The lay Dominicans of the Holy Cross Pro-Chapter honored Elaine (Lanie) LeBlanc, OP, Ph.D., on May 14 at Holy Cross Church on her 10th anniversary as a professed lay Dominican.

Included in her anniversary gifts and cards were messages of thanks from Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory and Father Marty Gleason, OP, Dominican Prior Provincial of the Southern St. Martin de Porres Province.

LeBlanc, who serves on the board of directors of the Aquinas Center at Emory University, became a professed lay Dominican on May 30, 1995, as witnessed by Father Alberto Rodriguez, OP. Faced with the dilemma of a non-existent lay Dominican group in Atlanta, she began the zealous task of building a lay community, which now includes eight permanently and temporarily professed members as well as several candidates and inquirers. Relying on long distance spiritual guidance from several Dominican friars within the Southern Province, she has cultivated the lay preaching charism and the four pillars of prayer, study, community, and apostolate, which St. Dominic built into the founding of the Order of Preachers popularly known as Dominicans. She has also been a Stephen minister in her parish of Holy Cross for over a decade.

Recently she passed on the moderator torch for the chapter to J. Scott Farris, OP, of St. James Church in McDonough. LeBlanc will serve as spiritual formation director. Other newly elected officers and appointed leaders include: vice moderator Dr. Meghan Burke-Abowd, OP, of Holy Cross Church; secretary Sarah Shealy of Sacred Heart Church, Atlanta; treasurer Janet Ilardi of Christ Redeemer Church, Dawsonville; sacristan and archivist Brian Faulds of St. Joseph Church, Macon; promoter of preaching Jane Holt of St. Brigid Church, Alpharetta; and promoter of peace and justice Will Van Ness of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Atlanta.