Passionist Nuns of St. Joseph Monastery

 Passionist Nuns of St. Joseph Monastery

IRL:  Passionist Nuns of St. Joseph Monastery

"Now He dwells with Him Who was

His Indweller here,

And He casts that Fire on earth

Wonderfully near."

Sr. Mariam of the Holy Spirit

Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, 1771;  cloistered, contemplative, monastic -

It is very difficult to fit Religious Orders into neat boxes - your guess is probably as good as mine as to what an order is like who is both cloistered and monastic.  Sorry, I'm not that smart.

I was quite struck by the following sentence, and after my years of writing about these things, I think this says it well:
"The contemplative vocation can be judged truly only through the eyes of God."

We can talk and talk about religious calling, but in the end this is (excuse my phrasing), a God Thing. It is between you and God - for the Church and for the world.  Back to the sisters ...

Christ is always young in the heart of a Contemplative!

The monastic charism is not one of pure solitude. It is a charism of communion with one another.

Their habit is wonderful - note this: Passionist Nuns have never had a long scapular as part of our habit, nor the “gimp” as part of our head gear.  Because there is very little material used in making our simple habits, this is one form of our poverty.  We do not own individual coats, jackets or boots.  There are several common coat closets in the monastery where coats of various sizes are hung.  A Sister goes there to get a coat when she needs one.  At the first profession of vows, the passionist emblem is given -

Here they are in 1946, looking very similar to today!

The Center of their Passion:

"We who are called in the Church to make a vow to live and promote devotion to the Sacred Passion of Jesus, continually cherish and honor the living memorial of His Passion in the Holy Eucharist. Memorial in this case means not just a memory of an event that took place 2000 years ago, but the presence of what is called to mind. We truly do experience the Eucharistic 'amazement' that Pope John Paul II spoke of, as we study and pray the Church’s teaching about this Sacrament of Christ’s love, as well as in our communal and personal prayer before His 'Eucharistic Face.'"

The Way of the Cross is also very much a part of their daily living and praying and being with God.

Spirituality: Mary, Mother of God; St. Paul of the Cross

Devotions: Divine Office 7X day communal; Friday exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; Way of the Cross Friday communal and daily individually;

Apostolates: Prayer and more prayer, pro-life, retreats, apologetics

Locations: Kentucky, and internationally

Ages upon entrance:  18-35

Belated vocations?  No

# of professed nuns:  14 or so

Blog: In the Shadow of His Wings

Their gift shop: Have you ever lost your rosary? I have, so many times I cannot bear to reveal this to you. Buy a rosary case. That's what I'm going to do.

Note:  Had a request to write about Passionist nuns, and I thought to myself - surely I have posted something about them.  But no!  So here they are.

Ya'll know I'm not absent minded. Oh no.

General info:

John Mary, C.P. Vocation Contact 

 8564 Crisp Rd Whitesville, KY 42378-9782

Vocation email address:

 vocations@passionistnuns.org

Dominican Sisters in Catonsville, Maryland - Information Please

Received the following email - 


Seeking information about the now closed, cloistered, Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary who resided on Maiden Choice Lane in the Catonsville, Maryland area. I am doing some work recording the 26 burials in the grave yard. If you can point me to any information source on this order I'd appreciate it. Thank You.

Jerry Harlowe / Catonsville, Md. / Historian for St. Paul's Catholic Church, Ellicott City, Md.

If you can help Jerry out, reply at 
pleiku1168@yahoo.com

Eastern Catholics - Basilian Contemplative Nuns

Yes, they are real Catholics, very ancient, very true, absolutely valuable to the Church!!!!!  Do you love icons?  They got 'em.  They are among my very favorite religious figures to meditate on.  Very helpful, if you've never done so.

I just haven't gotten around to writing about them (other Catholics), because I can't get through all the Latin Rite ones.  My bad.

Basilian Contemplative Nuns

Can't write a whole post about them now, but if you are an Eastern Catholic, do check them out. 

You may see my pitiful attempt to find all the sorts of Catholics there are in my series, Catholic who were cool, way before I was born.  I thought it was a catchy title.  Lol.

Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters - Visit Them!!!

Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters
Mount Grace Convent
St. Louis, Missouri

Are you considering a vocation to the cloistered life?
Would you like to learn more about us?

