Livingston Resident Preaching Conference in Michigan

The following article was submitted to the Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell. 

Livingston resident and Mount Saint Dominic Academy student Brie Krug, class of 2015, attended the 15th Annual Dominican High Schools Preaching Conference held in June at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan. 

Downey was accompanied by three other Mount students: Hannah Downey, class of 2015; Meghan Herbert, class of 2015; and Egan Barnitt, class of 2016. These students were joined by moderators Christine Victori and Cara Starkes. 

Students and mentors from 24 Dominican high schools attended the conference. 

The conference focused on the various ways that Dominicans preach. Aspects of the conference helped to focus on the four pillars of Dominican life: Prayer, Study, Community and Ministry. Throughout the week’s activities, Miss Herbert, Miss Krug, Miss Downey and Miss Barnitt had the opportunity to get to know students from other Dominican schools, listen to presentations on St. Dominic and other inspirational Dominican saints as well as meet with the current Dominican family of friars, contemplative nuns, active sisters, Dominican Laity, Dominican Volunteers USA, and Dominican Young Adults. 

The participants also learned about various social justice issues: immigration, climate justice, human trafficking, the Dominican family in Iraq, and eating as a moral act. Swinging into action, the students were able to preach through their service at local social service agencies. 

Christine Victori, Mount Saint Dominic Academy’s campus minister, said, “The conference was a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about the spirit that is at the heart of the Dominican mission. It’s so inspiring to see young people fired up about their faith and wanting to share their amazing gifts with our school.”

The closing of the conference took on a festive air as participants enjoyed an awards banquet, a talent show and finally, an exuberant Liturgy, during which Brie and her fellow Mount classmates joined students from each school and presented their plan for keeping the Dominican charism alive in Mount Saint Dominic Academy and other respective schools throughout the coming year.