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The Big Read at Jubilee Farm


New Berlin, Ill.—Listen to the sounds of creation, enjoy fresh air, and get a respite from the noise and frenetic pace of life during “Sound Scape,” at Jubilee Farm, 10:00-11:00 Saturday, April 24, 2021.

The free public event is offered by Jubilee Farm, a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield in partnership with the Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) at Lincoln Land Community College, host of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read in Sangamon County. The NEA Big Read: Sangamon County focuses on the book Lab Girl by Hope Jahren, an American geochemist, geobiologist, and professor.

“We are delighted to be part of this community building program,” said Sister Rose Marie Riley, OP, Director of Jubilee Farm. “The NEA Big Read has an incredible listing of free and diverse programs offered by the partner organizations. Our contribution, “Sound Scape,” is an invitation to LISTEN to the sounds of creation. It provides time to step away from our busy and noise-filled lives and pay attention to Nature’s language.” The program will be led by Sister Sharon Zayac, OP.

Participants are invited to wear comfortable clothes, bring a journal, and have something to sit on. Registration is required. For further information and to register call 217-787-6927.

More information about the NEA Big Read in Sangamon County is available here.

Jubilee Farm is located at 6760 Old Jacksonville Road, 3.8 miles west of Veteran’s Parkway. Follow Jubilee Farm on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thejubileefarm. It is one of 50 local organizations partnering for the NEA Big Read in Sangamon County.

The Dominican Sisters of Springfield are part of a worldwide Dominican family, the Order of Preachers. For more than 800 years, Dominicans have preached the Gospel in word and deed. The Springfield Dominicans were established in Jacksonville, Illinois, in 1873 and relocated to Springfield in 1893. Today, thousands of Dominican sisters, nuns, priests, brothers, associates, and laity minister in more than 100 countries around the world. To learn more about the Dominican Sisters of Springfield visit springfieldop.org.

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Sister Suzanne Donner’s Signature Tip for Starting Seedlings; Sisters to the Land, March 2019

The daily reading for Tuesday, October 27, 2020 was Luke 13:12-21
Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”
Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

Sister Suzanne thinks the smallest seed is a lettuce seed, but knows the amazing creations of God, and faith, grow from something small with a little dedicated nurturing and care. Take a look at this short video from the Sisters to the Land event in March 2019 and learn Sister Suzanne Donner’s signature tip for starting seedlings.

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Sister Margaret Therese Hebert, OP

Sister Margaret Therese’s Services

Private burial at Roselawn Cemetery, Friday, October 9. A memorial mass will be held at Sacred Heart Convent at a later date.

In lieu of flowers or visits, donations may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL, 62704.The Dominican Sisters and family of Sister Margaret Therese are served by Butler Funeral Homes.

Springfield Dominican Sister Margaret Therese Hebert, OP, died October 6, 2020, at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield, Ill. She was born in Pana, Ill., in 1952, to Noel and Mary Louis (Fullerton) Hebert, and baptized Margaret Louise at St. Patrick Church, Pana.

She joined the Dominicans in 1973 and professed her vows in 1976 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.

Primary school teaching, pastoral ministry, spiritual direction, and the craft of woodworking were, each in turn, central to her life. Early in her religious life she taught primary grades at Catholic schools in Springfield, Hampshire, Chicago, Aurora, Philo, and Rantoul, Ill. After completing studies in spirituality and spiritual direction, she ministered as a spiritual director at Benincasa Dominican Renewal Center, Riverton, Ill., then became pastoral associate for a cluster of parishes in Auburn, Divernon, and Waverly, Ill. From 2000-2007 she was pastoral associate and then parish director for three rural parishes in the diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin: Holy Family-St. William, Wittenberg; St. Anthony, Tigerton; and St. Mary, Marion.

From 2011-2016 she assisted her Dominican Sisters at Sacred Heart Convent and cared for her parents. In 2017 she furthered her ministry as woodworker at the Creative Arts Center, Jubilee Farm, New Berlin, Ill. She remained active as a spiritual director and was pleased to serve as a sponsor for several Springfield Dominican associates.

Sister Margaret Therese was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Therese Hebert. She is survived by her brothers Philip (Mary Jo), Mark, Paul, John (Patsy) and Joseph (Marci) Hebert, many loving nieces and nephews, and dear friends.