Statutes

DOMINICAN SISTERS INTERNATIONAL (DSI)

Part I NATURE AND GOALS/OBJECTIVES

1.1 Nature of DSI

a. Dominican Sisters International (DSI) is an international movement of Dominican Sisters which seeks to create links between all Dominican Sisters of Apostolic Life throughout the world for the sake of the mission of the Order. 

b. The official name of the movement is “Dominican Sisters International” (DSI).

1.2 Goals/Objectives

a. To support one another in living out the Dominican Charism and to claim and promote our identity as women preachers.

b. To facilitate communication and networking among Dominicans at national, regional and international levels.

c. To foster a more compassionate world order through the promotion of peace and justice, the integrity of creation and human rights, especially those of women.

d. To explore and foster collaborative initiatives within the Dominican

  Family.

Part II STRUCTURE

2.1 Membership

 The members of Dominican Sisters International are all Dominican

 Congregations of Apostolic Life who choose to belong.

2.2 Organization and Operation

 a. The General Assembly which meets every three years

 b. Regional groupings of leaders: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin

   America and Caribbean, and North America;

 c. The Coordinating Council made up of all Regional Coordinators

 d. The International Coordinator.

2.3 General Assembly

 The General Assembly is a body that discerns, deliberates, makes 

 decisions and acts. It is the ultimate authority of DSI.

2.3.1 Members

The members of the General Assembly are the Prioresses General or their official delegates, the coordinators of Regional Groupings, the International Coordinator, the Regional Coordinators, invited representatives of the Dominican family, and others who participate at the invitation of the Coordinating Council.

2.3.2 Functions

a. To approve, and/or revise the Statutes and interpret them

b. To evaluate and approve the report of the Coordinating Council

c. To elect the International Coordinator for a six-year term renewable for three years. The Coordinating Council proposes a list of nominees to facilitate the election

d. To approve the election of the Regional Coordinators

e. To approve the Financial Statement and determine the annual membership fee

f. To suggest a possible date, place and theme for the next Assembly

g. To organize into Regional Groups who will select their Regional Coordinators during the assembly for a three-year term with possible re-election for another term

2.3.3 Election

a. Only the Prioresses General of the member Congregations or their official delegates present at the General Assembly have the right to vote.

b. Non-voting members are:

b.1 The International Coordinator and Regional Coordinators

   whose terms as Prioresses General have expired

b.2 Invited representatives of the Dominican Family and others who participate at the invitation of the Coordinating Council

c. Those eligible as International Coordinator are:

c.1 Prioress General, ex-Prioress General, General Councilor, or ex General Councilor of Congregations who are members of DSI.

c.2 The International Coordinator is elected by an absolute majority on the first or second ballot or by a simple majority on the third ballot. The ballot is secret.

2.4 Regional Groupings

2.4.1 Members

The DSI member Congregations are grouped according to the following geographical divisions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America.

2.4.2 Functions

a. To promote the goals of the movement

b. To animate the sisters of the National and Regional groupings

 with the DSI spirit. 

2.5 Coordinating Council

2. 5.1 Members

The members of the Coordinating Council are the International Coordinator and the five (5) Regional Coordinators.

2.5.2 Functions 

a. To attend the annual council meetings convoked by the

 International Coordinator.

b. To present a report of the activities of each Regional Group.

c. To appoint DSI representatives to Justice and Peace, IDYM, and DVI.

d. To present nominations to the General Assembly for the election of the International Coordinator after they have carried out the widest possible consultation of the members of DSI

e. To assist the International Coordinator in planning, preparing and implementing the DSI General Assembly every three (3) years.

2.6  International Coordinator

2.6.1 The International Coordinator must be a Prioress General, ex-

 Prioress General, a General Councilor or ex General Councilor. She has particular responsibility for the general operation of DSI.

2.6.2 Functions

a. To work with the Coordinating Council in carrying out the priorities laid down by the General Assembly

b. To represent the movement among Dominican and ecclesial bodies

c. To convoke meetings of the Coordinating Council at least every year and the General Assembly every three years

d. To maintain communication with the Congregations, the regional groupings and with the other branches of the Dominican family

e. To collaborate with the DSI representatives in Justice and Peace, IDYM, DVI, etc.

 f. To collect data and interpret statistics about the Congregations and to maintain the Archives of DSI

 g. To employ workers for the DSI office

 h. To attend the principal Regional Assemblies

 i. To prepare for the General Assembly, with the Coordinating Council:

i.1.1 The report of activities of the Coordinating Council

i.1.2 The financial report

 j. To oversee the disbursement of the Solidarity Funds

2.6.3 Vacancy

In case of a vacancy in the position of the International Coordinator due to illness, resignation, death or dismissal by the Coordinating Council, the latter will appoint a substitute who fulfills the necessary criteria. She will serve until the following General Assembly and the election of another International Coordinator.

Part III APPROVAL OF THE STATUTES

The approval of the Statutes requires a two-third majority by secret ballot. The Statutes are subject to revision by the General Assembly. Proposed amendments to the Statutes should be sent to the International Coordinator six months before the General Assembly. Any doubts about interpretation are to be resolved by the Coordinating Council whose decisions hold until the next Assembly.

Part IV FINANCES

DSI provides for its ordinary operational expenses by means of the annual membership fees paid by its members. The amount of these fees is determined by the General Assembly. DSI may ask for donations from its own members or from other organizations for special projects and for the Solidarity Fund.

 APPROVED BY THE FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY, MAY, 2007