Hello to all of you! I know that I haven't been posting much lately, but I have been keeping up with the vocations board. As a couple of you know, I recently returned from pre-postulant week at the motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. Those five days were simply amazing-- pure blessing! I'm completely in love with the community and their life! It would be pretty hard to just explain it all, but I will do some. I'd love to answer any questions some of you might have! In short, I just can't wait to go back home to my sisters!!

Tell us what you did! If you need some questions to get started...I have a BUNCH! What did you? Where did you sleep? (Do they keep cloister for the sisters?) Did you have to wear anything special? Did you keep the whole schedule with the Sisters? Did you have meetings with the Mother and the Council? Did you have to have any tests (like psychological or medical?) Were you interviewed by the Novice Mistress? Did you get measured for your habit? Do you have a firm entrance date? Are you secretly hoping for a certain name? How do they do the names there? Do they let the Sisters submit three? Do they wear a wedding dress for their entrance? Do you have to bring a dowry? Do you have to pay for your own insurance in the beginning (medical)? Are the Sisters allowed home visits? How about letter writing? Do they call the Postulants by their Baptismal names with the title Sister in front?
I want to know EVERYTHING!
Congratulations!!
xoxox

Hey! wow time flies huh? I remember when Sr. Carly went for her pre-postulant week and now she's gonna be a novice! I also have some questions for ya.... how does the Motherhouse look? Are they almost done with the construction and new chapel? How many postulant will they have this year? What was the most suprising thing about their life? Are you almost done with your shopping for entrance? How is your family doing?

okay, that's all...I'm praying for ya!

First of all, I must say that FaustinaVianney was there and is entering as well!

...and Wow. Alrighty, here I go:


What did you do?
When we got to the motherhouse we made a visit to the chapel. Each of the pre-postulants had a postulant or novice to guide them and help them out. Our postuants/novices helped us to our cell and showed us around the motherhouse. My postulant was Sr. Camille.

Where did you sleep? (Do they keep cloister for the sisters?) The sleeping quarters, classrooms, recreation rooms, and I believe the sewing and laundry as well are cloistered. We were allowed in the cloister, however, which was a pretty cool experience. Some of the professed sisters moved out of thier cells while we were there, so we each had our own cell. There was not enough for everyone, though, so a couple young ladies slept upstairs in what they call 'the cenacle'.

Did you have to wear anything special? No, but we were told to bring only what we needed.

Did you keep the whole schedule with the Sisters? We kept the schedule with the novitiate, but the whole community rose an hour later (6 instead of 5) for our benefit. Because of this, there was less time than usual for the sisters to do their 'duties', so they often needed help from their pre-postulant. Sr. Camille's duty was to clean a certain hallway leading into the novitiate as well as the hall going to the laundry, and the laundry's folding room. Each of the pre-postulants were scheduled to help cook and serve meals at certain times, and wash dishes afterwards, too.

Did you have meetings with the Mother and the Council? No meetings with the council. We met with Sr. Joseph Andrew, the vocations director, one on one. We had a class with Mother.

Did you have to have any tests (like psychological or medical?)
That is part of the application process. I had to get psychological and medical forms filled out at home before I submitted my papers.

Were you interviewed by the Novice Mistress?
Sister John Mary was away that week, but Sr. Mary David, the postulant mistress, was there and did help us out with certain things. There weren't any individual interviews with her, though.

Did you get measured for your habit?
We will not start that until later in the postulant year, but we did get to try on some hand-me-down things from previous and current postulants. I am getting the postulant outfits of one of the current pre-postulants. :D

Do you have a firm entrance date? August 28th! :D

Are you secretly hoping for a certain name?
I think I need more time to think and pray about it. I want St. Catherine to be incorporated, but I would love to have Imelda, too. I think that Sr. Catherine Imelda might be too much of a mouthful, but I'm not sure. Imelda Marie is nice, but what about Catherine?? I have all of postulant year to think about it yet. Religious names are received when one becomes a novice. As a postulant your name is Sr. with your baptismal name.

How do they do the names there? Do they let the Sisters submit three?
Yes, when the sisters recieve their habits and become novices (like the current postulants will on August 6!!), they will have submitted three names to mother in order of preference. Mother calls each sister by the name she chooses. She could even choose a name that is not one of the three, but that is a rare occurance to my understanding.

Do they wear a wedding dress for their entrance? They do not. Their white habit is thier wedding dress, and they get to wear it for their whole life!

Do you have to bring a dowry? Yes, I bring a small dowry.

Do you have to pay for your own insurance in the beginning (medical)?
I have to provide my own insurance for the first three years, which is when I would take first vows.

