Hawaii’s Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary elected Sister Bernarda Sindol of St. Elizabeth School, Aiea, as its regional superior during its 12th Hawaii region chapter, or general planning meeting, June 18-26 at the Dominican Center in Waipahu.
The sisters also chose three councilors, or primary advisors, and their regional secretary and treasurer.
The Dominicans’ regional chapter, convened every four years, provides an opportunity for members of the region to review their charism, formulate legislation and elect new officers. The Hawaii region includes convents in northern California, where the sisters work at schools in Colma and San Francisco.
The theme of the chapter was “Remembering the Past, Facing the Present, and Navigating the Future.” In a statement following the meeting, the sisters said that they sought to “align their apostolates in the context of the present realities of the 21st century.”
With teaching as their major ministry, the Dominicans said they were “confronted with so many issues that plague Catholic education in this present time and in this given culture.”
They said they hoped to be “more proactive than reactive” in “opening up other avenues of serving the people.”
The other newly-elected regional officials are first councilor, Sister Nelia Pernecia of St. Charles Borromeo School, San Francisco; second councilor, Sister Cecilia Fabular of St. John the Baptist School, Kalihi; third councilor, Sister Laurencia Camayudo of St. Charles Borromeo School, San Francisco; regional treasurer Sister Emelie Basitas of St. Elizabeth School, Aiea; and regional secretary, Sister Delia Obenza of Holy Angels School, Colma.
The new officials were installed during a Mass celebrated June 25 by Oblates of St. Joseph Father Arnold Ortiz at the Dominican Center in Waipahu.
Hawaii has about 20 Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary based in Waipahu, Waianae, Aiea, Kalihi and Makawao, Maui. They work primarily in preschool and elementary school education.