Recently I went to a talk given by some of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. They are community of Sisters best known for appearing on Oprah. Two of the nuns and once novice recently came to my college to talk about their community and to encourage vocations. They are an absolutely fantastic bunch. The sisters were smart (one was just the valedictorian from Harvard: http://cleansingfire.org/2010/08/harvard-valedictorian-joins-convent/), happy, and most of all holy. They were an absolutely great group of witnesses.
The Dominicans Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist are also experiencing a rather unique problem here in America, they are running out of space. They were founded in 1997 and already have over 100 sisters. The average age is just 26 years of age. They recently welcomed over 25 new postulants and have now run out of room in their Motherhouse in Ann Arbor, MI. They are continually welcoming in classes of over 20 postulants and they are already out of space.
Another community, The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, TN are also expanding. They recently welcomed 27 new postulants. http://nashvilledominican.org/Home
So what is their secret? Why are they expanding while so many others are collapsing? One student here asked that question and the response from one of the sisters was clear: Devotion to Mary, Eucharistic Adoration, and Orthodoxy.
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I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, “Well, DUH!”
If you don’t believe or are not Orthodox, why would anyone join an order?
If you don’t believe, I think even the most obtuse understand why you wouldn’t join.
What’s stunning is people like the CSJ/SSJs and His Excellency the Bishop of Rochester think Orthodoxy doesn’t matter – as if people routinely join organizations they disagree with. And, that’s without giving up sex, family, money, and independence. Sheesh!
I enjoyed this article very much. Thanks Nate. I recently read another article about the Dominican Sisters. very encouraging.