Association Sharings

Electronic Edition #2 December 2009 President’s Message This will be the first President’s Message presented in the new electronic form of Association Sharings, and it is only fitting that I begin by congratulating Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart on the quality of the inaugural issue. I am confident that future issues will surely fulfill the promise of the beginning! The year 2009 has been a year notable for beginnings. The General Assembly of 2008 set up a working arrangement for the various programs and projects of the Association – Formation, Publications/Communications, and Healthcare. Each of these function through a Standing Committee chaired by a Council Member. Already these committees have carried out significant activities under their purview – the Novice Directresses meeting in Menlo Park, our new electronic issues of Association Sharings (and in time Monastic Search), moving to up-date our web site, and the healthcare lectures given by Brother Perkins and others. Ongoing formation is still in the process of being developed, but “do not fear if it is delayed, it will surely come!” The Association Council will be holding it first meeting (!) at the Bronx monastery from January 14-21, 2010. The agenda will be full: reviewing all these new initiatives, formalizing the full membership of Queen of Peace monastery in Langley, up-dating our Corporation status, and most importantly, beginning the planning process for the General Assembly 2012. This is a good time to remind all of you that you may submit questions and/or suggestions which you might want the Council to consider. As with all beginnings, we should expect some things to be inadequate or lacking in one or another aspect, which is the reason we have left the formal approval of these new directions to the review and vote of the next Assembly. What is of the utmost importance to all these activities is the generous participation of all – monasteries and individuals. That is what made the Conference successful and it is what will make the Association successful. I look forward to reading and seeing contributions from many and more; the new setup for Sharings and DMS should make it easier to contribute by allowing contributions to be offered at times more convenient and less stressful. It takes an Association to make a Sharing! Happy Thanksgiving to all, Sister Mary John, OP, President

The Association of Monasteries of the Nuns of the Order of Preachers of the United States of America Berthierville, QC *** Bronx, NY *** Elmira, NY ** Farmington, MI *** Lancaster, PA Langley, BC *** Los Angeles, CA *** Lufkin, TX ** Marbury, AL *** Menlo Park, CA Summit, NJ *** Trinidad, West Indies The Last Day of the Liturgical Year by Sr. Mary of the Holy Spirit - Menlo

O Lord, how I look forward to tomorrow. Today as well, I know Is precious in Your sight, But tomorrow – tomorrow We begin that Season The one I love so well. The Season Lord, of Light. O Precious Light, You, Who are “Light” will soon put on our Flesh. Our poor, weakened, fragile flesh. That we may the more readily Be enfleshed with You, Your Countenance O Little One, O Blessed Strong God’s Son. Son of the Father and the Mary. Already You have won my heart And now my part Is to resemble You That when Your Father looks down to view His children here on earth In those of us who love, He will see Your Face. * * * * * * * * * * * Prioresses’ Meeting by Sr. Mary Martin - Summit

The prioress’ meeting was for me a very happy experience of rest, prayer and sharing in the beautiful, peaceful environment of our Berthierville monastery. I enjoyed every moment of the retreat and would be hard put to isolate one aspect or event as better than the rest. The pilgrimage to Ste. Anne de Beaupre was a wonderful bonus, including the Mass that Fr. Dominic celebrated for us in a chapel of the basilica and the opportunity to have a guided tour during which we learned much of the symbolism of the mosaics and architecture. Many thanks to the Association for providing such an opportunity for us prioresses!

Page -2- Book Review

Walled about with God: The History and Spirituality of Enclosure for Cloistered Nuns by Dom Jean Prou, OSB and the Benedictine Nuns of the Solesmes Congregation A Few Informal Thoughts by Sr. M. of the Sacred Heart - Marbury

What is enclosure? Why do we keep it? What meaning can it possibly have for mature women of the modern day? Walled about with God engages questions such as these in three separate sections, each written by a nun or nuns from a different Benedictine monastery. The first of these addresses the Scriptural roots of enclosure, the second traces its historical development, while the third cuts straight to the meaning of human life totally dedicated to contemplation before delving into some particular applications. Here I simply share a few highlights and thoughts that occurred to me while reading this and pondering my vocation as cloistered Dominican nun.

I: Biblical Foundations. The consideration of Old and New Testament images in this section calls to mind the Master General’s striking use of Scriptural examples in his recent Letter to the Brethren and in his retreat for the nuns. Two images caught my attention especially: the call of , and on Mount Sinai.

In the first Biblical story, Abraham is called to a radical departure from everything he has known so far: “leave your country, your people, your father’s house.” Why? So that ultimately all nations might receive blessing through him. So too with us: we respond to God’s call to leave everything familiar radically behind, in order that through devoting ourselves in total intimacy and obedience to the Lord, all people may receive the graces of Redemption.

Later, during the Exodus, Moses is called to leave the Israelites gathered on the plain, and alone to set foot within the boundary of the mountain consecrated to God. This physical place was strictly reserved for God and for those He called to Himself; the people could not ascend or even touch the base of the mountain. Yet Moses, alone with the Lord and speaking to Him “face to face,” is not cut off from the people of Israel. He is there to intercede for them with God, and to receive from Him on their behalf. Again, what a striking image of the cloistered life: the calling to leave the familiar, everyday world and enter the realm of the sacred, the realm of God, not for our own sake alone but for the sake of His people.

II: The History of Enclosure From the first Fathers of the desert, who counseled, “Stay in your cell; your cell will teach you everything,” monasticism has been closely linked to enclosure, the impulse to separate oneself from the world in one way or another in order to devote oneself more exclusively to God. This section follows the development of the principles and practice of enclosure from that desert beginning to the formation of Western Monasticism and the developments of the Middle Ages, from the zealous reforms of the Counter-Reformation to the renewed vision of Vatican II.

Page -3- Although I could mention many interesting episodes, such as St. exchanging “finger hugs” (as we call them in Marbury) with a monastic relative through the grille, one point especially seemed to jump out for the aptness of its application to our Dominican monastic vocation: the Patristic link between enclosure and meditation on the Word.

Early Fathers such as Sts. , Athanasius, and spoke of the ideal of virginity as itself a type of “living enclosure.” The retired life they held up as a model to the consecrated virgins for whom they wrote served both to safeguard that virginity and to ensure that it could achieve its ultimate purpose: freeing the soul for intimacy with the divine Bridegroom, especially through meditation on His Word. As St. Jerome wrote, “Let the seclusion of your own chamber ever guard you; ever let the Bridegroom sport with you within. If you pray, you are speaking to your Spouse: if you read, He is speaking to you” (Ep 22,25). How beautifully this connection between enclosure and meditation on the Word reveals the source of enclosure in the very heart of our life as Dominican nuns: “to seek, ponder, and call upon Him in solitude so that the word proceeding from the mouth of God may not return to Him empty, but accomplish those things for which it was sent” (LCM 1.II). Sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to His words is an attitude that requires seclusion from the empty preoccupations and illusions of the world both in mind and heart. Indeed, “the purpose of all regular observance, especially enclosure and silence, is that the word of God may dwell more abundantly in the monastery” (LCM 96.II).

