Hi all. Yesterday, I was looking at the Dominican Sister of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist website, and I noticed that they were founded by four Nashville Dominicans. I was wondering what the story behind that was. Was it just fufilling JP II's request for a renewal of religious life, or was it a disagreement in Nashville? I don't mean to stir anything up, I just wanted to know the reason why they seperated. Thanks!

In Christ,

Maria Faustina

It was an amicable split, in response to JPII's call for the New Evangelization.

Blessings,
Gemma

Ann Arbor does many kinds of evangelization, not just mainly teaching (they have those EWTN shows and whatnot). And a friend who visited said the Ann Arbor sisters were more "bubbly" and lively and the Nashville sisters were a little quieter. That spiritedness seems to be part of new communities. She also noticed that there were many girls joining Ann Arbor out of high school, which she didn't like, but I don't think it's bad at all if it's the place for you.

Yes, the DSMME were founded by four Sisters from Nashville, whom all felt individual calls to follow JP2's call to the New Evangelization by expanding their apostolate from only teaching into a new community. Mother Assumpta of SMME was actually the Prioress General of the Nashville Dominicans from 1976-1988 (I think).

Nashville has always had a firm position in serving in one specific apostolate, which for them is of course teaching. This was especially brought up as a great importance from Mother Marie William MacGregor, the Prioress General in Nashville from 1964-1976, during the turbulent times following Vatican II, when religious orders were quite literally falling apart. I really encourage you all to read more about Mother Marie William. She was integral in the foundation of CMSWR, recognized the importance of contemplative and monastic life even in the active apostolate, and the necessity of the habit. She is a saint and is the reason Nashville and other orders have survived following that tumult.

Two beautiful orders! God love them and bless them!

Not only do the Dominican Sisters of Mary in Ann Arbor do many different kinds of evangelization besides teaching, but the mission is also to renew religious life. Their plan is to expand and open religious communities all around the U.S. and the world. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia have Sisters in different parts of the country teaching but they plan to just expand their Community rather than open new ones like the Sisters of Mary. They're both very similar and both very beautiful. A friend of mine will hopefully be entering the Nashville Dominicans this year. As for myself, I can't wait to enter with the Sisters of Mary this August!!!

Congratulations!!!! That must be so exciting!!! I wish I were old enough to even make a retreat somewhere
I'll be praying for you and your friend!

Thank you so much!! I'm praying for you, too! Don't worry, time will fly by and before you know it you'll be a religious sister! A very good friend of mine who entered with the Sisters of Mary this past year has known them and had wanted to enter since the 6th grade!

Dominicans Sisters of Mary will be guest stars on Life on the Rock soon! This month I think.

Oh wow, congratulations!

When you say open religious communities all around, you mean SMME houses, right? As opposed to Nashville having only one house where all the Sisters come for holidays?

Not exactly. There will be new Communities of Dominicans that will be stemmed from the SMME but completely all their own with a different name, medal, and everything. For example they will not be called the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist but maybe Dominican Sisters of Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit or something like that.

Are there any as of yet? Or are they mostly still in the making or even just something for the future?

Nope there are none as of yet. I know of one that is in the making right now with the Sisters in the Sacramento diocese, but nothing maybe finalized for another couple of years.

Wow. I didn't know that about Ann Arbor.

What's the deal with the sisters in Sacramento?

Blessings,
Gemma

I think they are working toward establishing the Regina Caeli convent. Check out this link with more info on this topic:

http://www.sistersofmary.org/article.php?id=322

Hm-- so this is for sure them trying to start a new community, not just a mission that is still part of the original community?

That's one of their missions, just like St. Rose in BHM, AL, is a mission of the Nashville Dominicans. From what I can tell, this is not a new charism being founded in the Dominican tradition.

Blessings,
Gemma

What apostolates do the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist do?

I know they teach at a few schools and I know they do retreats, and maybe a little bit of nursing stuff, but I could be wrong.

If I remember correctly, they also have a show on EWTN as well, right? They have a few missions around the U.S. and some of the Sisters go around giving talks and stuff. But I think teaching is their main apostolate.

Yeah that's what I heard. They don't teach at as many schools as the Nashville Dominicans, so that opens up more apostolates

Well, the Community is only about 11 years old so they're not as big as Nashville yet, but they do have two schools that teach K-8 in Ann Arbor and Plymouth, MI and they're opening up an all girls high school in about a year or so that's about 20-30 minutes away from the Motherhouse (St. Catherine of Siena Academy). They also have missions in South Carolina, Arizona, Florida, and California and they may send Sisters off to a few more this upcoming year. They also have their EWTN show, Truth in the Heart. They don't do any nursing type stuff but they do talks and retreats all over the country and they have their discernment retreats 3 times a year (November, February, and May) and they also have a women's retreat every December.
http://www.sistersofmary.org/category.php?id=5
http://www.sistersofmary.org/category.php?id=353

Oh okay. I don't know where I got nursing from. How often does the EWTN show come on? Is that a major part of their apostolate or is it just something on the side?

The main part of their apostalate is evangelization and one way they do this is through their TV series. It comes on at 5pm ET on Wednesday's and I also think on Thursday's as well.

Hey, MariaFaustina,

I was a member of both communities. If you want my opinion, PM me!

MariaFaustina, I was thrilled to open this and see your picture with Sr. Beatrice and Sr. Maria Caeli! Wait a sec. Whoa. Are you my age!? This could be pretty cool...

In response to anyone wondering about the new congregations that the DSMME might be helping start, I don't know if this up-and-coming congregation is related, but judging by the future name, it sounds like the beginning of the communities that may begin springing up:

http://www.stlouisreview.com/article.php?id=15492
Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of Israel's Hope

Also, tonight I turned on the TV to EWTN and DSMME were on Life on the Rock! I was freaking out, I was so excited! Unfortunately, it was the re-run since it was so late, and I only caught three minutes of it or so, just as they were closing up.

They're the 'Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel's Hope,' and 'nunsense' here is one of the founding members. It's being founded by Rosalind Moss of Catholic Answers. They are primarily Salesian in spirituality. I don't know of any connection to the Ann Arbor OPs at all. I've been assisting the DMMIH with some foundational matters.

Blessings,
Gemma