Lockport Dominican Nuns

[cruciatacara]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='06 April 2010 - 02:26 PM' timestamp='1270585580' post='2087843']
The new pictures are beautiful, too. Thank-you.

I hope this isn't the wrong thing to say, but I really like the fact that the "enclosure grille" (is that the right term?) in the chapel of the Lockport nuns is made of beautiful, light wood, not metal bars. It has the same effect of enclosing the nuns as metal bars does, but seems less forbidding.

I know perfectly well that enclosed sisters are enclosed by choice, and are free to leave. The grille is intended not to keep the nuns in, but to keep the world out.

However, despite knowing this rationally, pictures of metal enclosure grilles, and the sound of the metal doors closing reminds me of prison. (Sometimes in videos you can see and hear the sound of the metal door closing.) It's simply an emotional reaction. I know perfectly well that these nuns are not imprisoned nor do they feel imprisoned.

I suspect Catholics get used to it and never think twice about it.

But, as a non-Catholic, I am still getting used to the image. And, I suspect that the image could contribute to the misunderstandings that many non-Catholics have about enclosed Orders of Nuns. I am in NO WAY suggesting that Orders should change their traditional practices of metal grilles--simply that I had a very positive reaction to the very lovely wooden grilles in the chapel of the Lockport nuns. It made enclosure feel like a positive choice.

I realize that Anglican orders of enclosed nuns also use metal grilles (at least as far as I know). It's just that I have never seen pictures of the enclosure grille of an Anglican Order, and suspect that I would have the same initial emotional reaction to the metal bars.

I also suspect that the metal bars remind me of scenes in (often tacky) old movies set in historical times, in which a young girl is forced to enter the convent against her will, even though the old movies have nothing to do with the way young women decide today to enter an enclosed Order.
[/quote]


Those old movies don't show all the women who got married off against their will too! I like the grilles, but it doesn't matter what they are made of if they do the job I guess. Wood can be really nice, but I like dark wood, not the pine colored stuff. Sometimes I think the sound of the clanging of the metal and the keys - kinda like 'we are safe now', but it could sound scary if looked at the other way, like 'we are trapped now'.

[Saint Therese]

[img]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y255/dominicannuns/EasterSunday-2010079.jpg[/img]This one is my favorite!

[Saint Therese]

The sisters' chaplain's blog has been updated:[url="http://scrantonsouth.blogspot.com/"]Scranton South[/url]

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

Wow... things have changed so much there over the years... I really hope and pray they will grow tremendously!

[Saint Therese]

J.M.J.Th

Hope you are all having a great Divine Mercy Sunday!

Today after Mass our parish had its monthly dinner, in our parish hall. Before the dinner the youth director (even though I'm not a youth) had me go up on stage and Father made an announcement about my entering. It was pretty terrifying since I don't like being up in front of people. Anyways, afterwards, I had lots of people come up and tell me congratulations and good luck, and that they are proud of me. I talked to some of the older ladies, who were really thrilled, especially when I told them that the community I'm entering is very traditional and wear the full habit. The point of all this is that I really felt so humbled.
I really felt, maybe for the first time, how awesome a responsibility I have to be faithful to my vocation.
Also I"m going to be giving an informal talk to our youth group, which I think will be fun.

[vee]

[quote name='Saint Therese' date='12 April 2010 - 05:48 AM' timestamp='1271015338' post='2091049']
J.M.J.Th

Hope you are all having a great Divine Mercy Sunday!

Today after Mass our parish had its monthly dinner, in our parish hall. Before the dinner the youth director (even though I'm not a youth) had me go up on stage and Father made an announcement about my entering. It was pretty terrifying since I don't like being up in front of people. Anyways, afterwards, I had lots of people come up and tell me congratulations and good luck, and that they are proud of me. I talked to some of the older ladies, who were really thrilled, especially when I told them that the community I'm entering is very traditional and wear the full habit. The point of all this is that I really felt so humbled.
I really felt, maybe for the first time, how awesome a responsibility I have to be faithful to my vocation.
Also I"m going to be giving an informal talk to our youth group, which I think will be fun.
[/quote]

[img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/caption_cool.gif[/img] So now you`re an example that you will continue to be a good one. Are you the first woman to enter religious life from your parish in recent years or have there been others? Theres a big IF here but IF I really am called to religious life and IF I atually find a community that will accept me then Im fairly certain I would be the first woman to enter religious life from my home parish in a looooong time. If thats the case I can start to understand what you mean by responsibility.

[brightsadness]

[quote name='Saint Therese' date='11 April 2010 - 12:48 PM' timestamp='1271015338' post='2091049']
J.M.J.Th

Hope you are all having a great Divine Mercy Sunday!

