DOMINICAN SISTERS OF PEACE INC

The Dominican Sisters of Peace have missions in Peru and Nigeria. Sr. Rita Schwarzenberger has been a long-time missionary in Nigeria and currently manages Hope for the Village Child. This program works with the villages in an area south of Kaduna to improve the lives of rural residents, especially women and children. The organization advances education, healthcare, and women’s development in myriad ways. They build classrooms, mobile clinics, and clean water wells; train teachers and health workers, and help women learn to sew, knit, and make soap for income; establish programs for immunizations, health education, antenatal care, and corrective surgery for children with rickets, and more. Sr. Manuela Crisologo Gonzales teaches religion and mentors students at a local high school in Chimbote, Peru and she is involved with the youth of the San Jose Obrero (St. Joseph the Worker) Parish. She also assists in the Equipos de Nuestra Senora program.

The Dominican Learning Center (DLC), Siena Learning Center and Springs Learning Center serves adult learners seeking to improve reading, pass the GED examinations or learn English as a Second Language (ESL). With dedicated volunteer tutors, our learning centers assists adult learners to master learning skills and increase self-esteem. provides one-to-one or small group (two-three learners) tutoring to help adults improve their skills in reading, writing, spelling, speaking, listening, mathematics and basic computer use. Individual and small group instruction enables tutors to address individual learning needs. We provide the instruction that builds success.

Shepherd’s Corner, founded in 1992 in Columbus, OH, is an ecological ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. This 160-acre natural oasis serves as a center for ecology, spirituality, and education. The property’s diverse range of habitats offers a haven for wildlife and native flora, plus a place of peace, natural beauty, and spiritual refreshment. We focus on three areas: environmental education, reflection on care of creation, and providing healthy, naturally grown produce. We are committed to donating 60-65% of our naturally grown produce to local food pantries. In 1986, the Kansas Dominican Sisters (now Dominican Sisters of Peace) decided to begin a new ministry, one committed to the care of Earth and to modeling sustainability. In 1987, they purchased the 80 acres that is now Heartland Farm. The first residents were three Dominican Sisters and a married couple with their three children. The farm had originally been settled under the Homestead Act in the 1870s. Both the farm house and the barn are well over 100 years old and still in use. Over the years, two straw bale structures have been added, one a hermitage and the other an art studio. The guest house provides welcoming space for visitors and retreatants. Additional apartments are available for volunteer housing. Currently, three Dominican Sisters of Peace are full-time residents of the farm. St. Catharine Farm is the oldest farm property of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. It traces its beginnings to 1822, when the first American Dominican Sisters began a religious community on 160 acres of land in Central Kentucky. On St. Catharine Farm, the Sisters raised vegetables, flax, sheep, and more as they taught academic lessons to area children. In the 1960s, beef production became the focus of the farm. As years passed, the farm continued to provide food for the motherhouse table as the Sisters began to recognize the farm’s environmental significance. In the 1980s, a resource audit was completed, diversion ditches were installed to reduce erosion into the creek, and about 70 of the 123 acres of woodland were placed in the Timber Stand Improvement program. In 1990, an Integrated Pest Management program was established at St. Catharine, and in 2000 an Intensive Grazing Project was begun. Plans also were implemented to plant trees and foster wildlife habitats on the property. Today, St. Catharine Farm continues to provide beef for the Sisters in Kentucky and now elsewhere in the country, while maintaining ecologically responsible agricultural practices. The award-winning farm serves the agricultural industry as an example of sustainable practices and hosts periodic field days to demonstrate best management techniques to local farmers. The Dominican Sisters of Peace also began Crown Point Ecology Center in Akron, OH and Crystal Spring Center for Earth Learning in Plainville, MA.

The Dominican Sisters of Peace operate retreat centers in five US locations. The Dominican Retreat and Conference Center, Niskayuna, NY, offers retreats for women and men, workshops, and presentations to enhance your spiritual life and growth. Retreats are also offered for those in 12-step programs on topics of alcoholism, abuse, and eating issues. Heartland Center for Spirituality, Great Bend, KS, provides meals, overnight accommodations, and meeting space for individuals, church organizations, and nonprofit groups who are interested in spiritual enrichment, educational programs, staff development, conferences, and retreats. Martin de Porres Center, Columbus, OH, offers a contemplative and affordable meeting space for spiritual, artistic, and educational programming, as well as spiritual direction and adult literacy tutoring. Rosaryville Spirit-Life Center, Ponchatoula, LA, This 40-acre retreat center, in proximity to Rosaryville’s wetlands, offers renewal of life and opportunity for spiritual growth for individuals and groups. St. Mary’s Retreat House, Oxford, MI, retreat house where women can meet to deepen their personal relationship with God and with each other. Vivian’s Via Rosa,Waterford, MI, is an intimate homey retreat house on Scott Lake offers individuals and small groups a place of quiet beauty for private, guided and directed retreats.

The Dominican Sisters of Peace operate Mohun Health Care Center, Columbus, OH. Mohun is an award winning licensed health center for vowed and ordained religious. Sansbury Care Center, St. Catharine, KY is a skilled and personal care facility serving religious and laity. Sansbury provides high quality, personalized and compassionate care services. The Dominican Sisters of Peace have also founded Clausen Manor, Waterford, MI, an Alzheimer’s special care center. Lourdes Senior Community, Waterford, MI, a licensed health center for individuals needing skilled care or rehabilitation. Assisted/Senior Living is offered by Mendelson Assisted Living Home, Waterford, MI; Fox Manor, Waterford, MI, and Cedar Park Place, Great Bend, KS.

The Peace Center, New Orleans, LA, is sign of Dominican Sisters of Peace’s commitment to New Orleans. The Peace Center provides outreach and a place of peace and caring for residents surrounding the center. The Peace Center provides enrichment programs for persons of all ages in the neighborhood. Homework help is offered for youth and there are a variety of youth programs. Adult programming is offered and there are programs for senior citizens as well as computer education, mental health counseling, spiritual direction and job readiness training. Our Ministry of Presence, Garden City, KS, is a direct ministry with the poor serving as liaison with existing community resources.

The Dominican Sisters of Peace have founded and serve on the faculty and/or staff and on the board of trustees for the higher education Institutions of Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT and Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, OH. In Secondary and Primary Education, the Dominican Sisters of Peace founded and serve on faculty/staff and the Board of Directors at: St. Agnes Academy & St. Dominic School, Memphis, TN; Our Lady of the Elms, Akron, OH; Dominican Academy, New York, NY; and, St. Mary’s Dominican High School, New Orleans, LA.