Our Lady herself is the perfect “enclosed garden” in which dwelt the Word Incarnate Himself. Addressing Our Lady, St. Ambrose exclaims, “You are a closed door, O virgin [Mary]: let no one open your door, closed once and for all by the One who is Holy and True. He has opened the Scriptures to you, let no one close them.” These Fathers extolled Our Lady, who pondered the words of Christ in seclusion, as a model for the Christian virgin. In her our enclosed life of contemplation is also reflected, as we withdraw from the world in order to draw closer to the Word, her Son.

III: The Spirituality of Enclosure Why are we enclosed? And why do we stay enclosed? Ultimately, the answer is LOVE. After the consideration of enclosure from Scriptural and historical angles in the first two sections, in this final section the authors directly address its root meaning. Drawing on both Scripture and history in addition to the riches of spiritual theology, the authors pose and respond to two key questions: Can an entire life ordered towards contemplation alone be justified, especially today? And if so, how does enclosure fit in? In answer they consider the end of man, the nature of contemplation, and the time-tested means to foster the contemplative life, as well as the spirituality particular to the enclosure of nuns and some reflections particular to modern Benedictine life. The only thing I want to comment on here is the idea of the scopos, because it is, as the younger generation would say, “so totally awesome.”

Why is the idea of the scopos perceived as “radically cool”? Perhaps because it is so radical, that is, because it cuts away all confusion and drives straight to the core of the monastic life, of the life in search of God. A young woman we know first heard of this concept in her Greek class in college. It struck her as so potent that she shared it with her roommate, now a Sister in our

Page -4- community. The scopos is like a spotlight striking clarity into the pursuit that is the monastic life. It does so precisely because the scopos is itself the goal, that object which we can clearly see and take practical steps to achieve, knowing that in achieving this we will also achieve the goal of our profession.

According to Cassian, the scopos is “purity of heart,” that singleness of intention and freedom from distractions that enables the monk “to see God.” It is the goal of all monastic observances, because in itself it leads directly to the end. Enclosure, by eliminating casual contact with the outside world and significantly limiting input from the media, is one of the most effective means to purity of heart. In our practice of enclosure, a spiritual sensitivity to anything that might detract from our purity of heart helps us to resist the lure of all those goods and opportunities—very good in themselves—which do not foster the “single-minded” longing of our heart for union with God. In this way purity of heart, the scopos, provides an interior standard by which to implement inside ourselves the effective external enclosure we embrace in our Dominican monastic vocation.

As Dominican contemplative nuns “free for God alone,” we live a life of virginal and contemplative openness to the Word which can only be realized in an undivided heart, one possessing a unity guarded and fostered by a life of enclosure. In this way our life of consecration bears fruit for the salvation of souls. Thanks to the work of the Benedictine nuns who spent the time and energy to ponder, research, and write on the reality of enclosure, I too am able to live the cloistered contemplative vocation with a more conscious awareness of its end and a greater love for Our Lord. Blessed be Jesus Christ, now and forever! * * * * * * * * * * * Visitors By Sr. Mary of Jesus - Elmira

We have frequent visitors, human and otherwise! Multitudinous varieties of birds appear throughout the seasons; deer pass through on the way to the river; rabbits take delight in the vegetable patch [shades of Farmer MacGregor’s], and the squirrels have cultivated an epicure’s taste for flower bulbs. For the past few weeks, each evening as darkness descends on the monastery, an interesting couple has been making an appearance…announcing themselves by an unusual aroma amid the floral scents. A pair of nearly white skunks have

Page -5- discovered the birdseed fallen from the feeder outside our community room. Hanging out the window became a “safe” venue for photos of our company. They obviously feel at home since flashing lights do not bother them. They have explored the Garth, the front and back yards repeatedly. White garbed, we hope they are not trying to insinuate themselves into our lifestyle.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Resources Sr. M. Catharine - Summit A good resource for vocation promotion materials:Vistaprint. You can get free stuff but have to pay shipping and upload fee which isn’t much. Sign up for email specials and through that particular email you can get some good deals and free stuff. I regular order 100 free postcards and put some thoughtful quote on the back and put them in my packets. (Or leave them blank and sell them in your gift shop.) 25 free brochures, 1 free poster. You can order several free things at the same time. Of course they try to get you to buy more or other things but resist unless you really know it’s a good deal. Usually 500 or 1,000 brochures are kind of pricey. I ordered a free 3’ x 1.5’ vinyl banner to place on our table front for our soap sale.

Sr. M. Sacred Heart - Menlo NowYouKnowMedia is a company that sells various courses on religious topics. All lectures are on CDs and most are 25 minute talks. The speakers are excellent. The study guides are not very helpful - evidently not done by the speaker. In the Novitiate I am using “The Liturgical Year” by Fr. Richard Fragomeni, S.T.B., Ph.D. It fills in what I felt was missing from the Novice Mistress outlines, which is the spiritual and human aspect of the various seasons of the Liturgy.

Do you have any tapes or CDs that are good for refectory, novitiate classes, or private study, that your monastery would be willing to share with another monastery?

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Our heartiest congratulations and best wishes to our Sisters at Queen of Peace Monastery in Langley, BC. They have officially been established as a full fledged monastery and now have purchased the property to build their new monastic home. May Jesus, Mary and Dominic be with them and help them through the joyful but difficult times ahead.

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Page -6- A meditation by Sr. Mary of the Sacred Heart - Menlo

Speak Lord for your servant is listening. (1 Sam. 3:9)

SPEAK Of old You spoke and it was made. Everything was made. Your word is so powerful! But it is also wise for You are wisdom itself And Your word is loving for You are Love and all Your works flow directly from that love.

There are so many ways that You speak to us, even when we don’t have visions or locutions.

The Scriptures are Your Divine revelation. In them You express Yourself to me as if in a divine love letter. You also speak in instruction through the Church, Your Bride.

When my brother or sister in need reaches out to me, I hear Your plea in their voice.

Whatever I read in holy in books, or hear in sermons and homilies can be a message from You.

Most of all, when I feel a stirring in my heart and gradually come to understand at a deeper level or begin to sense the solution to a problem, that is Your voice speaking in the silence of my soul.

Speak then Lord, Your word of warning. Speak Your word of instruction. Speak Your word of mercy. Speak Your word of peace. Speak Your word of love.

Page -7- Speak Lord for your servant is listening. (1 Sam. 3:9)

LORD When I address You by this ancient title, “Lord” – “Kyrios”, I am expressing belief in Your Godhead. You are the Supreme Being, Creator of all, Redeemer of all, Sanctifier of all.

A little child looks on its Daddy as strong, wise, nurturing, protecting, providing, teaching, helping, loving.

As we grow older we come to realize that our Dad is actually a weak human being, like the rest of us.

But those qualities are all present in the highest degree in You, my Lord.

As the psalmist says, “I love You, Lord, You are my strength”.

So when You speak to me I hear and acknowledge Your power, Your truth, Your justice, Your wisdom, but also Your mercy, Your patience, Your tender love.

When I address You as “Lord”, it is a celebration of your greatness and glory, and also an indication that I am aware that I depend on You for everything.

