The
religious sisters work or have worked in a variety of ministries throughout the United States and abroad. Ministries have included vocations as prison ministers, counselors, chaplains, social workers, teachers, pastoral associates, musicians, health care workers, artists, attorneys, bakers, spiritual directors, writers, activists, and neighborhood outreach coordinators. Prayer and study are integral to the lives of all Racine Dominican sisters. Dominicans are considered to be preachers signified by an "OP" (order of preachers) after their names. Dominicans strive to emulate
St. Dominic in all of their various ways of preaching and prayer. Racine Dominicans also align themselves with the holiness and wisdom of
St. Catherine of Siena. In fact, S. Suzanne Noffke, OP, a foremost authority of St. Catherine of Siena, is a member of the Racine Dominicans. She has written numerous books on St. Catherine of Siena. Founded in 1862 by Mother Benedicta Bauer and Mother Thomasina Ginker, both from the monastery of Heilig Kreuz in Regensburg, Bavaria, their original mission was to establish a school mainly for German immigrant children. The Racine Dominicans have begun many significant ministries/organizations, sponsoring them financially and through participation calling them 'sponsored ministries'. Many have become obsolete as the need for a particular service diminished, and many were transferred to other organizations in the greater community as it made sense to do so. The Racine Dominicans currently have six sponsored ministries: •
St. Catherine's High School (est.1864) • Siena Retreat Center (est. 1966) • Senior Companion Program (est. 1978) • Catherine Marian Housing, known as Bethany Apartments (est. 1990) • Eco-Justice Center or "Rooted in Hope" (est. 2004) • HOPES Center of Racine (est. 2008) The more well known Racine Dominican sisters include
Rose Thering, professor of
Catholic-
Jewish dialogue at
Seton Hall University and Suzanne Noffke, a scholar and author on
Catherine of Siena. ==See also==