My friends,

I just got of the telephone with Sr. Rose of St.Mary. The Council voted yesterday and the will allow me to make the Aspirancy

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. This is the first open door I had in about 20 yrs. I am so excited

God has given me a wonderful Christmas gift. Blessed be the Lord and Praise be His Most Holy Name. Alleluia.

DonnaMarie

Congrats hon!! Iam so happy for you! When do you leave to make your aspirancy?

In JMJ

It couldn't have happened to a more compassionate heart.

Congrats!

Please let us know the details when you get them.

You made our Christmas! Many blessings and prayers!!
Allicemary

Alleluia!!!!!!

Awesome! Thanks be to God!

Awesome indeed. I am so happy for you, passionheart. We are both Dominican nuns "in potentia" as the Summit nuns would say! May God bless you during your aspirancy and draw you closer to Himself. May Our Mother keep you in love of Him.

Thank you for the well wishes. I have to work tomorrow but I am having a hard time going to bed at this moment.

I am thinking about going in Feb. So I have to look at the work schedule as well as any obligations I may have in the New Year. I told Sister I would be in touch with them soon. Funny, I thought I would handle this news either way very peaceful and calm. Instead, I am doing the dance I am off next week so I will be spending the time going through the application forms and working on my spiritual autobiography.

So another door has opened and I will walk through this door with our Beloved. I am not racing ahead of Him trying see what might come afterwards, nope, I am letting the Lord BE Lord of my life now. In this I have peace.

DM

It sounds like you are in the right frame of mind!

God bless you,
Jenny

How wonderful! Congratulations!

DonnaMarie,

I'll be there for Midnight Mass!

I'm so happy for you!

What great Sisters!

When will you begin aspirancy?

- Brendan

Congrats! I'm another proud member of the Dominican Aspirants Club, although at the Summit Monastery. I leave for my aspirancy Jan. 5th and get back on the 24th, so I'll have lots of stories to share!


One of the nuns at the Visitation Monastery in Tyringham had some very good advice

"Sr. Miriam Rose recommended to me to think of the monastery and its inhabitants as a whole new country (or planet, even) where the culture is totally different. The people dress differently, they talk a different language. Their customs and traditions are all new and must be studied and learned"

The section on their website called Novitiate Notes that has lots of tips on adjusting to the monastic life.

Good luck with everything and let us know how it goes!

Donna Marie,

There was a joke floating around. My nephew came over last night and my brother came to pick him up, we were all tired, and I was laying in bed Brandon (my brother) comes in, and starts talking to his son and he was like:

"Its your aunties friends birthday on Sunday! A very special friend!" then I muttered under my breath: "And also my future spouse!" Then my mom commented on saying, "You mean...He is going to be my son-in-law?! I'll be saying guess who my son-in-law is? And people will be like who?"

Donna Marie... so many congratulations. What a blessing and an opportunity this is for you. Many prayers for you on this journey.

Apparently, in the biography of St. Catherine of Siena by Blessed Raymond Capua, Catherine's father made the same comment. Catherine had said to forget about a marriage for her because she had given herself to Jesus. Catherine's father realizing that this was his daughter's conviction, made a comment about what better son-law could he have in his family.

I am SO happy for you! Know that we'll be praying for you. Keep us updated as to how it goes!

when are you beginning aspirancy donna?

Well, I spoke to my supervisor this week and if Sr. Rose agrees, I am looking at second week of February. This way I don't disrupt the office too much.

DM

hopefully i'll be able to meet you before you enter or when you leave. i'll be there for Mass tomorrow morning, and i'll keep you in my prayers.

Thanks for the prayers Brendan because I need them. I started to get a little crazy this evening thinking about the time with good sisters. I had the sudden realization that this is REAL!!!!!! and AM I CRAZY to be considering this????

I wrote to a friend who is a Trappist monk and writing to him helped me calm down. Never thought I would start out 2006 really discerning a vocation. Nope, I was just getting to the No's and I think I was abandoning hope.