Speak Lord for your servant is listening. (1 Sam. 3:9)

YOUR Like Mary, I am a handmaid of the Lord. I am all Yours through Mary. Any service I give to others is only intended for You who are in them.

Sometimes I serve myself, putting my wants, my comfort, my convenience before what You are asking of me. Forgive me, my beloved Lord,

Page -8- for stealing that service from You. I am all Thine and all I have belongs to You - my body, my soul, my mind, my time, my energy.

Help me please, to use it all only in Your service.

Speak Lord for your servant is listening. (1 Sam. 3:9)

SERVANT I have freely made a vow of obedience to You. This means that I am obliged to carry out all of Your commands. And I want to do it cheerfully, lovingly, carefully, fulfilling Your will in all things.

Not just the letter of the law, but the spirit which makes it all alive and worth while.

A servant may have times when she is not actually carrying out an order. But even then she has her eyes on her Lord, waiting for the slightest indication of a wish on His part.

Our Blessed Mother declared herself the “Handmaid of the Lord”. In this capacity she carried out all the tasks of a home maker and knew, almost by instinct, how to serve You best.

May I follow in her footsteps and serve You directly or indirectly through others.

Speak Lord for your servant is listening. (1 Sam. 3:9)

IS LISTENING Your prophet (50:4) says, “Morning by morning he makes my ear alert to listen like a ”. Elsewhere I read “My eyes are always on the Lord”. And the Heavenly Father said on Tabor, “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him”.

My listening is not just a passive hearing, but an active alertness, waiting and looking for the manifestation of Your will. I listen with my whole being – ears, eyes, mind, heart, hands and feet.

Page -9- Sometimes I need to ponder it in my heart like Mary our Mother, in order to fully understand the implications of Your message.

Help me in this careful listening to distinguish correctly between Your voice and my own or that of the world.

The culminating point of that listening is when I spring into action to carry out Your wish with generous carefulness and love. * * * * * * * * * * * News from Lufkin July 5: We began our annual retreat with a few days of silence, as has become our custom over the past few years. July 7: Today we bid a fond farewell to Sr. Marie Tersidis, who left for the Dominican monastery in Trinidad on a three year transfer. Sister is going to help the community in any way she is needed. We are grateful that we are able to spare her and glad to help the monastery in Trinidad, but we all miss her a lot. On this same day, our retreat master, Fr. Demkovich, arrived. He preached a marvelous retreat on the cardinal virtues and the four pillars of Dominican life: community, study, prayer and mission. Father left us on the 12th of July and we had another two days of quiet reflection before our retreat formally ended on the morning of the 14th. August: Sr. Mary Emmanuel was admitted to St. Dominic’s nursing center in Houston, TX this month. She had long expressed a desire to go to this particular nursing center “when the time comes”, and after a series of events we all came to a mutual discernment that at last the time had come. Sister is getting along extremely well in her new environment, and has renewed her friendship with our Sr. Mary Anne, who lives in the independent living section of the same nursing center. They often attend Mass together on Sunday. Our sisters go in turns on a fairly regular basis to visit them. August 31: It’s official: Sr. Mary of the Most Holy Name of Jesus will be making solemn vows. This happy event will take place on November 3, 2009, the feast of St. Martin de Porres. September 8: Fr. Juan Martin Torres, OP brought a group of Peruvian women (plus one lady from Mexico City!) to our monastery to ask for our prayers and to learn more about our life and vocation. They were a delightful group, and they have a special ministry centered on the rosary; they pray it together in groups and go to hospitals such as M.D. Anderson to pray with patients. They also hope to get involved in prison ministry. September 13: Sr. Mary John told us all about the prioresses’ retreat and the pilgrimage to St.

Page -10- Anne de Beaupre. It sounded wonderful, but we were glad to have her home again! For supper on the 13th we had our traditional “last supper”—an evening meal with special entrée, salads and dessert as we say farewell to these delights and begin fasting season on September 14. September 15: Sr. Mary Agnes celebrated her 87th birthday! At 87 she still gets around on her own two feet, works full time in the Guild office, serves on the monastery council, attends Mass and Office faithfully, keeps her adoration time, and plays a serious game of canasta. In honor of this special birthday, some friends of hers sent a bottle of real French Champagne, which we all enjoyed during evening recreation on Sunday night. September 22: Sr. Mary Giuse of Jesus will be making her solemn vows on November 24th, 2009, feast of the Dominican . September 25-27: We had a communications workshop this weekend with Sr. Mary Sue Kennedy OP, an Adrian Dominican sister. It was very informative and interactive, involving a lot of small group work as well as lectures. We concentrated mainly on the basics of communication, blocks to good communication, communicating effectively, and personality styles that affect communication. It was so enjoyable and helpful that we asked her to return in October for more. October 10: We had our traditional fall picnic, which usually falls somewhere near Columbus Day, today. Of course we usually have a picnic on the 4th of July, but any of you who have been in Lufkin in July know that it is not a good time of the year for eating outside and enjoying nature! So we have our fall picnic to make up for that. It was a wonderful day of food, games, and conversation. October 23-25: Sr. Mary Sue Kennedy OP was back for Round Two of our communications workshop, which built on what we had previously learned and encouraged us to be—not passive, not aggressive, but assertive. October 25: We bid a fond “farewell” to Sr. Mary Gabriel as she embarked on her ten day profession retreat. As is our community custom, she entered the “desert” in the evening, stopping by the community room to say goodbye. We sang the “Veni Creator” to send her on her way at the end of Compline. November 1: The end (we hope) of our sanctuary renovations came as we formally installed our new ambo. As you may already know, earlier this year Sr. Mary Magdalen (Langley) came to design a new tabernacle front for us; the finished product, a combination of her gorgeous design and the work of Gianfranco and associates at Inspired Artisans, was revealed at Easter. Sr. Mary Magdalen also made new cylinders of wood for the candlesticks next to the altar, replacing the metal ones. A new presider’s chair and two smaller matching chairs to go on either side of it came, and finally all that was left to change was the ambo. After many discussions and votes, we agreed on a style and design. The new ambo is made of wood, with a bronze Dominican torch on the front of it. This ties in nicely with the bronze of the tabernacle and the wood of the chairs and the candlesticks. November 3: The day finally came for Sr. Mary Gabriel to make her solemn profession. The Bishop celebrated the Mass, and ten priests from various locales (including two from Sister’s home city, Corpus Christi) were on hand to concelebrate. The chapel was filled to overflowing—we had to open the oratory for guests, and they were pretty crowded even in there! Sister’s parents, sister and brother-in-law, and many family members and friends from her home parish came for the Mass, as did twenty-one middle school students from our local Catholic school. Who knows, perhaps the seed of a vocation was planted as Sister made her vows? The

Page -11- Mass was beautiful, and Sister looked so happy and radiant. We are blessed to have Sister Mary Gabriel as a member of our community! November 6-12: Wouldn’t you know it? Sr. Mary Thomas and Sr. Mary Gabriel, our two chantresses, both came down with the flu! Not the swine flu…just the regular seasonal flu. They had to be kept in quarantine for several days while the flu ran its course. Both were extremely grateful for the excellent care they received while “under the weather”, but also grateful to return to community life. November 15: Now it’s Sr. Mary Giuse’s turn to go into the desert for her ten day retreat prior to solemn profession! * * * * * * * * * * * News from Summit Basically the news from Summit can be summed up in one sentence: We are still renovating the kitchen and refectory! However, the end is in sight—at least for the contractor and workmen! For us it will mean the BIG MOVE as we figure out what to keep, what to throw away and where to put everything! We’ll all be newcomers as we figure the kitchen layout and how to serve meals in the refectory. We are looking forward to being back in the refectory and eating off of real plates with real flatware!

