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Rosary Chapel was overflowing with celebration as 100 Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters gathered to witness Sr. Quincy Howard, OP, ’97 pledge her lifetime commitment to God and to the religious order.

The Nov. 16 Mass marked Sr. Quincy’s perpetual, or final vows, which were also witnessed by family, friends and laity. She made her first profession of vows in 2017 and currently serves as director of special projects and planning at the Sinsinawa Mound.

“I wanted the ceremony to be grounding for people,” Sr. Quincy shared. “I wanted my friends, family and Sisters to come together and experience a strong, women-led celebration of life, leadership and all the possibilities that it represents. And it was that—in droves.”

Standing at the altar before Sr. Christina Heltsley, OP, prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Sr. Quincy professed a commitment to God and to her Sinsinawa Dominican family for the remainder of her life. She was also presented with a ring as a sign of her membership within the Sinsinawa Dominican Order.

“Just as Fr. Samuel sent out our first Sisters to proclaim the Gospel, I send you. We send you,” Sr. Christina said.

Sr. Christin Tomy, OP, university minister for community life and pastoral care at Dominican University, delivered a heartfelt homily, reflecting on Sr. Quincy’s 10-year-long journey to her final vows.

“These vows you make today will help you to remain constant in the love of God, and they will call you to transformation,” Sr. Christin said. “The choice you make to be faithful to these vows every day to come will continue to transform you.”

The transformation in Sr. Quincy’s life so far has been monumental. A self-professed non-practicing Catholic for much of her adult life, Sr. Quincy studied mathematics at Rosary College and lived out “the full college experience,” but admits she didn’t participate in Mass or religious formation during her years as an undergraduate.

She began exploring her faith and relationship with God as she entered her late 30s. The Catholic social justice language used by Pope Francis appealed to her in a new way, she said. One day, about a decade ago, Sr. Quincy reached out to Sr. Mary Clemente Davlin, OP, ’50 with whom she had maintained contact since her graduation, and inquired if her professional skills might be helpful to the Sinsinawa Dominicans as they explored a reconfiguration of space at the Mound.

“I was thinking about how I could work with the Sisters with my background as an urban planner,” Sr. Quincy said. “Much to my surprise, Sr. Clemente thought I was asking questions as a potential vocation! She put me in touch with the vocation director.”

And that’s when her journey began.

“I was very reluctant,” she said. “I was scared and confused, and yet I continued picking up the breadcrumbs and following the path. With each step, there was a Sister who helped me realize that it was OK. You may not understand what you’re doing or why you’re doing it, but if it feels right, you should continue exploring.”

At the same time, Sr. Quincy’s connections to the Sinsinawa Sisters— and to Dominican University—run deep. Her great-aunt was Sr. Thomasine Cusack, OP, ’28, a longtime professor of economics who established a scholarship fund for female family members to attend Rosary College. Sr. Quincy’s mother, aunt, and sister each attended Rosary.

Though she never knew Sr. Thomasine, Sr. Quincy is confident that she played a role in determining her own path to sisterhood “in ways that are a mystery to me.”

“I feel like she was pulling the strings in the background,” Sr. Quincy said.

That connection brought Sr. Quincy full circle as she chose Dominican’s Rosary Chapel for her Perpetual Profession Mass and gathered with the Sisters who have been part of her new life. Bringing so many together for celebration was indeed a rare and special event, she noted.

“What ultimately brought me to the decision to make perpetual vows was my love for these women. I love everything they stand for,” she shared. “I have never been happier than when I’ve been exploring my spirituality, deepening my relationships with others—and with God in particular—and probing what Catholicism has to offer. It’s been so gratifying and fulfilling.”