Vocation Discernment Day
October 15, 2011
for young women ages 17 to 35

Schedule:
Begins at 9:00am
Holy Mass at 11:00am
Fr. Chris Martin, Director of Vocations for Archdiocese of St. Louis
Lunch provided
Evening Prayer with Benediction at 5:00pm
Conclusion

Accommodations are available.
Please RSVP by October 2
(314) 381-2654
holyspiritvocations@gmail.com

PS (my comment) - also called the Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration

Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara, Edith Stein Monastery

Revised June 2011

Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara
Edith Stein Monastery

Cloistered; founded  1988, a diocesan community
Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara (CMSWR)

They consecrate their lives for the whole Church, represented in  the person of the Holy Father; for the perseverance of all priests,   and for the increase and sanctification of vocations. "Sharing in the  missionary charism of our Religious Family, each  monastery also has a  particular prayer intention toward which they focus  their prayers and  sacrifices."

"We spend most of the day in the Chapel singing God’s praises in the name of the whole Church."

Charitable website: SSVM ONLUS

Their new vocation website - just in Italian so far.

The Religious Family of the Incarnate Word - their brothers in action, and anyone else who wants to get involved.

They were founded to heed to call of John Paul II in the “evangelization of the culture. We seek to inculturate the Gospel in the various cultures so that they can be redeemed.”

Our Religious Habit
The habit of the Servants includes:
• a grey tunic
• a blue scapular
• a blue veil for professed sisters
• a white veil for novice sisters
• the cross of Matará
• a wedding ring for the perpetually professed


"We  also make a fourth Vow of Marian slavery according to the method  of St.  Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort, thus entrusting ourselves  entirely to  the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother and model."

Everything through Jesus and through Mary;
with Jesus and with Mary;
in Jesus and in Mary;
for Jesus and for Mary.
In short, simply: Jesus and Mary, Mary and Jesus.
And through Christ, to the Father, in the Holy Spirit.

If you have found fourth vows confusing (they are not uncommon), a really good explanation can be found on their page 'Marian Vow'.


This particular monastery was founded in 1998, and their their particular prayer intentions are:   that all men and women may come to the knowledge     of  the One and True God, for the philosophy and theology students of  our  Religious Family, and for the apostolate of our sisters in Asia

Locations:   Edith Stein Monastery, Brooklyn NY  and internationally

Apostolate:  Prayer - Primary

Spirituality: 
St. Thomas Aquinas and others - their  constitution was written with the  influence of many saints. Ignatian  formation, Our Lady of Luján, St.  Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort

Devotions:  Divine Office - sung, 30 min. of spiritual reading a day, 45 min. for Scripture meditation, 1 hour to other religious study, Rosary daily in community, Saturday Litanies in honor of the Blessed Mother,
processions and prayer services on the special solemnities dedicated to Mary, Holy Hour (once daily), Silence - Grand

- To look at their schedule -

Email contact for the monastery: 
mon.edithstein@servidoras.org

Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara

Revised Version:  June 2011

Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara
Active; founded  1988, a diocesan community

Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara (CMSWR)

The contemplative branch can be found at Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara

Charitable website: SSVM ONLUS

Their new vocation website - just in Italian so far.

The Religious Family of the Incarnate Word - their brothers in action, and anyone else who wants to get involved.

They were founded to heed to call of John Paul II in the “evangelization of the culture. We seek to inculturate the Gospel in the various cultures so that they can be redeemed.”


"We  also make a fourth Vow of Marian slavery according to the method of St.  Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort, thus entrusting ourselves entirely to  the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother and model."

Everything through Jesus and through Mary;
with Jesus and with Mary;
in Jesus and in Mary;
for Jesus and for Mary.
In short, simply: Jesus and Mary, Mary and Jesus.
And through Christ, to the Father, in the Holy Spirit.

If you have found fourth vows confusing (they are not uncommon), a really good explanation can be found on their page 'Marian Vow'.

