Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration announce merger of two communities CHARLOTTE — By the mandate of the Holy See, the nuns of St. Joseph Adoration Monastery, currently based at St. Ann Parish in Charlotte, will merge with the community of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Ala., under the leadership of Mother Dolores Marie. Both communities are part of the same religious order, the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, founded in 1854. The merger is expected to take place this fall. Our Lady of the Angels Monastery is known for its founding abbess, Mother Mary Angelica, who was also the foundress of the Eternal Word Television Network, EWTN. Mother Angelica has been in declining health since suffering a stroke in 2001. She was named Abbess Emerita for Life in 2009 by the Holy See and will continue to reside at the monastery in Hanceville. The six members of the Charlotte community will increase the membership of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery to 11 solemnly professed members, including Mother Angelica, in addition to those in formation. In 2010, the community of St. Joseph Monastery, then located in Portsmouth, Ohio, was invited to the Diocese of Charlotte by Bishop Peter Jugis. Over the past five years, the Poor Clares, in conjunction with the Te Deum Foundation, have acquired more than 500 acres in Cleveland County. A future monastery for the Poor Clares and a regional seminary have been planned for the site. The monastery building project will be placed on hold for now, but the Poor Clares will maintain their ownership of the property. According to Mother Dolores, “The Holy See hopes that this decision to merge the two communities will lead to a flourishing of vocations, that one day we may be able to send sisters back to build St. Joseph Adoration Monastery.” The nuns of St. Joseph Adoration Monastery find it difficult to leave this diocese which they have called their home, Mother Dolores said. They have found the Diocese of Charlotte to be a place where their cloistered, contemplative vocation could flourish and which was well supported by priests and laity alike, she said. She also said that they are very thankful for the many blessings they have received during their past five years in Charlotte. “Even though we will be separated by distance, we will continue to hold in our hearts and prayers all those we have had the privilege of meeting during our time here. We especially wish to thank Bishop Jugis, who so warmly invited us to the diocese and has been a tremendous support, along with the priests who have provided for our sacramental and spiritual life, our seminarians, as well as the many families and individuals who have prayed and provided for us in so many ways.” Bishop Peter Jugis expressed his heartfelt wishes for God’s continued blessings upon the Poor Clares: “The presence of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration and the joyful witness of their life of contemplative prayer for the Church and for the world, have been great blessings for all of us in the Diocese of Charlotte. The nuns have found a very special place in the hearts of the faithful of the diocese. We offer our humble prayers for God’s continued blessings upon the sisters, and we beg the Good Lord for a flourishing of religious vocations to this beautiful monastic community.” .