Dominican Sisters Of The Perpetual Rosary

[the_rev]

Dear discerners,

The other day I saw an advertisment for this community of sisters-- The Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary from Milwaukee, WI. I thought their charism was beautiful, to intercede for the world through the continual recitation for the rosary, every hour on the hour! God bless these women for their devotion to Our Lord and Blessed Lady. I don't know if any of you are familiar with them or not, so I thought I would submit this for conversation.

Here is there website: http://www.dsopr.org/

God Bless,

---the_rev

[Luigi]

This is the same order that a monastery in Summit, NJ and others in: Marbury, AL, and there are several others as well.

They they put up this web page years ago & haven't updated it since. So it's hard to tell how they're doing.

Edited December 6, 2011 by Luigi

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

[quote name='Luigi' timestamp='1323151981' post='2345400']
This is the same order that a monastery in Summit, NJ and others in: Marbury, AL, and there are several others as well.

They they put up this web page years ago & haven't updated it since. So it's hard to tell how they're doing.
[/quote]

While Summit, Marbury and other monasteries share the same roots as the Milwaukee monastery, they are not the same order. The Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary are a diocesan contemplative institute. They are not [i]moniales[/i] and incorporated into the Order of Preachers. They do not have papal enclosure but enclosure according to their own constitutions. (But in practice it is the same thing.)

The Nuns of the Order of Preachers have the same constitutions world-wide, make profession to the Master of the Order of Preachers and are both juridically and spiritually united to the Order.

The Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary ARE Dominican but with a different relationship. They have the observance of the perpetual rosary but not adoration. I think there are about 10 sisters in that monastery. We don't have too much contact with them except for greetings at Christmas and St. Dominic.

[Luigi]

[quote name='Sr. Mary Catharine' timestamp='1323172677' post='2345417']

While Summit, Marbury and other monasteries share the same roots as the Milwaukee monastery, they are not the same order. The Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary are a diocesan contemplative institute. They are not [i]moniales[/i] and incorporated into the Order of Preachers. They do not have papal enclosure but enclosure according to their own constitutions. (But in practice it is the same thing.)

The Nuns of the Order of Preachers have the same constitutions world-wide, make profession to the Master of the Order of Preachers and are both juridically and spiritually united to the Order.

The Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary ARE Dominican but with a different relationship. They have the observance of the perpetual rosary but not adoration. I think there are about 10 sisters in that monastery. We don't have too much contact with them except for greetings at Christmas and St. Dominic.
[/quote]

Thanks for the clarification - I've tried to figure out some of the connections on my own, by readaing the websites and such, but there's a lot to figure out there. Clearly, I'm still in the figuring process.

[dominicansoul]

Their website needs some touching up, some of the pictures look circa 1970's. They seem like a lovely order, though. I am impressed they have older vocations. That is something I wish more religious communities would allow.

[brandelynmarie]

Would these Dominican Nuns of Mt. Thabor then be similar in relationship to the Order as well?


[url="http://www.mtthabornunsop.com/"]http://www.mtthabornunsop.com/[/url]

[Feankie]

I noticed the website of the nuns in Milwaukee was updated in 2010. They are in my Archdiocese, about 45 minutes away in downtown Milwaukee. And to think I never new they were there or anything about them. Methinks I'll have to take a ride down one of these days and see them

[i<3LSOP]

It is lovely that they have a strong devotion to the Holy Rosary.

[Chiquitunga]

Sr. Mary Catharine, thanks for chiming in! Okay, I have some cloistered Dominican Nun questions for you! (I don't feel called to them, but like to keep my communities straight ) I will number these to make it clearer.


1. Some of the cloistered Dominicans of the Perpetual Rosary are Nuns though, right? Like these in Lancaster, PA [url="http://www.opnunslancaster.org/"]http://www.opnunslancaster.org/[/url] or Fatima, [url="http://www.fatima-dominicans.com/"]http://www.fatima-dominicans.com/[/url] I know the nuns in Buffalo are Perpetual Rosary too, although it doesn't specifically say so on their new site, [url="http://opnuns.org/"]http://opnuns.org/[/url]

2. What is the difference between them and the ordinary OP Nuns?

3. They still have the same Constitutions though, right?

4. Which communities in the US are Perpetual Rosary?

5. And which observe Perpetual Adoration also? Is this another "add-on" for lack of a better word, cloistered Dominican Nuns can have? I remember the Buffalo nuns saying they would like to have this, but don't have enough nuns at present.

