Nun news roundup

Nun news roundup August 27, 2009

Nun News Network International
Logo by reader Brian J

It’s that time of year again, when seminaries, convents, friaries and some monastic houses are welcoming their newest entrants, and I love catching up with the news in all these orders. This only scratches the surface; lots of communities either don’t blog or don’t put news up on their websites.

“We can hardly build fast enough to keep up with the growth of the community!”

The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, will be welcoming 17 postulants into their house, tomorrow afternoon.

21-year old Amanda Ayar…met the community in 2005 when she was invited to attend a final profession of vows. She recalled, “As soon as I saw the Sisters they all seemed to be glowing and filled with so much joy, and I think it was at that time that I knew in my heart that I would end up in this community one day.”

Ayar noted that even though it hasn’t been easy turning from the lifestyle the media offers, she had a longing for “something more than the world had to offer.”

“I’m so excited that it’s finally happening. I’m finally becoming a Sister! I feel as though my longing to be with God and to serve Him always as His bride is finally coming to be and I’m very excited about that,” she exclaimed.

The community just clothed 9 new novices, celebrated 9 First Professions and 5 Solemn Vows.

Down in Nashville, the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia welcomed 23 new postulants into their community on August 17, and continue to establish their foundation in Australia. No pictures up yet, but they also celebrated clothings, first professions and solemn vows this month. The Nashville Dominicans are a little powerhouse of young energy that has never lacked for vocations.

For something completely different, These 10 Episcopal Nuns are about to be received into the Roman Catholic Church, along with their chaplain. Click here for slideshow.

Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, new novices, shorn, veiled and named, ready to serve the poor.

Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, a great order of active/contemplative sisters, celebrated a final profession, three first professions and clothed three new novices. Postulants on the way!

Sisters of Life; They don’t blog. They don’t post news. They just keep clothing new novices, and admitting postulants, and growing like wildfire. They also received two first professions, and two final vows.

Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church, welcomed 4 new candidates. They are a fairly new order, comprised of sisters who have come back into communion with Rome from this community.

Sisters of St. Francis, of the Martyr St. George, another order that has never lacked for vocations, does it all on one day, their “feastday” – clothings, vows, professions, a very joyful order, and their postulants will arrive soon.

Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Los Angeles receives two new postulants, and a final profession. I believe they have 7 aspirants, currently.

Franciscan Sisters, Peoria, a solemn profession, blogged by a novice.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters keep growing

On the Monastic Side:

The Benedictines of Mary at Ephesus
are a by-the-Rule-of-Benedict new communtiy that is just exploding with young vocations seeking that most practical of monastic rules. They’ve broken ground on their new house, recently clothed three new novices and welcomed 3 or 4 postulants. They’ll be celebrating the first vows of one novice in January.

The Passionists in Kentucky welcome their new aspirant who authored this moving meditation as she made her way there.

Our good friends from Summit, NJ are making progress on their renovations and also in their novitiate, where they currently have one Simply professed sister, two novices, one postulant and (via a little birdie) one young women hoping to enter soon, and could use prayers for her intention. The Sisters have published a very neat book of photos and essays describing their enclosed lives of prayer. No pictures of them making their great soaps, though!

St. Jude’s Monastery, in Marbury, AL – which had dwindled to danger point, received the first profession of their novice, Sr. Mary Jordan, and welcomed a new postulant last week.

The very traditional and beautiful Carmelite Monastery of Kirk Edge, Sheffield, has a new postulant from America, and another American hopeful who also could use some prayers in getting some last obstacles overcome. These ladies practice a very austere lifestyle -St. Teresa of Avila would feel comfortable in it- and are welcoming of “older” vocations, so I like to talk them up!

Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate: Two solemn professions

The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration in Arizona, aka The Desert Nuns will welcome a second postulant to their community on September 14, which will put them “at capacity” until their roomier digs are built. They have 15 young women discerning vocations with them. Meanwhile, the PCPA’s in Texas, who are attached to this Roman Catholic-Anglican Use community, saw a perpetual profession recently.

Trinitarians of Mary: “Contemplatives for the third millenium” Seem to be experiencing rapid growth.

Rock Island Benedictines: receives a new novice

The Carmel in Savannah, is growing

Not to leave out the guys…

Related: When your Daughter Becomes a Sister

Finally, here is a really good Video Vocation Guide for both men and women.

If you like reading about these young people pursuing their vocations, you might want to consider contributing to either the Laboure Society or the Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations, two excellent organizations which help hopeful priests and religious to clear away financial obstacles, in particular student loans, so they may get on with the business of answering the call of the Lord.


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