Sponsa-Christi Posted November 16, 2015 Posted November 16, 2015 While I was google searching for something unrelated, I came across the website of this new community: http://daughtersofthevirginmother.com/about.html I was just wondering, has anyone heard of them before? (I'm asking for basically academic reasons---as a canonist it's very interesting for me read about new communities and what prompted their development.)
Marie Villalovos Smith Posted November 16, 2015 Posted November 16, 2015 No I haven't, but the Sister in the habit looks awfully familiar to me, but can't place her or a name. Pax
truthfinder Posted November 16, 2015 Posted November 16, 2015 No I haven't, but the Sister in the habit looks awfully familiar to me, but can't place her or a name. Pax You're right; she does look familiar.
Pia Jesu Posted November 16, 2015 Posted November 16, 2015 Forgive me for conjecturing a bit..how about the former Sr. Mary Raphael of the Divine Physician, PCPA (Charlotte, NC & Hanceville)? If so, what an amazing vocation journey! Reminds me of Mother Teresa of Calcutta!
Pia Jesu Posted November 16, 2015 Posted November 16, 2015 Quick response! There is a Catholic News Herald article written by Sr. Mary Raphael of the new community, Daughters of the Virgin Mary! What a wonderful charism... http://www.catholicnewsherald.com/viewpoints/50-news/roknewspager-viewpoints/8840-sister-mary-raphael-lady-of-sorrows-in-faith-she-walked
truthfinder Posted November 16, 2015 Posted November 16, 2015 Forgive me for conjecturing a bit..how about the former Sr. Mary Raphael of the Divine Physician, PCPA (Charlotte, NC & Hanceville)? If so, what an amazing vocation journey! Reminds me of Mother Teresa of Calcutta! Yes, I was thinking OLAM too!
chrysostom Posted November 16, 2015 Posted November 16, 2015 I was captivated by the idea of spiritual motherhood for priests the first I heard of it. It's a wonderful thing and it bears witness to the invisible realities of the economy of grace.
Marie Villalovos Smith Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 Now I know why she looks so familiar. I have watched her though all the different changes she has gone through. But until now I didn't know that she had moved to the Daughters of the Virgin Mary..God bless and keep her
katherineH Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 This is such a beautiful charism! It looks like she is the foundress and currently the only member of the community.
Nunsuch Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 So can it be a "community" with just one member? I thought a community had to have at least 3 to begin the process of recognition.
Makarioi Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 Yes, I was thinking OLAM too! yes, that's her!! I can't recall her name at Hanceville, it was different in Charlotte.
Totally Franciscan Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 At OLAM, her name was Sr. Marie St. Anne.
Feankie Posted November 22, 2015 Posted November 22, 2015 Yes, it indeed looks like the former Alison aka St. Marie St, Anne, PCPA aka Sr. Raphael, PCPA I know she left Hanceville due to illness, but I have no idea why she left Charlotte. Mother never told me and I didn't ask. She just said that she was no longer with them. Hmmmm
Pia Jesu Posted November 22, 2015 Posted November 22, 2015 So can it be a "community" with just one member? I thought a community had to have at least 3 to begin the process of recognition. I e-mailed (using Sponsa-Christi's link) the Daughters of the Virgin Mother and rec'vd a reply confirming that Sr. Mary Raphael is, indeed, the former Hanceville and Charlotte PCPA mentioned in this thread. Interestingly, whoever wrote it said that she was a "member" of the community--so Nunsuch, we'll have to be patient until their website is fully up & running to get further information regarding the number of sisters, canonical status, a specific description of their ministry to priests, etc. The e-mail asked us to continue praying for Sr. Mary Raphael as she begins this new chapter of her religious life. I know there are certain conditions that must be met before a newly-formed community is allowed to wear a habit. The former Daughters of St. Joseph (Louisiana), for example, were not permitted to do so until a certain number of vocations were received. So, the fact that Sr. Raphael is wearing religious garb must mean that the community is established/approved as a private association of the faithful. Hopefully, another forum member knows more about the process...
Nunsuch Posted November 22, 2015 Posted November 22, 2015 Thank you. I do know that such matters can be problematic as a new community is being formed, but I do find it confusing that she seems to be the only member--or, at least, the only one in a habit. I think the same was true for Rosalind Moss when she began her community, too.... I'm just wondering what is going on.
Sponsa-Christi Posted November 22, 2015 Author Posted November 22, 2015 For a new community, I think they can start wearing the habit as soon as the local bishop allows them to.
katherineH Posted November 22, 2015 Posted November 22, 2015 (edited) I met Mother Miriam (former Rosalind Moss) and she explained that for her to establish her community, she had to go complete a novitiate with another community which granted her the ability to wear the habit. So I think the habit designates the completion of stages of formation. She doesn't have any sisters yet (they are arriving in January). This would explain how Sr. Mary Raphael is able to wear a habit - it "carries over" from her years as a Poor Clare. If she were starting as a lay person she would need to start in postulant clothes. Edited November 22, 2015 by katherineH
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