The Siena Center is silent, dark, somber and prayerful. The bleachers and seats are overflowing with grandparents and students, and then the spotlight comes on revealing the start of the Living Rosary. The Dominican community joins in celebration of Jesus’ ministry through prayer, song and dance.
After praying the Living Rosary, freshman Madison Ferguson and her grandparents attend the reception in Alumni Hall. (photo by Paige Dawson)
This is the scene of the annual Grandparents Day at Dominican. On Oct. 27, DHS students and their grandparents came together to pray the Living Rosary at Dominican. On this day, the grandparents of Dominican students come to the campus to share this special prayer with their granddaughters.
This annual event is a day of prayer and reflection but also love and bonding. Mrs. Jill Cabes (‘87), Vice President of Dominican Catholic Identity, sees Grandparents Day as a way “to see the value of praying as a family and intergenerational prayer.”
Grandparents Day is a spiritual and enriching experience in which “we come together as a community and pray a Dominican Catholic prayer,” said Mrs. Cabes. Not only the prayer itself enriching, but the performance is, too. Ms. Rosalie Abadie, Dominican art teacher and drama club director, originated the performance part of the assembly and has since directed the theatrical performance for the last 23 years. Each year, she innovatively integrates song, dance and performance talents into the praying of the rosary.
“It felt exciting and rewarding to perform as Mary for everyone” said Wisniewski. As one of the many performaces durring the Rosary Assembly, on Oct. 27, junior Camryn Wisniewski excitedly played Mary infront of the audience. (Photo by Courtney Margot)
Ms. Abadie strives to keep the performance “a prayer in movement.” She accomplishes this though the help of the drama club. This year, the cast for the living rosary was made up of 30 drama club members acting out the Luminous Mysteries. The Luminous Mysteries are known as the “mysteries of light” and celebrate the years of Jesus’ public life.
The theatrical performance is not the only special thing about the assembly; the rosary is also said in four different languages. Together, faculty members and students lead each decade in different languages – English, Spanish, French and Latin. By saying the rosary in different languages, “we highlight the idea that the Church is universal.” said Mrs. Cabes.
Grandparents Day at Dominican is a tradition for many, including Mrs. Theresa Maquar (‘70), Dominican chemistry teacher, and her granddaughter, junior Alexis Daugherty. “Sharing the Rosary Assembly is a special blessing and tradition. It allows me to be ‘Granny’ and pray together with Alexis,” said Mrs. Maquar.
Mrs. Maquar and Daugherty enjoy the combination of performance and prayer. Each year, they look forward to new displays of talent. Grandparents Day is a tradition in their family. With four generations of Dominicans in their family, Daugherty agrees that the Living Rosary is an event this DHS family looks forward to sharing.
- Paige Dawson