News I would like to share is about the recent trip Sr. Janlyn and I (Sr. Mary Catharine) took to in November. Sr. Janlyn is our newest postulant and is a gift from the great country of Canada. However, as of last November US Immigration has made getting the R1 status very difficult whereas before one could simply ask for it when crossing the border. So, until Sr. Janlyn receives this coveted religious worker status she is with us a “tourist” and can stay for up to 6 months at a time.

Because of schedules, aspirants coming, Christmas, etc. etc. she and I made a trip to Montreal November 16-19th in order to make it possible for Sister to continue staying with us. Why Montreal? Well, first it is due north of us, a trip straight up through New York. Also, we thought that we could use the help of St. so a pilgrimage to the Oratory of St. Joseph seemed like a good idea. We also wanted to thank him for providing the benefactors we needed to make our renovations possible.

Sr. Janlyn and I drove up on a beautiful fall day, leaving early in the morning before even the community was awake and arrived in Montreal about 7 hours later. Because Sr. Suzanne, with whom we were to stay would not be home until late afternoon we headed directly for the Oratory, made a quick visit and ate our brown bag lunch in the cafeteria. Our plan was to go to the 4:30 PM Mass but by 3:00 all we wanted to do was take a nap! So, we made our way to the Convent of St. Albert the Great which is just around the corner from the Oratory. This is the priory and provincial headquarters of the Friars. We were informed that Sr. Suzanne wasn’t back yet but

Page -12- would be shortly and were invited to go to the chapel. The chapel is very modern in style and full of colored windows. Not exactly our taste but our Lord was there and it was good to be with Him, pray our Office and just be silent.

Shortly after, Sr. Suzanne met us and brought us to her home which is just two houses from the Friars. Usually she has students boarding with her but this semester she doesn’t which made it possible for us to be here guests. After settling in we went out for supper and then came back to our home-away-from-home for a good night’s sleep!

The next day after Mass and Lauds with the Friars, we walked to the nearest Metro station (subway) to visit Notre Dame Basilica in Old Montreal. If you have ever been there you know how beautiful it is! We spent plenty of time there taking in the beauty, praying before the different shrines and made sure to light a candle before the side altar of Our Lady of the Rosary. At one point I went up to the communion rail and knelt in front of the sanctuary awed by how beautiful everything is and as I reflected on how this beauty was a testimony to the faith of the people of past generations suddenly I heard “click, click”. In a city that almost never sees religious in habits and young ones at that I realized that my presence at the front of the church was providing tourists with some great photos! As soon as I could I slipped away to the side altars!

A few hours later we walked along the St. Lawrence River toward the Notre-Dame-de-Bon- Secours Chapel which is the resting place of St. , foundress of the Congregation of Notre Dame and who built the original chapel which burned down in 1754. This chapel was built in 1771 directly over the foundation of the original chapel. Also buried there is Jeanne Le Ber, a recluse much beloved by the people of Montreal and who lived from 1662 to 1714. Her cause for is being promoted. For many years she lived in an anchorage behind the main altar of the original chapel. As a child I had learned the story of Jeanne Le Ber and Marguerite Bourgeoys because Jeanne Le Ber’s family had ransomed Lydia Longley, originally from Groton, MA who was carried off by the Indians and sold to the French. Two years later she became a Catholic and entered the Notre Dame Congregation. She is considered the first “American” born religious sister and according to archival material her father own land on which my parents’ house is built.

After being graciously told the story of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys and the history of the chapel by one of the Sisters on duty we headed to the Metro again to attend Daytime Prayer at the Sanctuary of the Blessed Sacrament which is run by the Monastic Community of Jerusalem. This community, made up of both Sisters and Brothers, sing the Office beautifully using the music of Fr. Andre Gouzes, OP. However, it was a long Office done almost entirely standing and seemed a combination of Sext, Readings and what have you. Finally, they exposed the Blessed Sacrament for adoration and shortly after, 2 weary and hungry Summit Dominicans made their way to the closest and reasonable priced place for sandwiches and coffee. Then it was on the Metro to home and a nap!

Page -13- Meanwhile, back home in Summit, Sr. Mary Martin was trying to contact Sr. Micheline, prioress of our monastery in Berthierville to make arrangements for us to come for a visit and stay over night. Originally, Sr. Janlyn didn’t think we could make the trip but the friars and Sr. Suzanne assured us that under normal traffic conditions the trip was a mere one hour north. By this time, we were feeling like fish out of water and anxious to be back in a monastery!

In the afternoon Sr. Janlyn and I went back to St. Joseph’s to continue visiting the crypt, votive chapel, museums, etc. What should have been a five minute trip was, because of rush hour and crazy traffic patterns, a good 40 minutes as we seemed to circle around and around the Oratory. We had brought Sr. Maureen’s GPS (named “Gypsy”) along and every time we made a wrong turn Gypsy would admonish us to “make a legal u-turn at the earliest possibility.” Finally, Sr. Janlyn couldn’t take it any longer and retorted, “Well, you try that in this traffic!”

Every time the GPS would announce “Chemin Queen Mary” or “Cote St.-Catherine” or “Cote des Neiges” we would fall into spasms of laughter at her pronunciation! What is fascinating about the Quebec Province is that one is invoking the nearly all day as with few exceptions all the streets are named after them.

We finally got to the Oratory and finished our pilgrimage, making sure to light our candles at St. Joseph’s shrine. I opted to light mine at the main shrine that is over Bl. Andre’s tomb. They allow pilgrims to walk up the narrow stairway of the huge bank of candles and so I did wanting my candle to be right up there near St. Joseph. On the way down I realized that unless I pulled my veil over my shoulder it could very easily catch fire on one of the many candles on either side!

The next morning, after Mass and Lauds with the Brethren we drove up to the monastery in Berthierville. Traffic going out of the city even in mid-morning wasn’t great but we arrived in a little over an hour, easily finding the monastery in this rural area along the St. Lawrence River. We were welcomed with great exclamations of enthusiasm in French and English and immediately felt right at home! Sr. Micheline insisted we take a nap before dinner and we didn’t protest. After dinner Sr. Marie du Sacre Coeur (Sr. Mary of the Sacred from Langley) showed us around the beautiful cloister garden and later Sr. Micheline joined us and showed us around their beautiful and huge monastery!