Well like I said to a friend this afternoon I didn't do much in regards to my meeting with these good sisters. All I did was write Sr. Rose and everything went on from there. My friend said "You see God said "Finally, she surrendered and now I can work!"

I think she is right!

Blessings for the New Year!!!

DM

Donnamarie,

Don't be silly!

Of course you have doubts. Of course you're getting cold feet. Of course you're scared.

Show me a bride to be who doesn't experience the same emotions and I'll show you somebody without emotions.

fwiw, Sr. Lauren experienced some of these same emotions. A few days before her entrance she started doubting her decision to enter 'so early'. She was frightened. It's totally natural.

And now? Now she is the happiest that I've ever seen her. The separation has been difficult but she KNOWS that she is where she belongs and she has expressed on many occasions in her letters how happy she is and how blessed she is.

This same happiness and blessedness awaits you.

Now go and grab it!!! (and keep us in your prayers)

Donna, i'll help any way i can.

can't wait to meet you- maybe in the parlor!

Happy New Year.

Ok Dad!!! but can't I have some moments of Silliness. Sometimes us older vocation types need to be immature sometimes

Buffalo's waiting for you Donna!

Happy New Year!

i hope to make a week's retreat in the chaplain's quarters or in the guesthouse during february, so i hope to see you! those nuns are awesome!

Then it will be a date!!!

I have the green light from my workplace so on Sunday I will speak to Rose of St. Mary to finalize all the details.

Blessings

DM

It's almost countdown time.

How exciting.

I guess you are right. I spoke to Sr. Rose of St. Mary today and I will be with them from Feb 12-March 3 or 4. So let the preparations begin!!

Peace,

DM

That's 35 days! Or like we said in the Army 34 days and a wakeup.

i look forward to seeing a fellow pm'er, especially one beginning religious life.

donna,

are you going to stay onto postulancy?

My friend, we see what will happen during the 3 weeks. If I do get a green light, I have to return to Canada and then come back. I couldn't stay.

DM

HI Everyone,

I am asking for prayers!!!

As you know I am spending Feb 12-March 3 to discern with the Dominican Nuns in Buffalo. I will be leaving Ottawa on Feb 11 and spend a night in Toronto then the following morning off to Buffalo.

The past week at my work has been very stressful and tough. So much so I thought about cancelling my trip to go down. However, in prayer and my through my friends I feel I am being to told to go!!

I spent Saturday in Poustinia at Madonna House and although, I wanted to cancel that as well, I am glad I went. I went exhausted and frustrated from work and the Lord in His kindness and mercy let me rest in Him, healed and strengthen me. So by His Grace I will go but I do ask for your prayers for this upcoming week.

Martha, a member of Madonna House told me she is not surprised at the week I had. She said I should expect adversity. As well, she said I should go or I am in trouble with her!!! I said I didn't see that in Catherine's Doherty "Little Mandate". She said read it in between the lines

Thanks so much for your support!!!

Donna-Marie

Donna-Marie,

Soooooo many prayers with you as your journey to Him takes you to Buffalo!!! Prayers for safe travel, peace of mind, and an open, courageous heart.

Prayers! The Nuns and I can't wait to see you!

Thanks Brendan for the well wishes!!

My friends I do ask for your prayers. I will be up all Friday night washing, packing and making sure all is well. My brother will drop me off at the train station on Saturday and I will begin my time in Buffalo.

As I said earlier the last two weeks at work have been so stressful that I was ready to call of my Aspirancy. Once again, the Lord showed me through a wonderful Dominican priest and my Poustinia at Madonna House that I have to surrender the situation to Him.

So the last two days, I surrender the office to God and I ask God to take care of the office since I am not its Messiah. By God's Mercy, things were better and the work I needed to finish is done. So now I am leaving with a peaceful heart.

Don't worry you will hear about when I return. May God bless you all for your generous loving prayers.

In His Peace,

DonnaMarie

Awesome Donna! Knwo of my prayers for you and those who visit my blog as well.