Today after Mass our parish had its monthly dinner, in our parish hall. Before the dinner the youth director (even though I'm not a youth) had me go up on stage and Father made an announcement about my entering. It was pretty terrifying since I don't like being up in front of people. Anyways, afterwards, I had lots of people come up and tell me congratulations and good luck, and that they are proud of me. I talked to some of the older ladies, who were really thrilled, especially when I told them that the community I'm entering is very traditional and wear the full habit. The point of all this is that I really felt so humbled.
I really felt, maybe for the first time, how awesome a responsibility I have to be faithful to my vocation.
Also I"m going to be giving an informal talk to our youth group, which I think will be fun.
[/quote]


praying for you in all you do.

[Saint Therese]

Well pham, this is it. The countdown begins.
I will be leaving here on the 24th.

Prayers requested!

Edited April 13, 2010 by Saint Therese

[Saint Therese]

[quote name='vee8' date='12 April 2010 - 12:29 AM' timestamp='1271046549' post='2091392']
. Are you the first woman to enter religious life from your parish in recent years or have there been others? Theres a big IF here but IF I really am called to religious life and IF I atually find a community that will accept me then Im fairly certain I would be the first woman to enter religious life from my home parish in a looooong time. If thats the case I can start to understand what you mean by responsibility.
[/quote]

I think I'm the first vocation from my parish ever. Can you believe that??

[vee]

[quote name='Saint Therese' date='13 April 2010 - 01:55 PM' timestamp='1271130923' post='2092231']
I think I'm the first vocation from my parish ever. Can you believe that??
[/quote]

These days? Yes.

[DiscerningSoul]

Many prayers as I continue to discern.

[brightsadness]

[quote name='Saint Therese' date='12 April 2010 - 08:36 PM' timestamp='1271129802' post='2092216']
Well pham, this is it. The countdown begins.
I will be leaving here on the 24th.

Prayers requested!
[/quote]


Glory to God!

[laetitia crucis]

Continued prayers for you, ST!

[Saint Therese]

J.M.J.Th

Thanks, I need the prayers.

Only ten days left.
I'm still getting things in order.
Since it seems my books aren't selling that well I'm going to donate most of them to the youth group at my parish. I"m really happy with this solution, since there's no one in my family that wants them, its good that they'll go to benefit someone.
I had been wondering about how I was going to be able to pay my few last bills-which turned out to not be so few, but yesterday a friend offered to take care of it for me. It was a real blessing. Thanks be to God.

I find it so strange- I've been discerning for so long, time seemed to creep by, but now that i"im actually going to enter it seems like time is going by so fast I can't even believe it.

[Saint Therese]

J.M.J.Th

Well, pham, nine days left!

I've been trying to spend as much time with family and friends as possible. I"ve had seveal last minute mini-crises, but thanks be to God things are working out. Everyone please keep me in your prayers.

We have an active Dominican sister at my parish and I thought it was really cool that she told me "Welcome to the family."

The more I reflect on my vocation, the more I become aware of the reality of God's merciful love, and that He doesn't base His love for us on our worthiness. I really think sometimes that He called me because of my weakness, not despite of it.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='Saint Therese' date='16 April 2010 - 11:02 AM' timestamp='1271433772' post='2094717']
J.M.J.Th

Well, pham, nine days left!

I've been trying to spend as much time with family and friends as possible. I"ve had seveal last minute mini-crises, but thanks be to God things are working out. Everyone please keep me in your prayers.

We have an active Dominican sister at my parish and I thought it was really cool that she told me "Welcome to the family." [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif[/img]

The more I reflect on my vocation, the more I become aware of the reality of God's merciful love, and that He doesn't base His love for us on our worthiness. I really think sometimes that He called me because of my weakness, not despite of it.
[/quote]

I'm sure you're getting very excited! BTW--I can't find your original post about this, but I have been giving you my one positive vote every day.

[SrBenigna]

Best wish and many prayers go with you. How exciting for you! You must be thrilled and nervous at the same time!

[brandelynmarie]

May God continue to give you His Peace on your journey....

[Saint Therese]

J.M.J.Th

SEVEN days left:

Thank you all for your prayers! I am starting to become more excited-now that the day is getting close but I think I'll be really excited only when I get there because I still have lots to do before I leave.

I am still immersed in preparations for leaving. I've been trying to spend as much time as possible with family and friends and get everything else done, and unfortunately that's not really possible.

I've been reflecting some on the real miracle of my vocation. God is so good! I think my vocation is proof that you can be a priest or religious no matter what your past or family background might be.
The psalm from today's Mass really spoke to me:


[i][b][quote]
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.

Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.

Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.[/quote]
[/b][/i]

Jesus indeed has changed my mourning into dancing, brought me up from the netherworld of sin and despair. And now He's calling me to be His bride..God is so good! His mercy endures forever! Amen.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='Saint Therese' date='18 April 2010 - 01:20 PM' timestamp='1271614840' post='2095654']
J.M.J.Th

SEVEN days left:

Thank you all for your prayers! I am starting to become more excited-now that the day is getting close but I think I'll be really excited only when I get there because I still have lots to do before I leave.

I am still immersed in preparations for leaving. I've been trying to spend as much time as possible with family and friends and get everything else done, and unfortunately that's not really possible.

[/quote]

I don't know how far you live from Lockport. Are you going alone or is anyone traveling with you?