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More than 300 guests graced Dominican Convent in Sparkill and its 100-year-old Sacred Heart Chapel with their love and support Nov. 22. Family, friends, local officials and members of the Rockland County community joined the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, along with Cardinal Dolan and many local priests, in celebrating the history of the beautiful chapel that has served as spiritual home for so many in the community throughout the last century.
The Dominican Sisters of Sparkill first came to Rockland County in 1884 to provide a safe and healthy environment for the children in their care. The foundation stone for Sacred Heart Chapel was laid in May 1913, and the magnificent building was dedicated Oct. 20, 1914. More than 1,100 Sparkill Dominicans and thousands of children in their care have called Sacred Heart Chapel their place of worship, along with the students of St. Thomas Aquinas College, residents of Thorpe Village and Dowling Gardens, and many others.
The day of celebration was the last of many events this year honoring Sacred Heart Chapel’s impact on the ministries of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill and on those they serve. It began with a reception in Dominican Convent where guests enjoyed food, drinks and conversation. When the cardinal arrived, the awards ceremony began.
Three recipients received the Veritas Award. Veritas (“Truth”) is one of the mottos of the Order of Preachers—the Dominicans. It points to the heart of the Dominican tradition: to be messengers of the liberating power of truth and the embodiment of truth in the person of Jesus. They were honored for their dedication to the ideals and values of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill.
Frank Bradicich is a 90-year-old alumnus of St. Agnes Home and School for Children, the orphanage and school established by the Dominican Sisters on the Sparkill grounds in 1884. Frank, along with his three siblings, spent the majority of his childhood and young adulthood under the care of the Sparkill Dominicans. He went on to serve in the U.S. Navy where he earned honors in World War II, then on to the New York Police Department where he retired as a lieutenant after 34 years of service. He is an active member of the St. Agnes Alumni Association.
Sister Margaret Mary Fitzpatrick, S.C., has served as president of St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC) since 1995. Founded by the Sparkill Dominicans as a teacher education program for their own sisters, STAC quickly grew in size and the scope of programs offered and began admitting laywomen and men. Sister Margaret Mary, a Sister of Charity of Halifax, work to sustain a spiritually grounded environment that stretches the community to “Enlighten the Mind through Truth,” the college’s motto.
Sister Ursula Joyce, O.P., a Dominican Sister of Sparkill, has served as executive director of the Dominican Sisters’ senior housing ministry since 1981. While she served on the congregation’s leadership team in the 1970s, the sisters became focused on the lack of affordable senior citizen housing in the town surrounding their campus and were convinced sponsoring senior housing was consistent with their mission of service. Sister Ursula was a leader in securing funding and obtaining zoning changes necessary to develop what would become a 200-apartment senior housing community known as Thorpe Village. In 1994, she had a similar role in the development of Dowling Gardens, a facility for frail elderly, built adjacent to Thorpe Village.
A Mass in Sacred Heart Chapel followed. Cardinal Dolan, the principal celebrant, was joined at the altar by 10 clergy members. The liturgy beautifully depicted the types of joyous occasions and community gatherings held in the sacred space over its history. The choir and musicians, made up of sisters and members of the Hudson Valley Chorale. The music was carefully selected, including the Profession of Faith sung in Latin, as it was 100 years ago. In his homily, Cardinal Dolan spoke of his deep connection to the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, praising them for the strong example they set in answering Jesus’ call to help others in so many ways.
Members of the Sparkill Fire Department attended the Mass in uniform, and students from both Albertus Magnus and Aquinas High Schools, both sponsored ministries of the sisters, participated as altar servers and hospitality ministers.
Sister Mary Murray, O.P., president of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, said the day was a perfect cap to the yearlong celebration.
“The day was truly wonderful from start to finish,” she said in a statement. “We are so grateful to God for this wonderful chapel and all that it inspires among us.”