We joined them for Vespers. The Sisters singing, under the direction of Sr. Julie is beautiful! They mostly use Fr. Andre Gouzes’ music and the psalms are sung chantress to choir with the choir singing the verse in 2 parts. After supper we had recreation in their community room where there is a big circle of rocking chairs! My grandmother was French-Canadian and always had to have a rocking chair, something I missed when I joined the monastery. You can be sure I enjoyed not just the rocking chair but the Sisters’ company. Mostly everyone spoke in French but a few sisters had pity on me and spoke in English. Although I grew up in a bilingual home from the time I was

Page -14- five years old I never could seem to learn more than a few phrases of French and while I could understand some it’s been nearly 20 years and I’ve forgotten most of what I knew.

Sadly, the next morning Sr. Janlyn and I had to rush out after Mass in order to catch the 9:30 ferry across the St. Lawrence River. We loved every moment with our Sisters and are happy that we could visit them as they almost never get visits from the other monasteries since Bethierville isn’t on the way to well, anything!

We thought that this trip was in order to allow Sr. Janlyn more time as she awaits her immigration status but on reflecting while it was that it was so much more. Most of all it provided the opportunity to strengthen the sisterly bonds of the monasteries of the Association.

Second, every where we went people expressed joy at seeing us. Some waved as we walked by like the men at the horse and buggies in Old Montreal. Some smiled at us as we walked by. The people working the ferry smiled every time they walked by our car as we crossed the river and one of the men made exaggerated gestures of respect with a big smile as he motioned us to start moving off the ferry. One young man immediately offered me his seat on the metro much to the amazement of Sr. Janlyn (who had to stand). I returned the favor by praying a few decades of the Rosary for him as we waited for our stop. I felt very sneaky!

At the US border Sr. Janlyn and I were rather nervous. We prayed the Memorare, asking the help of our Lady, St. Joseph and Bl. Andre. They were watching over us because we got through with absolutely no trouble and the only question Sr. Janlyn was asked was if she was a novice! Handing us back our passports and a “thank you” we returned to the USA and hours and hours of driving later arrived at the monastery around 7PM grateful for all the graces of our trip and even more grateful to be back home in the monastery!

* * * * * * * * * * * News from Farmington Hills September 18, 2009 was a wonderfully happy day for our community and for our Sister Mary Gratia, our brave novice from Japan as she made her First Profession of Vows in our chapel. Being so far away from home there were no family members who could be present, but many invitations were sent out and there was a large gathering of friends who shared her Mass, the reception and especially her joy. Cardinal Edmund Szoka, former Archbishop of the Detroit Archdiocese was the main celebrant of the Mass and gave a fine homily. To quote a bit: “To the outsider, contemplative cloistered life may seem in many respects to be idyllic. It may seem to be a very simple, peaceful, tranquil life. It surely does have these qualities, but they come at a price…” We thank Sister Mary Gratia for her offering, her gift of herself.

Page -15- October 17, 2009 saw the formal erection in Langley, BC, Canada of the Monastery of Dominican Nuns - Queen of Peace Monastery - with its sturdy band, grown now to 10 sisters. Their Archbishop, J. Michael Miller, O.S.B was the main celebrant of the Mass and graciously presided over the very special ceremonies of the day. Our Prioress, Sr. Mary Thomas, Sr. Mary Rose and Sr. Mary of the Compassion were with the community for that most blessed day, together with several other sisters from the Monasteries who have generously and graciously shared in many and various way in the establishing of this first Dominican Monastery in Western Canada. They have just purchased property and are very poor, but trusting completely in Divine Providence for the building of a new Monastery and the blossoming of so many high hopes.

November 14 we had a grand celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Profession of Sister Mary Thomas. Our chaplain, Fr. Santoro giving the opening introductions before the Mass began said: “Sr. Mary Thomas’ mother who died last year, her father and her brother Tom who also recently passed away, are surely in the front seats as we begin this celebration and they share abundantly in Sister’s joy.” Our Provincial, Very Rev. Michael Mascari, O.P. was the main Celebrant and homilist with several other priests who con-celebrated with him. Afterwards there was a large, happy gathering of friends who really enjoyed some great Polish food. In the cloister our Chapel and Refectory were beautifully decorated and we all had fun the next day in the various talent “take-offs” provided for our Prioress’ 50th!

On Sunday, November 22, Feast of Christ the King A Concert of Sacred Music was held for the Monastery’s benefit in our public Chapel, sponsored and hosted by outstanding friends who organized it completely. They had even advertised it on the radio. The music, musicians, and singers were of very high quality. There were Preludes by harp and violin. The many selections, about 13 of them (accompanied by piano, some by violin or harp) included the composers Mozart, J. S. Bach, Vivaldi, J. Massenet, the unforgettable “Pie Jesus” by A. L. Webber, sung by a splendid soprano, Elizabeth Mihalo, “He Shall Feed His Flock” by Handel, Gounod and concluded by a glorious organ and voices of the full assembly of us present singing Beethoven’s “Hymn to Joy.” The youngest performer, a most gifted violinst, little Katie Sesi, 9 years old received a great round of applause after her beautiful rendition of Vivaldi’s “Concerto in A Minor, 1st movement.” When Katie was later asked how many pieces she could play she thought for a few moments “Hmm… 5 in that book, 6 in that one… “49!” She has been studying and playing since she was 5 years old. The entire performance was truly a glorious praise of Christ the King and a special thrill and grace for all who experienced it. It was standing room only!

We now have eight sisters in our infirmary. They are holy and happy, but it is not always easy to grown old and be ill or bound to bed. Do pray for them.

Page -16- News from Menlo Park The big news from northern California is the addition of three postulants to our community. These fine young women are enriching our life with their enthusiasm, their joy, their fervor and their eagerness for the Dominican monastic life. Sister Mery, originally from Indonesia, has been living and working as an accountant in southern California. She entered on June 7, feast of Blesseds Diana and Cecilia. Two months later, on the feast of St. Dominic, Sister Louise began her life as a postulant. She is a teacher from the local Bay Area. October 1, feast of St. Therese of theChild Jesus brought the beginning of the postulancy of Sister Ruth. Sister had been working as a Home Healthcare professional in the Chicago area before coming to California. Needless to say, they will be helpful in keeping their newly appointed Novice Mistress (Sr. Mary of the Sacred Heart) on her toes. In late January we look forward to recieving another postulant and an aspirant.

One of our local traditions is a Thanksgiving Poster Contest. In the days before Thanksgiving Day the Sisters each make a poster depicting one thing they are grateful for. It need not be the biggest or most important thing, but one item of the many for which she gives thanks. Any medium can be used and some Sister get very creative. There are poems, paintings, photos, computer work, cutouts, etc. We use these posters to decorate the community room for our Thanksgiving dinner and supper. In the evening we vote for the best poster and a prize is awarded to the winning artist. This year there were so many good ones that we had three winners: Sr. Mary of the Holy Family, Sr. Ruth, and Sr. Joseph Marie. At the end of our noon meal we each tell of one thing we are grateful for. After each Sister’s contribution we sing the following antiphon once, and at the end we sing it as a round.