Are the Sisters allowed home visits?
The sisters get a yearly home visit, except for the two years that they are novices. However, there are certain days when the sisters recieve visitors at the motherhouse, or can call home.

How about letter writing? I believe that the sisters write to immediate family on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, and to friends on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. I think that they can write more at Christmas. They can recieve as much mail as people send them!

Do they call the Postulants by their Baptismal names with the title Sister in front? yep!

Yes, time does fly! Sr. Mary John was getting ready to enter, and then Sr. Carly... now it's so exciting and humbling at the same time that it's my turn now!

The motherhouse looks wonderful. It is especially nice that they can fit everyone in the refectory and have enough cells for all of the sisters (for about a year, at least...). Construction is on-going, but the chapel was finished shortly before we arrived. There were over 30 priests con-celebrating with the bishop!

I'm not positive about the number of postulants for this year, but I believe there are thirteen right now.

The most surprising thing... I'll have to think about that a little.

I am almost done with shopping. there is only one book that I need, a black belt, my black shoes, a pair of galoshes, and some winter pajamas, which I am sewing.

My family is doing well. They have been supportive all along, and they continue to be wonderful!

I didn't realize they were cloistered. I guess I'm out of the loop hole.

How bout when I'm a priest, can I come visit and say mass?

That just all sounds so cool! Thank you for sharing with us! & prayers here too!

They are active-contemplative, so they are out in the world teaching and doing things, but are grounded in a deep prayer life and contemplative lifestyle. Certain parts of the motherhouse are cloistered, but not the whole thing. The sisters love thier priest friends. I'm sure you would be welcome!

Did you meet a prepostulant named Cathy?

Yes I did. She and I talked a bit before the week, too.

lol! HIYA Welcome back!!! Did you give SJAB my hug? Hahah. I am so happy you had fun!

I have been discerning with her for 2 years... I will be sad to see her go! But happy for her... you know what I mean...

Amanda!! Where have you been? I most certainly did give her your hug, and she was appreciative.





How wonderful that you had someone to discern with! I think I do know what you mean.

I've been hanging around, actually I just got back on phatmass lol, a few days ago.

How are the postulants doing? They are a great group of women and I look forward to seeing them again as novices.
I will keep you in my prayers as you prepare to enter.

Okay, if your still there, I have a few questions, I'm accually thinking of jioning them too!
1) Do all of the sisters teach, or get a chance too if they'd like?
2) How long are you a novice and a postulent?
3) How much money is needed for your dowry?
4)Are they gioning to expand out of Ann Arbor?
5) How many fully professed nuns are there?
6) Do they have a program for caring for the elderly nuns?
7) Are you going to be a teacher?
8) Do you need a colledge degree to join and be a teacher?
9) What sort of questions do they ask you when you are entering?
10) Do they accept everyone within the age limit?
11) If not, how do they chose?
God Bless, I hope you have a wonderful time as a nun

The current postulants are truly wonderful. They obviously know and love each other very well... and are alive with energy! I think they broke the record for sports injuries in one year...

The fourteen of them will recieve the habit on August 6. It will be amazing to see them in habit!! I will be really excited to see pictures, and start learning their names all over .

Thank-you so much for your prayers! Phatmassers will be in my prayers too.

Hello HeavenlyCalling, and welcome! I hope that God makes his will for you clear. Have you been to a retreat in Ann Arbor? God Bless you.

1) Do all of the sisters teach, or get a chance too if they'd like?
It's the normal course of action. Once the sisters take first vows they either begin college in order to get thier teaching certification, or begin teaching if they already have it. There are sisters who aren't teaching, such as Sr. Maria Gemma who works in the convent's office, or the couple of sisters who help the Sr. Joseph Andrew, the vocation director.

2) How long are you a novice and a postulent?
The postulancy lasts one year, and the novitiate is two years.

3) How much money is needed for your dowry?
The dowry is $500, but I will also need to provide money for stamps, stationary and school supplies, personal items/toiletries, any medical expenses for the first three years, and clothes for entrance into the novitiate.

4)Are they gioning to expand out of Ann Arbor?
Yes, and they already are! This fall sisters will be teaching at schools in Arizona and South Carolina.

5) How many fully professed nuns are there?
I count 35 on the picture in front of me, but there will be four more when Sr. Jude Andrew, Sr. Joseph Maria, Sr. Hyacinth, and Sr. Mary Grace make their first profession August 9.

6) Do they have a program for caring for the elderly nuns?
I dont' think they have any sisters in need of such a program right now, but I imagine that they will once the need arises.

7) Are you going to be a teacher?
I imagine so. I wasn't interested in teaching when I began discerning, but I am looking forward to it now.

