School at Lacordaire, and Herrera, who teaches Spanish and English at the Upper School at Lacordaire, recently committed to being partners with vowed members and to share the mission and charism of the Dominican Family in their own lives, families, churches, neighborhoods, workplaces, and cities.
Clarrett expressed that becoming a lay associate with the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell has fulfilled a lifelong desire for her.
“I never knew I was able to become a member of a religious order as a lay person. As a child, I wanted to become a nun but never thought of it as a path that a Black woman could traverse.” She credited her call to become a Dominican associate to her experience working in a Catholic school. “Working at a Catholic school had a great impact on my faith formation,” she said.
Clarrett’s words are especially poignant as the Archdiocesan community continues to reflect on the recent Synod Diocesan Synthesis Report released over the summer. According to the report, “participants from more than 90 percent of parishes expressed a strong desire to see a greater role for women in Church leadership on every level.” The Sisters of St. Dominic associate program creates this opportunity for devout Catholic women seeking lay ministerial roles. The program creates leadership opportunities for men and women from diverse ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds and with diverse life experiences.
According to Dominican Life USA, each congregation has authority regarding how one becomes an associate. According to the Sisters of St. Dominic, after approval, a candidate in the lay associate program enters a year of discernment during which three orientation sessions are held focusing on: the history of the Dominican Order, the vision and mission of the Caldwell Dominican Congregation, and the Dominican saints. Each candidate is assigned a mentor who supports and guides them during the year.
“The process included a lot of prayer for discernment over whether or not this was the right path to take to fulfill God’s word,” Clarrett said.
The new associates received a warm welcome into the congregation with a special ceremony that included prayers, a blessing from the congregation to the new associates, and a ceremonial recitation of the associate commitment pledge. The Lacordaire Academy community has also celebrated the new associates with multiple posts on social media.
“Thank you all!” Herrera wrote in a Facebook comment, responding to the Lacordaire community. “We greatly appreciate your love.”
According to the Sisters of St. Dominic website, as part of the ceremony, Sister Honora Werner, OP, reflected on how Dominican preachers are “commissioned to bring good news to those faced with mountains of pain-inducing evils” and that we need to “occupy our pulpits daily.”
“Our pulpits,” she said, “maybe our apartment complex, the supermarket, Kohl’s or Macy’s, a family gathering, a wedding or a funeral, [and] as preachers, our presence, our actions, even our silences at times occupy our pulpits and proclaim the Gospel.”
The commitments that the associates were asked to make included a promise to strive to be contemplative promote justice, keep the sacredness of all creation, identify themselves as Dominican associates in their homes, workplaces, parishes, and communities, and be willing to use their gifts and talents to support the Caldwell Dominicans in achieving the community’s evolving vision. Along with reciting a pledge, they signed an agreement to uphold the promises they made that day.
After making their commitments, the newly appointed associates received a shawl and blessing from their mentors, along with a certificate and a pin commemorating their commitment. Kaitlyn Tashjian, Associate Director, then led all other associates present in a recommitment ceremony.
“I think that the Lay Associate Program is central to who we are,” Kaitlyn Tashjian, Associate Director of the Associate Program for the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, said. “Our role as associates is to walk in partner with the Sisters in social justice advocacy, community service, and prayer life. With Tawana and Damaris, the connection to the community is even deeper because they are partnering with the sisters as associates and continuing the mission of the Dominican Sisters in the classroom by teaching in one of our affiliated schools.”
Now that Tawana and Damaris have made their commitments, there are six lay associates of the Sisters of St. Dominic at Lacordaire Academy. Other members include Kaitlyn Tashjian, OPA, Director of Guidance at Lacordaire, Director of the Caldwell Dominican Associate Program; Christine James, OPA, President of the Lacordaire Board of Trustees; Anna Navatta, OPA, Member of the Lacordaire Board of Trustees; Elizabeth Owen, OPA, Director of Operations at Lacordaire Academy.
Featured photo: On Oct. 2, the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell commissioned four new lay associates: (left to right) Damaris Herrera, Judith Shipitofsky, Margaret Becker, and Tawana Clarrett.