We ask your continued prayers for our dear Sister Mary Assumpta who is beginning a new series

Page -17- of chemo therapy treatments. However through the intercession of Rose Hawthorne (Mother Alphonsa, OP) we are hoping for a miraculous cure. Sister is most grateful for your prayerful and loving support during this difficult time.

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Recommended Books for the Refectory * * * Catholic Literary Converts * * * Father Hartke: His Life and Legacy to the American Theater * * * The Scarlet and the Black: The True Story of Monsignor Hugh O Flaherty, Hero of the Vatican Underground * * * We Belong To The Land: The story of a Palestinian Israeli who lives for peace and reconciliation. By Elias Chacour

* * * * * * * * * * * His Birthday by Sr. Mary of the Holy Spirit - Menlo

You have had, my Jesus, some 2000 birthdays and more. I’ve grown up since I was born. But You are still the Babe just born. You have not grown old You are in my soul forever young.

Forever You, my Beloved, Are the ageless One That is why I, too, at almost 92, find I can be as a child -- my mind still young. And I, too, one day with You shall be ageless and eternal.

Page -18- O Babe of Bethlehem, I thank Your Father that He sent You here. And I have found each time Your Birthday comes around, I am closer to You. You give me more insight Into the Treasures of Your Life.

Will it be long or soon that I shall have my birthday thre with You? I know not, Lord. Only this I know – I wish to be ready for that journey – Yearning for You with a love through which I will run, not walk, into Your aarms. And ever be part of Your blest home.

“My” Jesus, Lord, You are my Joy – The Boy who grew up with me. You see, when I was twelve, I loved You most at twelve. When You were in the temple, talking to the doctors – But then, You died at 33. And I thought surely, I would die at 33 too.

But here I am, Lord, at almost 92. You have me here, still going. I trust, since I must remain ‘till the day you call me, I shall be through You each day, more holy.

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Page -19- Christmas Reflection by Sr. Maria Pia of the Eucharist - Bronx

Tell us, shepherds, what have you seen? Who has appeared on earth? We have seen a new born infant and a choir of Angels praising the Lord, Alleluia.

Praising the Lord... “Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare” “To Praise, To Bless, To Preach”. This is the life of the Order of Preachers, this is our life, this is our calling, to praise and to contemplate Him whom the Angels adore and praise. With praises in our heart and on our lips we bless those around us and in that way our words and actions become living unceasing preaching.

Praise is itself another theme for preaching because it helps to stress over and over again that the purpose of our lives here in this world and especially for us as the nuns of the Order of Preachers is to be people who praise our God night and day. Praise is for us the most appropriate form of prayer. It is like the light of heaven that illumines the darkness of our world.

Christmas is dominated by the light of God, his glory and visible manifestation is in the Divine Child. Because of the birth of Jesus our Savior we are called to know his light in our lives and bring that light to each other and to the world around us. It is a light which brings us joy and makes us more and more a people of light. It is as a people of light and joy, people who have the glory of God in our lives, that we respond to God by giving him praise and worship in all places and all times and especially when celebrating the Birthday of our Savior. In Jesus God’s grace is made visible to us. Just as the Angels praise God so too do we. As we praise God more and more for all the good things he has given to us so his praises will return to us by making our praises to grow. On this Christmas Eve as the heavenly host proclaim the glory of God and peace to the whole world, by celebrating Christmas we become a people who, like Mary the Mother of Jesus, ponder on what God has done and so constantly give God praises full of gratitude and of love.

We are called to be a people of light, joy and praise because we respond to the glory of God made visible in the Child Jesus.

We Praise, We Bless, We Preach him whom the Angels adore. Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth! To Him be glory forever. Amen!

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Page -20- Always by Sr. Mary Vincent - Farmington Hills

Always loving me Always seeking me Always present to me Always fullness Always kindness Always patience Always compassion Always justice Always mercy Always revealing Always transforming Always sanctifying Always overflowing Always cleansing Always healing Always listening Always embracing Always strengthening Always empowering Always guiding Always inspiring Always divinizing Always drawing Always coming anew Always carrying Always counseling Always consoling Always encouraging Always Mystery Always the same Always new Always different Always my life Always my friend Always my lover Always my spouse Always my beginning Always my way Always my destiny

Page -21- Always my Father Always my Savior Always my Sanctifier Always here Always there Always desiring me Always incredible Always beautiful Always giving Always forgiving Always abiding Always speaking (With or without words) Always living fully Always loving infinitely Always present totally Always God.

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Vocation Stories

INTRODUCTION by Sister Mary Rose, O.P. - Lufkin, TX

During the process of gathering stories for Vocation in Black and White, three monasteries contributed the largest volume. Since it was an association project, the decision was made to include only some of these accounts in the book so that the widest spectrum of monasteries possible might be represented and there would be no predominance of any one monastery. Some of the omitted stories were written for other publications and were thus shorter than those written directly for Vocation in Black and White or had a broader range than just that of initial discernment. Others are by Sisters who have already gone to their heavenly reward since the beginning of this project. However, all the accounts are delightful, and it seemed a shame not to share these tales of divine grace. Hence, the following collection. Thanks to all who have contributed!

Editor’s note: Since there are so many of these accounts and all of them are very interesting, we will publish a few of them in each of the coming editions of Association Sharings.

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Page -22- Sister Mary Imelda, O.P. Farmington Hills, MI

Ever since I was a young woman I wanted to be a sister. I admired the Sisters of St. Joseph that I saw at my parish of St. Joseph in Fort Edwards, New York. The problem was I knew that I didn’t want to teach. At that time, I didn’t know of any other kind of sisters. Eventually, I told my parish priests, Fr. Delaney and Fr. Morrisey, of my desire to give my life totally to God. Fr. Morrisey became my spiritual director. The Carmelites were the only Order of nuns dedicated to prayer that he knew of. We decided that I wouldn’t be a Carmelite because they were “discalced.” They wore sandals instead of shoes. And since I had recovered from polio, but still needed to wear a “built-up” shoe in order to walk, that wouldn’t do. Father and I didn’t know where God was leading me, but we continued to pray. Then one day Jane Burns, a friend and neighbor, needed transportation to the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse. The superior was going to interview her—to see if she had a vocation to their community. My sister, brother-in-law, and I drove Jane to the appointment. Before she went in I warned Jane not to say anything about my vocation. Jane agreed. After the interview, Jane called me in to see the superior. To my great amazement, the sister shook her finger at me most emphatically saying, “And you, you have a vocation, but not here. You should be in the contemplative life.” Then she gave me the name of the superior of the cloistered Dominican nuns in Albany, New York, and their address. Since this monastery was not too far from my home, I visited it twice with my sister and brother-in-law, as well as Fr. Delaney. Mother Mary of the Holy Ghost, after discussing everything with me, and getting the positive votes from her councillors, decided that I could enter. I had assured her that I could do everything but run! After all these years I still look back on that first day with great happiness. It has been a great blessing to me to be a cloistered Dominican nun.

