2024 Entrances, Vows, and Ordinations

[Luigi]

2024 Novices in the four Dominican US provinces: 

East (St. Joseph) - 15

Central (St. Albert) - 6

South (St. Martin) - 6

West (Holy Name) - 7

And at the Dominicans of the Perpetual Rosary monastery in Summit, NJ, a novice will profess first vows on August 24. Their FB page has an announcement with a link to watch the livestreamed ceremony. 

[Luigi]

At Our Lady of the Mississpi (Trappist) Abbey, two women professed first vows. There are now four women in the juniorate. https://mississippiabbey.org/first-professions/

[Franciscan Mike]

Hey Luigi!

I know the Novitiate for the Eastern Privince for Novices is St. Gertrude's in Ohio, where are the other novitiates at?

[Luigi]

You're referring to the Dominican novitiates. 

Eastern - St. Gertrude's in Ohio; then they go to Washington DC for the studentate..

Central - Denver, CO, at St. Dominic's parish for the novitiate. They recently expanded that priory to have 10 rooms for novices, and they did that just in time for classes of eight last year and six this year. After first vows, they go to St. Louis, MO for the studentate at Aquinas Institute (AI). AI is right next to St. Louis University (a Jesuit institution), and the AI students can cross-register for certain classes, or finish at AI and then pursue further degrees at SLU.  

Southern - Houston, TX for the novitiate. Then they also go to St. Louis for the studentate at Aquinas institute. St. Dominic's priory in St. Louis has about 50 rooms, but the house is nearing capacity since all the Central and Southern student friars (33 this year) live there, as well as some senior friars (Aquinas faculty, formators, etc.). 

Western - San Francisco, CA for the novitiate. Their studentate is also in San Francisco. 

Edited August 27, 2024 by Luigi

[Franciscan Mike]

On 8/27/2024 at 11:16 AM, Luigi said:

You're referring to the Dominican novitiates. 

Eastern - St. Gertrude's in Ohio; then they go to Washington DC for the studentate..

Central - Denver, CO, at St. Dominic's parish for the novitiate. They recently expanded that priory to have 10 rooms for novices, and they did that just in time for classes of eight last year and six this year. After first vows, they go to St. Louis, MO for the studentate at Aquinas Institute (AI). AI is right next to St. Louis University (a Jesuit institution), and the AI students can cross-register for certain classes, or finish at AI and then pursue further degrees at SLU.  

Southern - Houston, TX for the novitiate. Then they also go to St. Louis for the studentate at Aquinas institute. St. Dominic's priory in St. Louis has about 50 rooms, but the house is nearing capacity since all the Central and Southern student friars (33 this year) live there, as well as some senior friars (Aquinas faculty, formators, etc.). 

Western - San Francisco, CA for the novitiate. Their studentate is also in San Francisco. 

Thanks so m uch for this info and all that you do!   Now on to the Nashville Dominicans and Ann Arbor Dominicans... any word on their new postulant classes???

[Luigi]

I don't have any word on their postulant classes. I did some work with the friars about eight or ten years ago, and I admired them. And all four provinces have strong online presences, so I've followed them for however many years. I have two aunts in one of the women's congregations, and I follow them, too. But there are just too many other congregations and monasteries for me to keep up with. But I'm sure the Nashville and Ann Arbor congregations have strong online presences, too - you can probably look them up pretty quickly. 

[KaytePost]

On 8/28/2024 at 6:50 PM, Franciscan Mike said:

Thanks so m uch for this info and all that you do!   Now on to the Nashville Dominicans and Ann Arbor Dominicans... any word on their new postulant classes???

The DSMMEs had  2 postulants this year 

Nashies had 11 postulants enter this year.

Both communities have posted pictures on their Facebook and other social media. 

The Religious Sisters of Mercy Alma had 6 postulants enter on Aug 6

[KaytePost]

16 minutes ago, KaytePost said:

The Religious Sisters of Mercy Alma had 6 postulants enter on Aug 6

Whoops 4 this year. 6 was last year 

[Franciscan Mike]

On 9/8/2024 at 6:21 PM, KaytePost said:

The DSMMEs had  2 postulants this year 

Nashies had 11 postulants enter this year.

Both communities have posted pictures on their Facebook and other social media. 

The Religious Sisters of Mercy Alma had 6 postulants enter on Aug 6

WOW!!!!! WHAT'S GOING ON with the SDMME's?  They usually have 10+ postulants.  Their classes seem to be getting smaller.  A couple of their schools also replaced the Sister/Principal with a Lay Principal.  Sounds like they are having some problems?

 

[Lea]

In other news, I am currently preparing to enter the noviciate by the end of the month and while I do look forward to it, I am also pretty terrified ? so, I'd be super grateful for your prayer! Know that I'm also praying for you!

[Nunsuch]

22 hours ago, Franciscan Mike said:

WOW!!!!! WHAT'S GOING ON with the SDMME's?  They usually have 10+ postulants.  Their classes seem to be getting smaller.  A couple of their schools also replaced the Sister/Principal with a Lay Principal.  Sounds like they are having some problems?

 

I don't think there is a "problem." With the new leadership in the congregation, which included a new vocation director, I think there is greater selectivity. There were concerns, I believe, that admission was not as rigorous as it should have been, with a considerable number of women leaving even before novitiate. 

[Luigi]

7 hours ago, Lea said:

In other news, I am currently preparing to enter the noviciate by the end of the month and while I do look forward to it, I am also pretty terrified ? so, I'd be super grateful for your prayer! Know that I'm also praying for you!

