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Extended Dominican Family In Lafourche Parish, Louisiana


sistersintigo

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sistersintigo

Nine years ago: August, 2002, Lockport, Louisiana.
Twelve laymen and laywomen made their first "promises" as members of the Heart of Jesus Pro-Chapter of Lay Dominican Fraternities. [info from "Luminaria," newsletter, Southern Dominican Province of St. Martin de Porres]
Among these twelve was a widow, Mrs. Hilda Marie Crowley Remy. She was one of five children, and the mother of two. All six of her grandchildren were born through her son Albert W. Remy.
Her daughter's birthname was Therese Joyce Remy, born in Massachusetts. In roughly 1986, after many years in a different religious order, Therese entered the Dominican Monastery of the Heart of Jesus in Lockport, where she received the name, in religion, of Sr. Marie Therese of Jesus OP.
And so we find mother and daughter entering Saint Dominic's family of the Order of Preachers according to their respective vocations:
the younger as a "Dominican Contemplative Sister;"
the older, as a member of the Dominican Laity, in a chapter linked to the monastery of sisters.

Their story continues in future posts.

(Some info in this post published in obituary notices from "The Daily Comet," newspaper for Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.)

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sistersintigo

August, 2003. Lockport, Louisiana.
Mother Mary Henry of Jesus, O.P. whose birthname was Anna Rita McKanna, aged 84, a native of Detroit, Michigan and resident of Lockport, died at 6 am on Friday, August 29, 2003.
In 1935, she professed her vows in the Dominican Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament (Michigan).
She was one of the founding sisters of the Dominican Monastery of the Infant Jesus in Lufkin, Texas.
She was the Foundress, in 1981, of the Dominican Contemplative Sisters, Monastery of the Heart of Jesus, in Lockport.
Following a Mass of Christian Burial in the monastery chapel, burial took place in Holy Savior cemetery on the Monday after her death.

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sistersintigo

May, 2004. Lockport, Louisiana.
Sister Marie Therese of Jesus, O.P. (A.B., M.S.L.S., Ed. D.), whose birthname was Therese Joyce Remy, aged 72, a native of Massachusetts and resident of Lockport, died at 4:40 am on Wednesday, May 19, 2004.
At the age of 18, she entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She taught and was a librarian for more than thirty years.
She later [1986?] entered the Dominican Monastery of the Heart of Jesus.

The "Daily Comet" obituary notice states:
"She served our community generously in many capacities for the past eighteen years."

A Mass of Christian Burial took place in the monastery chapel on Saturday, May 22, followed by burial in Holy Savior cemetery.

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sistersintigo

August, 2004. Lockport, Louisiana.
Hilda Marie Crowley Remy, aged 95, a native of New York and resident of Lockport, died at 1:15 am on Friday, August 20, 2004.
She was a homemaker and teacher of catechism, and the first perpetually professed member of the Heart of Jesus [Pro-]Chapter of Dominican Laity. She is survived by five grandchildren.
....among those who preceded her in death, are her daughter, Sister Marie Therese of Jesus, O.P., nee Remy.

Mass will be at 11 am, Saturday August 21, in the chapel of the Monastery of the Heart of Jesus in Lockport, with burial in the family plot
(doesn't say which, "Crowley" or "Remy")
in Massachusetts.

from the obituary notice published August 2004 in the "Daily Comet" newspaper, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana

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sistersintigo

from the Southern US Dominican Province of St Martin de Porres,
the "Luminaria" newsletter, volume 1, no. 1, pp. 1 and 5. Anonymous byline.
"On October 1, 2004,
the Heart of Jesus Pro-Chapter of the Dominican Laity celebrated:
Rite of Admission (one layman)
Rite of First Profession (six laywomen)
Rite of Perpetual Profession (one laywoman).

"We are asked to pray for vocations as the Dominican convent in Lockport is now occupied by only two nuns and is threatened with closure if more young ladies interested in the religious life cannot be found."

Luminaria newsletter, volume 2, no. 1, pp. 6 and 7. by Annette Bourgeois, Lay Dominican.
"The Heart of Jesus Lay Dominicans Pro-Chapter of Lockport, Louisiana, is preparing to double its [membership] numbers in 2005. Seven newcomers were professed in 2003 and 2004; six seriously interested inquirers began their discernment in the fall [of 2004].
"Fostering a family consciousness is inherent to this Pro-Chapter. Seventeen members are related in close unions. There are two sets of sisters, three husbands and wives, two mothers and daughters, and various in-laws and cousins.
Now the members are spreading beyond the obvious relationships and are inspiring many associates to ask about the Dominican Laity."