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Sister Mary Emmanuel, O.P. Lufkin, TX

I’d gone through 11 grades of the local public school system, and my parents said they would help me through college: any college I chose, except the State University. Mother, a Baptist convert, said that every Catholic from our town who had gone there had fallen away from the Church. I told her that since I hadn’t gone to Catholic grade or high school, I would like to go to a Catholic college. I’d only heard of two that were comparatively close, and I chose Our Lady of the Lake, not knowing that it was listed as one of the best small colleges in the country—and that its tuition was four times higher than the other option. I wasn’t eligible for a scholarship since I didn’t take off scholastically until the middle of my junior year in high school, which ruined my grade-point average. So my dad took out a loan, using our car and all of our U.S. War Bonds as collateral. At college I met my mentor, Sister Elizabeth Anne. She impressed me right off: it seemed I could see right through her eyes into her soul, and I liked what I saw. For the next three years, she was my Dormitory Floor Prefect (a sister who lives on each floor of the dorm for the sole purpose of keeping order). We had a special relationship, in that I think she saw in me a latent

Page -23- religious vocation long before I did, although she never pushed it or even mentioned it. Sister was a professor of biology and let me use her office in the science building as my private hide-away. (She seldom used the office, as she did most of her work in the lab.) I didn’t do too well during my freshman year. It took me a while to get used to being away from home, and an even longer while to get used to the strangeness of the college curriculum and the schedule of classes. By junior year I had pulled myself together scholastically, but shortly before mid-terms I had an attack of acute appendicitis. I was in the hospital for a week, and in the college’s infirmary for another week. Because the instructors were kind enough to come and give them to me, I took some of my missed exams in the infirmary; the others I had to take as “make-up” tests, the kind you have to repeat if you fail the first time. During the second semester of junior year and still recovering from the appendicitis, I was working hard to make up the material I had missed during my illness. Then I got pleurisy. Afraid of landing back in the infirmary, I didn’t tell anyone: I was trying to tough it out. Lying on the bed in my room, my body wracked with pain, I looked at the crucifix on the wall and said, “Oh God, help me!” It wasn’t really a prayer; if I had been the swearing type, I’d have called it swearing. But now something happened apart from the misery to get my attention. Here I was in the dormitory of an all-girls college, and there were no men on campus; yet I distinctly heard a man’s voice say, “Jesus was crucified.” The moment I heard those words, all my pain vanished and I was completely well. I wanted to give Him my life in return. I knew that my parents were having a hard time paying off my medical bills and keeping up with the note at the bank, so I asked the sister in charge of Placement to keep an eye out for any job she thought I might be able to get without a diploma. But there was another reason that I felt I must leave college and start making it on my own: since my cure, the pull toward a religious vocation had become overwhelming. Having done some investigation, I found that one had to have a “dowry” to enter most religious orders. (A dowry is for the protection of the applicant should she decide to leave religious life.) This meant I needed a job more than ever. That spring a good position surfaced and when the gentleman came out to interview the applicants, I was one of two who were selected. Going to work for the Air Force as a Civil Servant, I was sent to “Code School” while the Secret Service ran a security check on me. At the end of six weeks I had finished all the curricula, and my security check didn’t take long either: I was only 19, had been nowhere, and committed no crimes. I was judged to be a “good security risk.” My field was cipher analysis for the United States Air Force Security Service (Top Secret). This was during the Korean conflict and the Berlin Blockade. The U.S. government agencies were being decentralized because of the fear of atomic attack, and all agencies were being duplicated. I worked at one of these duplications. Our Office of Analysis Division was responsible for the interception of all Soviet communications. All transmissions were in code, and my office figured out the code. We did it with our brains, a pencil, and some paper—this was the pre-computer era—and eventually we were able to reconstruct all their code books. We predicted when the code would change (every three to six months), and which code book they would use. This enabled us to provide precise information about the number, type and location of every aircraft in the Soviet 2nd Long Range Air Army. In order to be promoted and fulfill my job description, the Air Force also helped me to complete my education at night school and via correspondence. Every week of the two and a half years I worked, I sent most of my paycheck home to pay

Page -24- off my college debt to my folks. When I had paid them back for a major portion of their investment in me, I started a savings account, and once I had sufficient finances I turned in my resignation. Probably the hardest thing I have ever done was to turn in that Top Secret Security Badge and leave the base. I knew there could be no return to the job I loved, because henceforth I would be considered a poor security risk. And with the advent of computers, our job would soon be obsolete anyway. Now free, I could look into the different kinds of religious communities. I finally chose a contemplative Order of cloistered Dominican nuns, and entered the monastery at the age of 21. After my parents’ first visit, my mother told all her friends that I was “just like the Little Flower.” (This didn’t particularly thrill me, because I never saw myself as “the Little Flower.”) I have been here in the monastery ever since, and it certainly has not been a monotonous life—far from it! No two days are alike, and every day is a challenge.

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Sister Mary Aquinas of the Blessed Sacrament, O.P. Menlo Park, CA

As a young woman, I asked to join the group working with Catherine de Hueck Doherty at Madonna House in Canada. When the Baroness arrived for a visit she suggested that I wait a year. During that time I helped a Dominican pastor, Father Aquinas Norton, around the rectory in Portland, Oregon, in the parish of the Holy Rosary. Since I had worked in the family restaurant business, I easily slipped into place as Father's cook, housekeeper and parish assistant. Father Norton helped make arrangements for me to enter Corpus Christi Monastery in Menlo Park, California. Within three days, he asked if I was ready to leave. “Leave?” I said, “I have other things to do!” So he gave me a week. I was 31 at the time, so he had to get permission for me to enter the monastery since the cut off age was 32. After a week, he took me to the bus station and I traveled by bus to California. I met Fr. Norton’s cousin at the bus station in Oakland and she took me to Mass. Then she put me on the bus again. I had never seen or even thought of entering the monastery before the entrance date but I remembered that two or three weeks before my radical move, I saw a newspaper article that said a monastery should support itself and I told Father that I wouldn’t go to one anyway. Little did I know I would end up spending my life in one, which goes to show that God takes us where He wants us. Even though I had never thought of a contemplative vocation, God inspired me to say yes. I was very close to my brother and sister, who practically raised me after my parents passed away, so they got quite upset when I told them I would enter a monastery. They said they just didn’t want me to go to “prison.” But I have never regretted my decision. I applied as an extern sister, but when I arrived at the monastery I felt I wanted to be inside. So before my clothing day the sister had to make a new habit for me. Fr. Norton remained close to me and the nuns, and he was

Page -25- present at the monastery for all of my special events. I later found out that he is very attached to the Dominican life and the nuns. He even said his first Mass at Corpus Christi Monastery. Before Vatican II I was one of the lay sisters, but one Christmas Eve we were told we would have to change to Choir sisters. So there went the black scapular. There were a lot of changes: new challenges and new things to learn such as saying the Divine Office. In my experience of Dominican monastic life, I find that peace of soul which is the fruit of a life of prayer and the act of abandonment to Divine Providence. When we give ourselves to the Lord in total surrender, he embraces us in His tender love, providing all that we really need in this life. I have special devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and spend many hours adoring our Eucharistic Lord. In the monastery I have filled many positions including milking the cows in the days when the monastery had a small farm, baking the altar breads in the days when we still baked our own breads, and of course, my first love and greatest talent—cooking. We used to have a lot of fun in the old days growing and preparing our own food—corn, string beans, zucchini—and all the activities not only kept us busy but also drew us closer together. That is what I love about Dominican life—the family spirit—we love and help one another. It is the drawing card that kept us together. Two gems of advice I received from older Sisters have supported me through the years: “You don't leave yourself at the door when you enter, you bring yourself in with you,” and “Don't compare yourself with anyone else but be yourself.”