Their work in evangelizing is very broad, and encompasses:

• 
  studying and teaching the Holy  Scriptures, Theology, the Church Fathers, Liturgy, Catechesis,  Ecumenism, etc;  
• 
  the achievement of mission   outreaches, Spiritual Exercises, education and Christian formation  of  children and young people, and also works of charity with the  most  needy (abandoned children, the handicapped, the sick, the  elderly);  
• the search and formation of suitable ministers of the Word,  in the  publication of magazines, treatises, books, etc. By the oral  and  written word we want to prolong the Word."  
• 
  are God's instruments in the   struggle to maintain the sanctity of life through active assistance  in  pro-life outreach programs;  
• give testimony to the faith by means of Christian charity,   fostering the unity and the respect of other religions through  prayer  and dialogue.

“Our  habit symbolizes the Incarnation of the Word...”  The grey represents  the humanity of Christ, while the Blue represents the Divinity of  Christ. We always wear our habit, it helps us to remember our  consecration as well as helps others to be reminded of it.”



Spirituality: St. Thomas Aquinas and others - their  constitution was written with the influence of many saints. Ignatian  formation, Our Lady of Luján, St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort



Devotions:   Holy Hour (daily), Divine Office in community (morning, evening, and  night), Rosary (daily), Angelus, confession (weekly), private and  devotional prayer

Apostolates:
A great deal of foreign mission work, including in Russia; mission work at the parish and diocesan level
Evangelization/Catechism
Education
Healthcare
Childcare
Care for the Elderly
Prayer
Parish and sacristy work
Youth ministry
Works of mercy 
Pro-life activities
Publishing:  Theological IVE Press and Philosophical Cornelio Fabro



Locations:
California:  Santa Clara
Connecticut:  Bridgeport
Maryland
New York:  New York City (house of formation), Immactulate Conception Provincial House East Harlem, St. Elizabeth Seton Brooklyn, St. Francis Xavier Brooklyn, Community St. Rose Duchene East Harlem, 
Pennsylvania:  Community Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Avondale; Community St. Katharine Drexel Philidelphia
Washington, DC:  Community Immaculate Heart of Mary Juniorate House; Community of Blessed Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad


#Professed sisters: 47 in 2010, 37 temporary professed (USA).  Worldwide 399 perpetual professed and 333 temporary professed.  The numbers would be higher now, of course.  This information came to me from an interested correspondent. 
Entrance ages: 18+
Belated vocations? Unknown

Contact emails for the United States:
Mother Maria Lumen Christi Fitzharris
m.lumen@servidoras.org

AND

Sister Maria Aeiparthenos Berry
nov.kateritekakwitha@servidoras.org

They also have an aspirancy program, which allows girls under the age of 18 to discern with them, but obviously cannot become a postulant until the canonical age of 18.

Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration

Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (Pennsylvania) also know as the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, or the Pink Sisters.  However, should they have to leave enclosure (such as for medical reasons), they wear a gray habit instead of the rose. 

The Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (Mount Grace Convent, Missouri)

The Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (Nebraska)

Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (Institute on Religious Life)

Cloistered; founded 1896

A contemplative community with perpetual adoration.  "A life lived with Him, in Him and through Him!"

International web site, with photos of all their Eucharistic Thrones around the world. 

Divine Word Missionaries (their brother organization). 

There is a rule of silence, but not a vow of silence.  Sisters are not unmindful of the happenings in the world, and can read newspapers, as well as watch television of a religious nature.  There are two recreation periods a day, either inside or outside (depending on the weather).  Their support comes from individuals who ask for their prayers.

I would recommend "Are you being called?" from their website.  It is one of the better essays I have seen on the subject.

"The third person of the Blessed Trinity receives a prominent place in our life of faith and in our piety. It is the love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit that allows us to respond and be faithful to our vocation. Our Founder gave us a rose-colored habit as a reminder of the ardent love of the Holy Spirit, and we celebrate the solemnity of Pentecost as the titular feast of our Congregation. It is also our tradition to celebrate the third Monday of each month as a day on which we vividly recall our relationship and duties to the Holy Spirit."

"The betrothal ring that we receive at perpetual profession of vows bears a symbol of the Holy Spirit and the inscription "Ave Sponse Coelestis" (Hail, Heavenly Spouse)."

“Let us praise the entire Most Holy Trinity,
and especially that blessed, third Person,
through whom, in the language of the saints,
the great God kisses us with the kiss of holy creator,
fatherly and even spousal love,
as He gives Himself totally to us in sanctifying grace.”
St. Arnold Janssen (their founder)

From one of their websites, I was intrigued with one the reasons to join their congregation:  a "Missionary Life".  However, if you believe in prayer, then you know this must be true.  They go on to say:  "You may never leave the States, but your prayers and concern will. The passion of your life is that Christ be known by all nations."