8) Do you need a colledge degree to join and be a teacher?
The DSMME only require that entrants finish highschool or have a G.E.D. A teaching degree or education towards one would certainly be helpful, though.

9) What sort of questions do they ask you when you are entering?
I think that the one-on-one questions depend on the person and where she is at, but the entrance papers ask questions about family, health, background, education, and reasons for entering.

10) Do they accept everyone within the age limit?
11) If not, how do they chose?
Mother reviews the submitted entrace papers and makes a decision... with, I assume, the help of the vocation director.

Thank you very, very much for answering my questions, I just have two more ( I think. I would call the sisters but I live in NH, so I cant afford it, and our e-mial is down right now.) What sort of things do you need to bring with you when you enter, and could you elaborate on the education they recieve as a nun?
God Bless you and support you in your Heavenly Calling

Sorry, one more thing, this may sound weird. But, anyway, are the sisters allowed to swim?

I don't actually know the specific guidelines for DSSME. But my feeling is that they'd be along the lines of the Nashville OPs. Recent post about swimming sisters.

the other women who were at the pre-postulant days, were they some pretty good women?
Sammi and I were on 2 of the Retreats together and she's pretty excited about entering, she's only 17.

Thank-you!

The things I need to bring are specifically explained on my clothing list. It basically boils down to clothes I'll wear as a postulant, linens, sewing supplies, and some church documents. Also, I have luggage and a book bag. I get to bring two religious items for my cell. Our Lady of Perpetual Help and an Infant of Prague statue are coming with me. Some things I needed to sew, like aprons. I'm getting hand-me-down postulant outfits, so I didn't need to sew them.

Thanks, shortnun, for getting that link. I don't know if I would have found it. The Sisters of Mary don't have a pool, but I did talk to a sister who swims every day that she is on her home visit.

Thank you very, very much for your willingness to share your experiance. One more thing, this is the last one. I was wondering what sort of an education you recieve well your there, I was told that you are educated.
God Bless you in your Heavenly Calling

I'm sorry i forgot to add that!! Some of the classes vary by year and what teachers/professers are availiable. This is the list of classes that Postulants and Novices were taking this past year: Vows, Spiritual Theology, Mariology, Music, St. Paul's book of Romans, The Catechism, Community Living, Documents of Vatican II, And St. Thomas Aquinas & the Summa. During Pre-postulant week we were given a class on the beatitudes by Fr. Jonathan, a Dominican priest. It was wonderful. :D After first vows, sisters need to get thier teaching certification. Most get this from nearby Eastern MI university. However, Sr. Mary Magdalen and Sr. Mary David were sent to The Catholic University of America.


Oh yes, it was wonderful to be with them! Sami is great. :D She and I have a special connection, you might say, because we'll be the two youngest. I'm only 5 months older than her.

Are you 17 or 18?

What do you mean she had connections? Sounds interesting... I don't need to know if it's private stuff... was just wondering.

God Bless you! What's the countdown? 5 weeks or so?

The more I think about it the more questions I have!!! How long are the home visits? Does the Order pay for your education, or do you pay for it your self? And what is the mother house and surrounding grounds like?How did you break the news to your parents? how did your parents take it?
God Bless you in your Heavenly Calling, I'm praying my rosary for you .I hope It helps.

Um, Is anyone here?

I'm here! I just can't answer any of the above questions....I'm sure she'll come back sometime soon!

I hope so!!! I have even more questions I heard that the Sisters were moving into Arizona and South Carolina, how great is that? If you decied to join the AZ branch, do you get sent to Ann Arbor? Just wondering.

Most likely you would go to the Mother House for formation in MI...bu this is just my humble opinion!

Hello! I'm sorry it took me so long to get to this-- my penpal and early childhood friend was visiting from Iowa! We certainly kept busy.

I won't turn 18 until a few weeks after entrance. It's funny to think of that, because I don't feel that young. When I was at the convent I certainly didn't feel like one of the youngest, but maybe I just wasn't thinking about it. I felt like myself. All of the sisters are so completely and unabashedly themselves! It's wonderful, and I eagerly anticipate getting back to it!!

Countdown is 32 days!!

When I mentioned connections with Sami I just meant that we're the two 17-year-olds... and as the two youngest we will apparently be leading all of the processions!

I think that the home visits are about a week long, but I'm not positive.

The sisters will pay for our education, but I have some money saved for college that my parents will help pitch in with later. The sisters could only do it with the help of thier benefactors, I'm sure.

The motherhouse, let's see...

