Four Dominican schools shift to new governance

By Macie Capote
Clarion Herald

In a move to secure the future of Dominican education, the Dominican Sisters of Peace have announced a significant change in the governance of four of their schools, including St. Mary’s Dominican High School in New Orleans.

The oversight of the four Dominican schools will now be handed to Dominican Veritas Ministries (DVM), an organization founded in 2022 to preserve the Dominican Catholic educational mission.

This change is part of the Dominican Sisters of Peace’s efforts to continue the influence of Catholic education in the Dominican tradition and to promote the Dominican pillars of prayer, study, community and service in each school being affected. 

According to the announcement on the Dominican Sisters of Peace website, local school boards will continue to oversee the school’s mission, educational programs, property, business and secular affairs while working directly with DVM staff and trustees.

The new governance plans to connect schools to a broader network of resources and opportunities, which Dr. Cynthia Thomas, president of St. Mary’s Dominican High School, sees as a positive development.

“Networking with a larger group of Dominican Catholic educators offers us more opportunities for ongoing formation and professional development reflecting our distinctive Dominican charism,” Thomas said.

She added that, while it is a significant transition for their school, it will primarily affect things behind the scenes such as the governance structure, while day-to-day operations will remain the same.

“We really are expecting a very smooth transition, because we’re all committed to this, and our sisters have involved us in the process from the beginning,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the school’s mission has long been rooted in Dominican Catholic charism, and she believes the new governance structure will strengthen these values for years to come.

“St. Mary’s Dominican High School has the Dominican Catholic charism deeply embedded within the mission and operations of our school today, and it has been for generations,” she said. “I think the most powerful impact Dominican Veritas Ministries will have on our school will be through the governance structure that will sustain Dominican Catholic education well into the future.”

Oversees 13 schools

Along with the four schools, DVM now oversees 13 other schools across the country founded by the Dominican Sisters of Peace, with more expected to follow in the future.

According to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, the transfer to DVM was affirmed by the archbishop or bishop in each diocese and by the Vatican. DVM is recognized by the church in the same way as a corporation is recognized by civil law. DVM’s founders include the Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Houston, Peace, Sinsinawa and Springfield, all congregations that established Dominican Catholic schools.

Thomas expressed gratitude for the leadership of the Dominican Sisters of Peace and the collaboration of the school’s board, who have both been crucial during the transition.

“We are grateful to the Dominican Sisters of Peace for their vision, courage and leadership,” Thomas said. “We are grateful for their collaboration with other Dominican Sisters in planning for Dominican schools.

“We are also grateful for our board’s expertise, strategic planning and faithful dedication to the Dominican Catholic educational mission that frees our Dominican educators to focus on the students who are at the heart of all our decisions.”

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