"In prayer before the Eucharistic Throne, we bring to the Triune God the special intentions of evangelization, the sanctification of priests and the needs recommended to us."

"Our cloistered life centers on the Eucharist. From dawn to dusk and all through the hours of the night, we together with our fellow-sisters around the world, take turns kneeling in adoration before our Eucharistic Lord, keeping prayerful vigil on behalf of the entire world."

Locations:  Pennsylvania, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, and internationally.

Apostolates: Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; prayer for priests; prayer for evangelization

Devotions: Divine Office (sung in choir); Meditation; Perpetual Adoration, about one hour a day per sister; one hour of personal prayer and spiritual reading daily; Chaplet of Divine Mercy; God in the Person of the Holy Spirit; St. Arnold Janssen

# of professed:  24 each in the Missouri and Pennsylvania convent, 8 each in Corpus Christi and Lincoln; internationally about 420 in 10 countries.

Ages upon entrance: 20-35 years of age.
Belated vocations:  Yes, on a case by case basis

A 2006 article appeared about them in St. Louis Magazine, Inside the Enclosure.

Their blog:  How Wonderful are your works, O Lord (or Adoramus Te, Domine!, depending on whether you are looking at the title as seen or as given by my blog listing widget!!!).  Either way, nice name.

Mount Grace's web page lists a link to the CMSWR, but as they are not an active order, as well their  Mother General resides in another country, they are not members.  However, they support the work of this organization.  

Sigh.  I hope I haven't left anything terribly important out.  Let me know!

As usual, the statement above is true.  Thanks to Sr. Mary Rebecca for your very prompt and courteous help.

Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart

Franciscan Missionaries Sisters of the Sacred Heart - CMSWR

Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart - main website

Founded 1861; Active

Abbreviation:  FMSC

Always ready to minister joyfully and remaining faithful to our littleness we carry the good news to all God’s people especially the elderly, poor, sick and the abandoned.

Our missionary spirit and charism is expressed in the constant and universal promotion of peace and good. As Franciscan Missionaries of the Sacred Heart our diverse ministries reflect the redemptive love of Christ and His divine plan.


In our ministries we walk in the footsteps of St. Francis who followed Christ by bowing before the suffering lepers.

I don't know if these sisters engage in every possible ministry, but the list is impressive:

Early Education
Elementary Education
Secondary Education
Spiritual Retreats
Pastoral Ministry
Pastoral Care Ministry
Catechesis
Franciscan Prayer Groups
AIDS/HIV Ministry
Prison Ministry
Social Ministry
Pro- Life Ministry
Ministry to Sick
Human Concerns Ministry for the poor
-Food Bank
-Clothing Closet
Homeless Family Shelter Ministry
Health and Dental Clinic
Immigration Support
Elder Care
Social Justice

What I'm going to put when I need to label this for the auxillary "by Apostolate" page to this blog I can't say right this moment.  Um!

Back to the sisters:
Everywhere and in each place, and every season and each day,
the brothers and sisters are to have a true and humble faith,
From the depths of their inner life,
let them love,
honor, adore, serve, praise,
bless, and glorify our
most high and eternal God.”
(TOR Rule #9)

Remembering that Christ calls all of his followers to be missionaries and as Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart following in the Spirit and footsteps and of Francis and Clare of Assisi we invite you to join us in our journey as we “Go out into the whole world: proclaim the Good News to all creation." (Mk 16:15)

Spirituality:  Franciscan TOR, Servant of God Fr. Gregorio Fioravanti OFM

Locations:  New York, New Jersey, Internationally in at least 20 countries

Apostolates:  Good question.  What don't they do?  See list above.

Devotions:  I'm trying to find out.  

# of sisters: No idea.  But their presence in so many countries makes me believe they are a large organization. 

Ages of entrance: 18-60  (Yes, that's what it said!)  Neat, huh?

Note:  The pictures on the US website were such that I would have to cut and paste.  I went to their Italian website, which has photos from every continent - some of the pictures may be sisters in other countries.

You know I shouldn't mention this, but at least one of their communities has a dog, and I favor such.  Also, they have an entire section on prayers for blessing animals.  You have to like this order - well, I have to.