"It was the last year of the Oprah show in Chicago and production staff were discussing what stories they hadn't covered in their 25 year history. One woman spoke up. An 'authentic' women's religious community, she said. Oprah was hesitant. 'Do you really think a community like that would be willing to be on my program?' she asked. She gave her staff permission to make some calls. All of the communities they contacted said 'no,' except for one: the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.
"Founded in 1997, the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Dominican sisters have always been a community interested in engaging with the culture. The Prioress General, Mother Assumpta Long, and a council of the sisters took the request to prayer and asked for advice.
"'Sister John Dominic is a friend of Amy Grant [the singer] who had been on Oprah's program, so she called Amy to ask for her thoughts,' recalls Sister Joseph Andrew, one of four foundresses of the community. 'Amy was very encouraging so Mother phoned back, said 'yes' and asked when they would be coming to film, and they responded, 'this Sunday evening, and we'll be gone by Monday late afternoon.' And it all happened in just that manner!'
"The Dominican Sisters of Mary appeared twice on the Oprah show in 2010 - on February 2 and again on November 23 for a follow up, after which the television crew followed them back to Ann Arbor to film a profession of vows and the celebration that followed. . . ."
In a recent commentray, Zoe Romanowsky, Lifestyle Editor and Video Curator at Aleteia, reflected on these two visits (as well as the preparation for a follow-up visit 2015 on OWN) and on some of the good fruits that came from these opportunities.
To access Ms. Romanowsky's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: The Story Behind the Ann Arbor Dominican Sisters' Appearance on Oprah (14 OCT 15)
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