Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose

Trip Date: June 20, 2014
Motherhouse Roadtrip
Travel Journal
  • The second stop on our California Motherhouse Road Trip. We drive from Los Angeles to San Jose, stopping along the way at Santa Barbara to see the mission church and learn more about the history of Catholicism along the west coast.
  • At the Dominican Motherhouse, we’re greeted by the sisters and are invited to lunch, then meet our podcast guests, Sister Lily and Sister Rebecca.
  • The sisters gave us some of the incredible olive oil that's made from olive trees they have. Sister Julie believes she can hear her Italian grandmother cheering in heaven! 
  • We head to THEOCOM 2014 – a USCCB conference held at Santa Clara University. The topic was "Community, Presence, and Authority in a Digital World." It was great to connect with folks and talk about sharing the gospel online.
From Los Angeles to San Jose, and nuns and fun along the way!

From Los Angeles to San Jose, and nuns and fun along the way!

Love the palms trees! These are not a thing in Ohio...

Love the palms trees! These are not a thing in Ohio...

We're crusin' around California in style.

We're crusin' around California in style.

Entrance to the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose.

Entrance to the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose.

The chatroom crew!

The chatroom crew!

Waving goodbye to the peeps online!

Waving goodbye to the peeps online!

Podcast Guest Nuns

L: Sister Rebecca Shinas is in ministry in adult spiritual formation at Saint Simon parish in Los Altos, California.

R: Sister Lilly Fitzpatrick ministers in the Dominican's Immaculate Conception Academy, the only all-girls Cristo Rey school. She coordinates with business leaders to provide meaningful corporate work study experiences to students of limited financial resources.  

About the Congregation

Mission Statement: Following our founder Dominic, we embrace our life in community shaped by the Gospel counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience, prayer, study and ministry. We use our gifts for the preaching mission through evangelizing, educating and promoting peace and justice. We commit ourselves to a contemplative lifestyle that supports all we are and do. We live our religious life in the context of community where we are strengthened by our prayer, supported by our relationships with one another, and energized for our ministry. Honoring our foundress, Mother Pia Backes, who’s heart was committed to serving "the young, the poor and the vulnerable," our sisters work to bring forth the good news of the Gospel in the United States and Mexico in schools, parishes, universities, and other settings.

Click to see Show Notes
Podcast Guest Nuns

L: Sister Rebecca Shinas is in ministry in adult spiritual formation at Saint Simon parish in Los Altos, California.

R: Sister Lilly Fitzpatrick ministers in the Dominican's Immaculate Conception Academy, the only all-girls Cristo Rey school. She coordinates with business leaders to provide meaningful corporate work study experiences to students of limited financial resources.  

About the Congregation

Mission Statement: Following our founder Dominic, we embrace our life in community shaped by the Gospel counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience, prayer, study and ministry. We use our gifts for the preaching mission through evangelizing, educating and promoting peace and justice. We commit ourselves to a contemplative lifestyle that supports all we are and do. We live our religious life in the context of community where we are strengthened by our prayer, supported by our relationships with one another, and energized for our ministry. Honoring our foundress, Mother Pia Backes, who’s heart was committed to serving "the young, the poor and the vulnerable," our sisters work to bring forth the good news of the Gospel in the United States and Mexico in schools, parishes, universities, and other settings.