Thank you so much in advance! God bless!

[Little Flower]

you know this is going to sound bad but I don't like how a lot of those communities seem to only have old people in them. I think it would be really hard being the only young nun in your community. idk.

Was that difficult for you, being the youngest sister there Sr. Mary Catharine?

[the_rev]

After having only posted this last evening, I am impressed to see the amount of feedback and posts this thread has already received. I sent them an email last night to inquire whether or not the public can visit their convent/monastery and for their liturgical schedule. I drive through Milwaukee quite frequently and would love to make a stop there and visit this community. Like I<3LSOP I am very impressed by their devotion to the rosary and would like to witness their life.

[jruss]

[quote name='Chiquitunga' timestamp='1323195318' post='2345580']
Sr. Mary Catharine, thanks for chiming in! Okay, I have some cloistered Dominican Nun questions for you! (I don't feel called to them, but like to keep my communities straight ) I will number these to make it clearer.


1. Some of the cloistered Dominicans of the Perpetual Rosary are Nuns though, right? Like these in Lancaster, PA [url="http://www.opnunslancaster.org/"]http://www.opnunslancaster.org/[/url] or Fatima, [url="http://www.fatima-dominicans.com/"]http://www.fatima-dominicans.com/[/url] I know the nuns in Buffalo are Perpetual Rosary too, although it doesn't specifically say so on their new site, [url="http://opnuns.org/"]http://opnuns.org/[/url]

2. What is the difference between them and the ordinary OP Nuns?

3. They still have the same Constitutions though, right?

4. Which communities in the US are Perpetual Rosary?

[u]5. And which observe Perpetual Adoration also? Is this another "add-on" for lack of a better word, cloistered Dominican Nuns can have? I remember the Buffalo nuns saying they would like to have this, but don't have enough nuns at present.[/u]

Thank you so much in advance! God bless!
[/quote]


I just saw on this website last evening that the Dominican nuns in Buffalo have 24 professed members, so they would certainly have enough for Perpetual Adoration
[url="http://www.cloisteredlife.com/links/"]http://www.cloisteredlife.com/links/[/url]

[jruss]

Here is the specific link for Buffalo OP's

OOPS
[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/394"]http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/394[/url]

[Lisa]

[quote name='Little Flower' timestamp='1323200308' post='2345667']
you know this is going to sound bad but I don't like how a lot of those communities seem to only have old people in them. I think it would be really hard being the only young nun in your community. idk.

Was that difficult for you, being the youngest sister there Sr. Mary Catharine?
[/quote]

I don't think she'll mind me saying this; it's been publicly posted. Sr. Mary Catherine is in the Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary. They are a community with many young vocations. You can learn about them at [url="http://www.monialesop.org"]http://www.monialesop.org[/url]

Also, God calls you to a particular community. So if there are only older Sisters and he calls you there, you are there for a reason; something about that particular community's way of life would draw you closer to God. For the Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary, I bet their wisdom and experience in religious life would be a great encouragement of perseverance and love in community.

Edited December 6, 2011 by Lisa

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

[quote name='Chiquitunga' timestamp='1323195318' post='2345580']
Sr. Mary Catharine, thanks for chiming in! Okay, I have some cloistered Dominican Nun questions for you! (I don't feel called to them, but like to keep my communities straight ) I will number these to make it clearer.


1. Some of the cloistered Dominicans of the Perpetual Rosary are Nuns though, right? Like these in Lancaster, PA [url="http://www.opnunslancaster.org/"]http://www.opnunslancaster.org/[/url] or Fatima, [url="http://www.fatima-dominicans.com/"]http://www.fatima-dominicans.com/[/url] I know the nuns in Buffalo are Perpetual Rosary too, although it doesn't specifically say so on their new site, [url="http://opnuns.org/"]http://opnuns.org/[/url]

2. What is the difference between them and the ordinary OP Nuns?

3. They still have the same Constitutions though, right?

4. Which communities in the US are Perpetual Rosary?

5. And which observe Perpetual Adoration also? Is this another "add-on" for lack of a better word, cloistered Dominican Nuns can have? I remember the Buffalo nuns saying they would like to have this, but don't have enough nuns at present.