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sistersintigo

Lockport, Louisiana. 2006: the investiture in the habit, and entry to the novitiate, of Marjorie Helen Bax, in the Monastery of the Heart of Jesus, Dominican Contemplative Sisters.
She receives the name "Sr Mary Agnes of the Annunciation, O.P."

(and Phatmass cheered her on - but that's a different thread.)

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sistersintigo

August 11, 2007. Lockport, Louisiana.

"....the Dominican Laity of the Heart of Jesus Chapter of Lockport celebrated the receipt of final approval for its request to be recognized as a full chapter of the [Lay Dominican Fraternities] in a letter of acceptance from Bishop Sam Jacobs (of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma - Thibodaux, Louisiana).
Rite of Admission, one laywoman
Rite of Temporary Commitment, three laywomen
Rite of Perpetual Profession, three laywoman, following five years of study and commitment.

"Beginning with twelve inquirers, six years ago,
there are twenty-four active and professed members in this Chapter,
one of the fastest-growing in the Province."

submitted by Miss Annette Bourgeois OP,
Luminaria newsletter, Volume 5, no. 2, page 3; April - June 2008

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sistersintigo

Luminaria newsletter, vol 5, no. 3. July -- September 2008.

"Our numbers are growing. Three inquirers are looking forward to possible profession this August.
A special Mass for the Dead was offered in the chapel of the Dominican monastery on the anniversary of the death of our Chaplain, Rev. Alfredo Loresco." submitted by Mrs. Jene deCuir OP, assistant moderator, Heart of Jesus Chapter of Lay Dominican Fraternities


Luminaria newsletter, vol 5, no. 4, p. 3. October - December 2008.

"The steadily growing Chapter of the Heart of Jesus Dominican Laity of Lockport, Louisiana, celebrated the Rites of Admission on Saturday, August 2, 2008, within the octave of the Feast of our spiritual Father, St. Dominic:
Temporary Commitment: one laywoman
Perpetual Commitment: one layman. Married; his wife made her perpetual commitment the previous year.
Reverend Father John Ruiz, chaplain of the Dominican Contemplative Sisters of Lockport, officiated at the ceremonies....at the reception that followed, there was much excitement over the anticipation of several potential inquirers in the fall."
submitted by Mrs. Jene deCuir OP, assistant moderator

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sistersintigo

[quote name='sistersintigo' timestamp='1320366751' post='2331020']
August 11, 2007. Lockport, Louisiana.

"....the Dominican Laity of the Heart of Jesus Chapter of Lockport celebrated the receipt of final approval for its request to be recognized as a full chapter of the [Lay Dominican Fraternities] in a letter of acceptance from Bishop Sam Jacobs (of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma - Thibodaux, Louisiana).

"Beginning with twelve inquirers, six years ago,
there are twenty-four active and professed members in this Chapter,
one of the fastest-growing in the Province."

submitted by Miss Annette Bourgeois OP,
Luminaria newsletter, Volume 5, no. 2, page 3; April - June 2008
[/quote]

Luminaria newsletter, Volume 6, no. 1, pp. 1-3; January - March 2009
"From a long-time cherished dream of Mother Mary Henry of Jesus, O.P., and Sister Marie Therese of Jesus, O.P.,
a pro-chapter of Lay Dominicans was begun in the fall of 2001....
Their number has grown to twenty-three professed, seven inactive, and fifteen enthusiastic inquirers.

"In the interim, we have lost Mother Mary Henry, Sister Marie Therese, Hilda Remy, [...] and our Chaplain, Reverend Father
Alfredo Loresco O. P.
Nevertheless, we are certain that they rejoiced with us when we became a full chapter this past year [2008?]."
submitted by assistant moderator, Ms. Jene DeCuir OP of Lockport, Heart of Jesus Chapter of Lay Dominican Fraternities.

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sistersintigo

Remarks on the previous posts on this thread.

My aim was to present a chronological timeline, starting with 2002. The last post brought us to 2009.

Most of the material quoted here concerns Dominican Laity, people who are single or married, laypersons, who discern a vocation to participate in the life of the Dominican Order ("Order of Preachers") without actually leaving the world to enter consecrated life or to profess religious vows.