Note: Sister Mary Aquinas joined our foundation in Heaven on September 16, 2006.

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Sister Mary Margaret, O.P. Farmington Hills, MI

I’m from Covington, Kentucky. My father was raised on a farm, but gave up the farm to become a stationery engineer and drove a steam engine for road construction. The steam affected his lungs and he had to return to the farm, but it was too late and he died in a short time. That left my mother with five children, two boys and three girls. I was 6. Then we moved back to the city. I went to Catholic schools and I remember that one day in the 6th grade the sister told the class, “God made you for a purpose and you can fit into that plan if you choose what He has in mind for you. You should pray every day that you see what He plans for you.” I never forgot this and prayed a Hail Mary every day. When I knew what my vocation was I changed the intention to that I would accept my vocation and be faithful to it. I learned from a friend about the Dominicans on Madison Road in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I thought to myself: “That’s the last place I want to go!” But then came a small voice: “That’s what I want.” So I went! But first, because my mother was living on a shoestring with us five children I worked for four years to help my family through difficult times. They were the war years. My older brother was at first exempt from military service because he was needed for the support of the family, but then when I came of age, he enlisted. At that time, I was unacquainted with the Dominican Order and Dominican life, but “fell in love” with them immediately. The hand of God

Page -26- had been behind me forming me for His call. My mother told the Prioress, “I do not want to hold her back from her vocation any longer.” It was September 8, 1944 when I entered the Dominican Monastery of the Holy Name in Cincinnati, Ohio. I survived the initial challenges of homesickness and adjustment, received the habit, and made both professions. We had a large number in the novitiate, but eventually dearth of vocations forced the monastery to close. I transferred to the Monastery of St. Dominic in Newark, New Jersey, and my Dominican cloistered life went on until the vocation crisis also engulfed that monastery and the “still small voice” again said, “Come.” He is always the focus of my life and always in a Dominican setting.

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A Dominican born in land of St. Patrick Farmington Hills, MI

My vocation began in County Mayo, Ireland, when I was about 18. My sister, who was 5 years older than I, became a missionary sister of the Presentation Congregation. They serve the poor in Pakistan. I was still thinking about this when I left for the United States to look for work there. I had lots of cousins in the U.S. and I began working in a rectory in Chicago, Illinois. I picked up some literature in the rectory that described the life of the Dominican nuns in Detroit, Michigan. There were a number of other congregations that wanted me to join them, but from the moment I read the brochure I thought this is what I want. In two years I was in the monastery in Detroit. I was 25. I never changed my mind after that. One of the joys of my life is that God loves me so much and that I was able to give Him back some of that love and try to love others as He loved me. My motto is “Love one another as I have loved you.”

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Sister Mary of Jesus, O.P. Farmington Hills, MI

I was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1933. I always had a desire to be a religious as far back as I can remember. I entered the Monastery of St. Dominic on my 17th birthday, April 9, 1950. Being there for 53 years, I never expected that the Lord had other plans for where I would live! Things I especially love in our Dominican life: I have always had a love for Scripture. I love the Gospel of John the most! I loved the Office and I loved to study; study gives me light and courage, and easily passes into prayer. I loved the Order and the charism of truth.

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Page -27- Sister Mary Gemma of St. Dominic, OP Menlo Park, CA

I had no Damascus experience as a child or schoolgirl. But as a young adult, the Spirit sort of socked it to me—literally. However, I wasn’t ready and relegated it to the back burner. In short, I buried it. However, much later on I experienced a spiritual awakening, leading to a strong attraction for the contemplative life. Even so, I remained bewitched and entranced by the world out there before taking action. A date was set for my entrance, but I wasn’t quite ready to make such a radical decision and I allowed 5 months to elapse before mustering the courage to arrange a firm date. Since the Eucharist is at the center of our monastic existence, one of the most beautiful elements of this life for me is the constant presence of a Dominican nun kneeling in Eucharistic adoration. The theological dimensions of the Eucharist are beyond the grasp of our intellect. By it, we are brought face to face with God in a way that is most personal, existential and totally real. It is the very heart of our life and the celebration of the Eucharist claims priority as the most important event in our monastic day. Some reflections on the Eucharist and the Banquet of Life to which we have all been called. There is no greater gift, no greater love. In the Eucharist we participate in the power and glory of our Risen Lord who has brought into the Trinity a part of our humanity that in Him can never be separated from the inner life of the Trinity. In our oneness with Jesus in the Eucharist, we are brought into the very heart of the Trinity. Our Lord comes to us in the fullness of His divine life even as our personal identity remains intact. Every reception of the Eucharist renews and strengthens this union and we enter into a new creation with the Risen Lord as we are further formed and grow into His own image and likeness. The Eucharist is also sacrifice, the ever-present sacrifice of Christ for us to the Father for our healing and redemption. He remains with us always. His Body and Blood has the awesome power to transform our hearts and to draw us more deeply into the divine life of the Trinity. Sharing in the divine nature, we are energized in the Presence of that tremendous life-giving love. As we are gradually transformed into the likeness of Christ we are filled with His deep peace and serene joy. His is the love we have been seeking all our live. I entered prior to Vatican II when religious life was more like a boot camp, highly structured, legalistic, with rigid adherence to minutiae including some customs and practices dating from the Middle Ages. Or so it seemed. Thus I welcomed and greatly appreciated John XXIII’s divinely inspired call for aggiornamento and Vatican II when the Church received a gracious and vibrant outpouring of the Spirit and which, when coupled with the findings of modern psychology drastically revolutionized the era and instigated a shift from excessive authoritarianism toward a more democratic spirit. Vatican II paved the way for opportunities for theological study and lectio divina, providing a rich feast for mind and spirit. God is a reality not only to be believed in, but to be explored, and this exploration is our deepest joy. For God is an inestimable Treasure, a Lover to be pursued, and in Him alone is to be found the fulfillment of all we are. Moreover, this God is a Person, the Tremendous Lover, the infinitely fascinating Person. He holds the world in His Heart and through this Heart we are one with all mankind impacting the world through Christ. Likewise,

Page -28- united with the Church through the Liturgy of the Hours with its cycles, season, and feasts, we become on in prayer, praise, worship and supplication on behalf of all mankind, and the reverberations are global. To conclude with a quote from St. Augustine: To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; to seek Him, the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement.

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To be continued in the next issue of Association Sharings

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We hope to publish again around Easter, but don’t wait until things get busy in Holy Week to send your material. I can take it any time, preferrably in electronic format. Pictures are welcome too.

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