The motherhouse is situated on land that was part of the Domino Farms owned by Tom Monahan. (I hope I spelled that right!!) With much of the construction finished, the sisters are very excited about and protective of the new, green, baby grass growing around the building. The ground there is a bit hilly, and there is a creek running through it. A little bridge over the creek leads to an open field where they play soccer, untimate frisby, volleyball and the like. There is a quaint dirt trail winding around the creek into some woods, and a wayside shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa.

The inside of the Motherhouse has a gorgeous simplicity to it. Dominican religious art abounds. As I remember, most of the furniture is made of a light oak. As I was told be Sr. Joseph Andrew, the idea was to build it to last 200 years so that they will not have to go through this construction business again! There still needs to be another wing of cells to accomodate 100 sisters, and there are plans to build a chaplain residence.

I told my mom that I was discerning a few years ago, and she actually helped me arrange to talk to a priest. I'm not sure if my dad knew at that time or not. In any case, it wasn't too long afterward that I told him I was interested in going to the Institute of Religious Life's conference at Mundelien. The last day of their conference is opened especially to the youth, and the various communities set up tables and talk to whoever is interested. My dad offered to take me there. Aren't my parents wonderful?? When I became adamant about attending the DSMME's retreat that May, the family made an RV trip out of taking me there. They weren't too surprised when I walked out of the retreat and told them I'd be coming back for good. I know that it has been hard for them, but they continue to offer their help in any way they can.

Thank you for your prayers!! You all will certianly continue to be in mine! :D

At this point, the sisters branching out in SC and AZ are on "missions", so they are part of the rest of the community and would send new vocations to MI, as far as I understand it. However, a unique thing about the Sisters of Mary is that they want to have sisters make new foundations in the future, and not just grow their own community to be huge. The idea is to spread and renew religious life.

My, it is time for me to head to bed!

God bless all of you!!

Their chapel is probably the most beautiful thing ever. And when the sisters sing at Mass... makes my heart melt like butter.

Pray for Cathy, will you? She needs to get loans paid off.

I am 15, I hope I have time to join before it gets to big!! I really, really want to enter. I really feel God is calling me there. The Mother house and grounds sound wonderful, agian, I hope I'm not too late!!!! I'll keep you in my prayers, thank you for your time.

Sorry, one more question. Our e-mail is out and snail mail isn't an option, is there another way to contact the Sisters? Thanx

Here is the link to pictures of the chapel's construction. I hope they put a completed picture up soon! (photos)

The music at their Masses and the singing was deffinetly something that drew them closer to my heart!

Cathy will continue to be in my prayers.

thanks!

thanks!

If the rate of entering postulants keeps up, it will be at least a couple years before there are 100 sisters in the community. The plans for construction of the motherhouse will cap the capacity at 100 cells. However, I think that the new missions springing up will mean the freeing up of more cells. I'm not positive about that, though, because I'm sure the sisters have to sleep somewhere when they come back for Christmas! The sisters haven't turn away vocations because of lack of space yet. At one point they had sisters sleeping in make-shift odd places and an extra house down the road besides!

Have you considered calling the motherhouse? This is thier #: (734) 994-7437



I'm happy to help how er'e I can!

Thank you very, very much, you've been such a help, and a comfort to me. It's easier knowing what things will be like when I have a chance to go. I think you will make a wonderful nun and a great teacher . Please please send pictures whenever possible. Do you have a wedding ceromony? ( I know some orders do) If you do, is it when oyu become a novice? And are you allowed visitors when your a novice? Thanks again.
God Bless you in your Heavenly Calling,
Lily

If you'd like to see pictures you can request to get the Sisters' newsletter. It is long, and very awesome. :D The "wedding" ceremony would be the first profession after the 2-year novitiate. The Sisters of Mary don't wear a wedding dress, but I imagine that it is still beautiful. I believe that novices have four visiting days a year like the rest of the sisters>

How do I do that? I would really like to get it, thanks again!! I just want to get all my questions in before you go away, I am assumong you wont really be able to post once your there.

Right< I won"t be using email or going on phatmass after I enter> (Sorry about my punctuation< the shift key on my keyboard is being funny>) You can give your address to the sisters so they can send you the newsletter if and when you talk to them< or you can give it to me because I"m going to bring a list of friends and family who want to be added to their mailing list>

One month to go!!

Thank you very much. E-mail is up and running, and I e-mailed them , and they mailed back asking for my regular adress. Now is the hard part, I have to tell my parents, pray for me PLEASE

Prayers deffinetly. It is hard, but Jesus will help you do it.

My mom seemed to take my news well ( either that or she thought I was crazy and people from the sanitorium are comming to get me now, lol) Sr. Thomas Aquinas is, hopefully, sending em vocation information in the mail AS WE SPEAK!!! I am soooo excited!! PLease keep praying for me. Bigtime.