Sr. Toni Harris, OP gave the St. Albert the Great Lecture in the St. Thomas Aquinas Lecture Series on Wednesday, November 12, 2014. Sr. Toni’s topic was, “Religious Iconography through the Lens of the Dominican Charism”. In her lecture Sr. Toni shared with us the significance of religious icons, the process of “writing” an icon and how the elements of iconography are related to the Dominican Charism. You can view this informative and inspirational presentation by Sr. Toni through the Albertus website.
Sr. Toni is a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa. Most recently she has served in Rome, Italy as the International Promoter for Justice and Peace for Dominican Sisters International. DSI works to create solidarity and opportunities for cooperation among nearly 24,500 Dominican Sisters in about 110 countries of the world.
While Sr. Toni was at Albertus I had the opportunity to interview her. Below are her responses:
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How has being a part of the Dominican family impacted your life, your presentation?
As a Dominican Sister I have had many opportunities, challenges and ministry possibilities that have developed gifts and skills I have. As a member of a world-wide order I feel privileged to be part of a global project that is so much bigger than anything I could do on my own.
Early in my Dominican life I was educated to be an art teacher. Art opened me to see life with another lens and gave me a way to integrate my life as a Dominican with the world around me.
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What do you think is essential for a Dominican College to promote in today’s world?
When he founded the Dominican Order, Dominic had a vision to “send out” Dominicans to the known world of his time. This spirit of being “sent out” has led to the growth of a globalized Dominican Order. Today as an institution founded by Dominicans, Albertus is called to prepare students to live in a globalized world and help them become just and compassionate members of society.
Dominicans from the beginning were engaged in the search for truth through their studies in all areas of academic life. Through disputation Dominicans engaged in a methodology that explored many points of view without alienating and polarizing those with differing viewpoints. In this way Dominicans widen their understanding and show respect for differing views while holding their truth.
For me it is essential for a college today to promote this type of dialogue. In doing this we usually find we are more alike than different and can thus build bridges with one another.
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As a member of the Dominican family, what is your hope for the future of our students?
My hope is that the college continues its tradition of welcoming diverse communities to the college. Also, my hope is that Albertus continues to support its faith tradition and the Dominican tradition through the promotion of the Dominican values of study, prayer, community and service and that the students who graduate from Albertus will have meaningful lives.