Congratulations on your entrance! And you are now officially on the refrigerator prayer list! 

I'm sure it will be a new, and therefore somewhat challenging experience, but probably no worse than other new experiences you've had - surviving summer camp, starting high school, going off to college, starting a new job, and so forth. You made it through those, and you'll make it through this!

[Franciscan Mike]

  · 

I found this on the facebook page Priests in Habits and thought I would share it here.  Hope it's ok!!!

Please join us in giving thanks to God, as this year we welcome seven novices! They come from all over the country. Here are their names in order of their appearance in the photo (working from Br. Michael on the left to Br. Charbel on the right).

1. Br. Michael (CPS ’20) is named after St. Michael the Archangel. The archangel has been given many titles and yet the meaning of his name (i.e., “Who is like God?”) reveals his most important quality – humility.

2. Br. Gideon is named after St. Gideon in Scripture (cf. Judges 6–8). The story of Gideon tells how he faced the Midianites with an ever smaller army and ever greater reliance on God. He inspires us always to trust in God’s power.

3. Br. Elijah is named after the prophet Elijah. His name means “God is my god,” the god “whom I cannot control and whom I cannot understand.” Against all idolatry, the prophet follows the living voice of God leading us deeper into his loving design.

4. Br. Jerome is named after St. Jerome, a master of languages with a deep love for Scripture. St. Jerome once wrote, “I beg of you … to live among the Scriptures, to meditate upon them, to know nothing else.... Does not such a life seem to you a foretaste of heaven?”

5. Br. Anselm is named after St. Anselm of Canterbury. This name recalls the first abbot of Our Lady of Dallas, in addition to the saint, whose theology Br. Anselm has already enjoyed exploring in his work as a youth minister.

6. Br. Gerard is named after Bl. Gerard. He was a knight who followed his brother – St. Bernard – into the monastery after struggling with God. He was a courageous, practical and honest man, someone dearly beloved by St. Bernard.

7. Br. Charbel (CPS ’20) is named after St. Charbel, who never moved far from the Lebanese village where he was born. After his death in 1898 has been credited with over 25,000 miracles. Br. Charbel, who also comes from a Lebanese family, remembers visiting the saint’s tomb when he was five years old, as well as entrusting his vocation to him later in life.

Please pray for these young men! May the Lord “send laborers into his harvest!” (Luke 10:2)

 

[Luigi]

@Franciscan Mike - Certainly it's okay! Thanks for posting! Our Lady of Dallas has had a pretty steady stream of vocations for a while, but I don't remember them ever having seven novices in one year! WOW!

[Luigi]

From St. Jude monastery, Dominicans of Perpetual Adoration:

October 30, 2024Vocation News

A New Novice

The Dominican Nuns joyfully announce the vestition of their postulant, Sister Karina, on October 27, the vigil of the feast of Sts. Simon and Jude. In a simple ceremony marking the beginning of her two years of novitiate, Sister Karina received the holy habit of the Dominican Order, and her new religious name:

Sister Mary Catherine de la Guadalupana, O.P.

Please keep Sister Mary Catherine in your prayers as she sets out on this new stage of her Dominican vocation, that she may fulfill the words from the ceremony’s concluding prayer: “May you apply yourself assiduously to following our Holy Father St. Dominic so that you may be ready for the day of your espousals to Jesus Christ.”

[lay associate]

New novice for the Handmaids of the Precious Blood

https://nunsforpriests.org/new-novice-sister-therese-bernadette/

[Lou]

Mt St Mary's Abbey, Wrentham, MA, USA https://msmabbey.org/news/welcome-caitlyn

https://msmabbey.org/news/welcome-caitlyn

November 2, 2024

Caitlyn entered as a postulant on All Saints' Day.  She received a white hooded garment for choral prayer, which reminds her, and all of us, that we are not alone as we come together to sing God's praises seven times a day.  As St Benedict says in chapter 19 of his Rule:

"We believe that the divine presence is everywhere and that "the eyes of the Lord
are looking on the good and the evil in every place" (Prov. 15:3). But we should believe this especially without any doubt when we are assisting at the Work of God. To that end let us be mindful always of the Prophet's words, "Serve the Lord in fear" (Ps. 2:11) and again "Sing praises wisely" (Ps. 46[47]:8) and "In the sight of the Angels I will sing praise to You" (Ps. 13[14]7:1). Let us therefore consider how we ought to conduct ourselves in sight of the Godhead and of His Angels, and let us take part in the psalmody in such a way that our mind may be in harmony with our voice."

May all the saints and angels encourage Caitlyn on her way!

 

St Mary's Abbey, Glencairn, Ireland www.glencairnabbey.org

November 28, 2024

Welcome to our new postulant

On November 25th we were delighted to welcome Marlena Kowalska from Poland. Marlena entered the novitiate as a postulant following participation in a Monastic Weekend Experience in 2023 and a period as an observer earlier this year. Marlena has considerable experience in the computer software industry and has been interested in Cistercian life for some time. We ask you to remember our young sisters and their formators in prayer.

[Franciscan Mike]

ARE YOU STARTING A NEW PAGE FOR 2025 LUIGI?

[Luigi]

I certainly can, although no one needs my permission to start a thread. 

I'll do that now. 

[Franciscan Mike]

Thanks!!!  I don;t know how to do that but I love following!!!!!!  Pleas send me the link!!

 

Archdiocese of Detroit ordained 4 to the Transitional Diaconate today!!!!  I belie Arlington will have a big ordination class this year.. Anybody else have any information????