Thank you so much in advance! God bless!
[/quote]

Hi! To answer Little Flower's question I'm not the youngest nun in the monastery by far! In fact our median age is a little bit above my own. Our median right now is about 50. It might be 49 but I'll say 50. I always get a little confused about this. In order of profession I'm actually almost one of the seniors! :-) I was the youngest at one time (everyone is the youngest at some point!) but I grew up in a mutl-generational family and part of being mature enough for religious life is being able to live and interact with others besides your own age group. And some people are OLD when they are 20 and some people are YOUNG at 80! The favorite sister of every new sister in our community is Sr. Mary Peter who is now 95. I've never known her as a "young sister" but I used to go for walks with her, recreate with her, etc.

So, I would just say don't check off a community that has mostly older sisters. You could be surprised how well you fit in with them!

OK: I'll answer each question.

1. Some of the cloistered Dominicans of the Perpetual Rosary are Nuns though, right? Like these in Lancaster, PA [url="http://www.opnunslancaster.org/"]http://www.opnunslancaster.org/[/url] or Fatima, [url="http://www.fatima-dominicans.com/"]http://www.fatima-dominicans.com/[/url] I know the nuns in Buffalo are Perpetual Rosary too, although it doesn't specifically say so on their new site, [url="http://opnuns.org/"]http://opnuns.org/[/url]

Except for Milwaukee, Mt. Thabor and Lockport, all the Dominican monasteries in North America are [i]moniales.[/i] There are very few "3rd Order" cloisters in the world at present. One or two in Europe. The "Perpetual Rosary Dominican Sisters" were founded as 3rd Order cloister. In the 50's most of the monasteries became incorporated into the Order. A few, like Lancaster and Marbury were much later.

2. What is the difference between them and the ordinary OP Nuns?
Currently there is no difference between "Perpetual Rosary" or "Perpetual Adoration" except that some monasteries have one or the other or both. We at Summit have both. Lancaster is Perpetual Rosary only. The monasteries founded from Newark (now closed) have perpetual Adoration because the monastery they came from in France had it but it is not essential to Dominican cloistered life and most of the monasteries in Europe, South America, Asia and Africa do not have perpetual adoration or rosary. The Monastery in Ireland has adoration every day. I think they used to have it at night but I'm not sure. Because of the emphasis on the Eucharist in Dominican life most monasteries have periods of adoration.
3. They still have the same Constitutions though, right?
All Nuns of the Order of Preachers throughout the world have the same constitution. We might differ on little secondary things but on the essentials we're all together. So, we ALL wear the habit of the Order but our veils might be different. Some wear the crucifix off the belt, others under the scapular. Little things like that. We tease each other about it all the time!
4. Which communities in the US are Perpetual Rosary?
I believe it is Summit, Marbury, Lancaster, Buffalo, Syracuse (Fatima, also) Other monasteries that were Perpetual Rosary have been it optional but I think many nuns no matter what their origins pray the rosary during adoration!
5. And which observe Perpetual Adoration also? Is this another "add-on" for lack of a better word, cloistered Dominican Nuns can have? I remember the Buffalo nuns saying they would like to have this, but don't have enough nuns at present.
Summit, Marbury, Buffalo, Bronx, W. Springfield, Farmington, Lufkin, Menlo, Los Angeles. At this point, I think Farmington is the only monastery doing Adoration 24/7. We do it 3 nights a week. Other monasteries repose after Compline but begin again at 3AM or 4AM. It all depends on who is able to do it. It's not really a matter of numbers. Some sisters simply can't do the night adoration and still function normally throughout the day. Remember, there's no sleeping in because you had adoration the night before. It's one thing to do it once a week but every night or several nights a week is another thing. And if you have just enough nuns to cover the hours than there is no one to cover for someone if they are sick or need a good night's rest.