My hope was to use facts, figures, and documented reports to demonstrate:
how this Chapter of Lay Dominican Fraternities owes its very existence to the Dominican Contemplative Sisters (as they are officially labeled at this point in their development)
of the Monastery of the Heart of Jesus in Lockport, Louisiana;
how the Lay Chapter and the convent of sisters, while two distinct entities, are related and intimately connected;
how the deaths and transitions within this extended family are complemented by increase and development as these Dominicans/Catholics grow and mature.

Finally,
Vocation Station members have showed great enthusiasm for the Dominican Contemplative Sisters as evidenced by numerous VS threads;
I believe the Dominican Laity ought to be singled out for attention and prayer as well, especially this particular chapter.

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sistersintigo

For the uninformed, let me take a moment to specify what "Lafourche Parish" means
-- I beg the indulgence of Louisiana residents and others who already know.

Lafourche Parish is one of several state parishes in Louisiana, and by state parishes, this means
the rough equivalent of "counties" in others of our United States. For example, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the particular focus on the city of New Orleans, much was reported concerning St Bernard Parish -- that is the "county" equivalent of the "state parish" in which New Orleans is found.

To add to the confusion:
There actually is a Roman Catholic parish intimately connected to the Monastery of the Heart of Jesus in Lockport, Louisiana, and with connections to the Heart of Jesus Chapter of Lay Dominican Fraternities. This parish has a different name as well. The Roman Catholic parish in Lockport is Holy Savior Catholic Parish. Thus:
the Dominican Laity chapter, the Heart of Jesus monastery, and the Roman Catholic parish of Holy Savior Catholic Church are all physically located within Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.

These, moreover, are found in the Roman Catholic diocese of Houma - Thibodaux in Louisiana.

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sistersintigo

The following post quotes an article published in the [now-defunct?] newsletter "Luminaria," which was a publication for the St Martin de Porres Province of Dominican Friars in the southern United States
-- in particular, "Luminaria" was just for the Chapters of Lay Dominican Fraternities in said Province.
The quotes are chosen to illustrate how Lay Dominicans in one chapter participate actively in the affairs of the Monastery of the Heart of Jesus for the Dominican Contemplative Sisters of Lockport, Louisiana.

"[Chapter members] Curtley Boudreaux and Terry Chiasson are altar servers at daily Mass [in the monastery chapel] and at evening Benediction [of the Blessed Sacrament].
The Chapter members always look forward to praying the Liturgy of the Hours together and to their instruction on material related to the Dominicans.
The Dominican Contemplative Sisters' sewing ministry...supplements their income. Two of our members assist the Sisters in this ministry, including Mrs. Julie Sapia [who has done so] for almost two decades.
[The baking of altar breads also raises income for the Monastery.] Another Lay Dominican chapter member delivers the Sisters' altar bread... by distributing it to over thirty church parishes within the [Houma - Thibodaux] diocese.
Our Past Provincial [Lay Dominican] Moderator, Ms. Dru Chauffe, donated the digital wherewhithal that will allow the Dominican Sisters to produce the larger Lay Dominican scapular... in order to provide the beautiful scapulars to the professed membership.
Our monthly Lay Dominican meetings are held in the Cenacle Room in the Dominican Sisters' Monastery....For those families and guests of the Sisters who come to Lockport to visit, the home of the Bourgeois family has become a haven."

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brandelynmarie

You are a true geneologist sistersintigo! :)


Are you able to find anything about the contemplatives though? Like how many are there?

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sistersintigo

[quote name='sistersintigo' timestamp='1320366240' post='2331016']
Lockport, Louisiana. 2006: the investiture in the habit, and entry to the novitiate, of Marjorie Helen Bax, in the Monastery of the Heart of Jesus, Dominican Contemplative Sisters.
She receives the name "Sr Mary Agnes of the Annunciation, O.P."

(and Phatmass cheered her on - but that's a different thread.)
[/quote]
Before this point in the timeline, I overlooked the year 2005, and a hurricane named Katrina. Kind of an intrinsic part of the history of the Louisiana bayou, where Lockport is located.

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sistersintigo

[url="http://www.catholicsentinel.org/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=30&ArticleID=15218"]http://www.catholicsentinel.org/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=30&ArticleID=15218[/url]

The above link, if it works, refers to a Catholic church well outside of Louisiana;
a former parishioner of that church is identified as one of the young postulants
at the Monastery of the Heart of Jesus, the Dominican Sisters in Lockport.
You have to scroll down a few paragraphs to find the mention, though;
the subject of the linked article is how many vocations come from this one church.

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