From July 20-23, 2025, the Dominican Sisters of Hope gathered for their assembly and 30th anniversary celebration. A joyful and reflective spirit permeated the space together, both in-person and virtual.

The Dominican Sisters of Hope Assembly was centered around the theme Navigating a Future Full of Hope. The four-day gathering included a retreat day, ample reflection time, joyful fellowship, and a celebration of the past thirty years.

Sisters, associates, staff, and co-creators present focused on daily themes including Thanksgiving; Remembering the Journey of Mission and re-igniting the fire in our hearts and souls: I promise, I commit, I am Mission; Dreams – so much is possible; and Imagining our Enduring Mission.

The celebration began with a beautiful mass, which included dance, blending of the waters representing our three original communities, blessing each other, and a nod to our founding ritual. Those present enjoyed a festive dinner afterward.

During the assembly days, sisters and associates were invited to reflect in groups and individually in journals. There was an overwhelming gratitude for the reflective portion of the time together.

“It was very, very informative,” Sister Joan Boyle said. “You take the thirty years for granted as you go along. Taking a break to think about those thirty years, reflection-wise, you saw how much was accomplished.”

The following days welcomed staff and a few co-creators to assembly, among them Midge Miles, storyteller, and Laura Rossi of the New York Community Trust.

Midge Miles offered a reflection based on the story of laying the baby down and crossing the river, a founding story she crafted for the congregation thirty years ago. She invited the community to consider their daughter today, a grown woman, welcoming you on the other side of the river. What is she excited to show you?

Sister Jo-Ann Iannotti said that Midge’s presentation brought her “a new appreciation and realization of the prophetic stance that we took in taking the risk of coming together.”

“It broadened my perspective on that critical act,” she said. “And I began to appreciate it in a whole different way. When she was talking, her remembering filled in a lot of blanks for me in terms of the founding event itself.”

Other presentations included a summary of grants in the New York Community Trust, archives, and ministry fund grants.

“Because of the combination of people who request the funds, it’s an example of where our sisters’ hearts are and how we are really helping so many different people from so many different walks of life,” Sister Jo-Ann Iannotti said. “This year’s report confirmed what I’ve heard for many years: we’re continuing to do what we say we want to do in terms of bringing Hope to as many people as possible.”

The Assembly concluded with participants writing their hopes on seed paper, which they planted in the courtyard at Mariandale. One week later, the seeds are beginning to sprout!

For Sister Kathleen Hebbeler, the assembly days were “a good time for reflection on where we’ve been and where we need to go.”

Sister Catherine Walsh echoed this sentiment. Now, both sisters say, comes the work!

“We continue to grow as Hope,” Sister Catherine said. “And we are ready to do the work of planning our enduring mission.”

View our photo album from our celebration and assembly below