The Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ

Transcription

REGINA
Inspiring. Intelligent. Catholic.
The Secret Catholic Insider’s Guide to
The Dominican Nuns
of Summit, NJ
| Regina Magazine
1
Why are the Sisters so special? Some say that against today’s bleak backdrop
of materialism and care, the Sisters’ monastery is an oasis of truth and beauty.
Whatever the reason, the fact is that increasingly, people are seeking out their
monastery
Today, young women knock on their doors to discern their vocations. Priests
and friars need rest and spiritual renewal. Families visit their daughters. Then,
there’s the ever-increasing faithful, who come to adore Our Lord in the Blessed
Sacrament.
2
Regina Magazine | Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ
The welcome influx of young vocations to these Sisters means that every last cell for professed sisters is filled. The Sisters’ workspace is very limited. They earn their living making
soap, but the ‘Soap Sisters’ gift shop is now in the chapel vestibule; there is not an extra
inch to expand.
Sometimes disabled people can’t enter, because the Sisters’ beautiful chapel is not accessible. And recently, when a Sister’s family traveled from the Midwest to celebrate her Profession, they were forced to have their dinner on the stairs in the cold, unheated vestibule;
there was literally no other place for them.
| Regina Magazine
3
“Nearly every decade since we moved into this monastery in 1939 the question
of adding on a wing and ‘completing’ our monastery has surfaced. Then it was
shelved because of lack of funds,“says Sister Mary Catharine, OP. “As we
approach the 800th anniversary of the Order and our own 100th we believe
that now is the time and we have forged ahead raising funds to build a new
wing.”
4
Click here to visit their website
| Regina Magazine
5
6
Witness
By Peter Kenny
”I was introduced to the Sisters of the Rosary
Shrine by my mother. Every week, she would take
my brothers, sisters and myself to the Rosary Shrine
for Sunday afternoon prayers.”
| Regina Magazine
7
8
“We prayed the Rosary and also often had
Benediction, Stations of the Cross, and
other Marian Devotions.”
| Regina Magazine
9
10 Regina Magazine | Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ
“My First Impressions
of the sisters were
steeped in a
sense of
other
worldliness”
| Regina Magazine 11
“The Shrine chapel of course was
very spiritually uplifting, but there
was more to the setting than simply
the beautiful structure.”
12 Regina Magazine | Domincan Nuns of Summit, NJ
”As a young man I remember well sitting in the
wooden pews - removed from some of my siblings
and mother - considering the magnitude of the
commitment and sacrifice these heroic women
were living on a daily basis.”
”The testament of the sisters’ commitment was
of such magnitude that I felt compelled to
consider my faith in ways that were
significantly more spiritually intimate - more
personal than I had ever considered previously.
I found myself drawn to consider the
meaning of my spiritual wellbeing - the
state of spiritual life - in ways than
required a deeper examination of
meaning.”
Testimony
“My continued commitment to and spiritual bond with the sisters is
rooted in my respect for them and for the unwavering symbol of Divine
love that they both represent and live daily.”
“I am often drawn to the chapel for moments of prayer
before the Blessed Sacrament.”
“I am always provided a respite
from a world that seems unable
to grasp the significance of the
Divine in our
lives, souls and
vocations.”
The Sisters represent a purity of soul
that can only be born through Divine intimacy.
There is nothing in this world that
is of greater value or meaning than
our faith.
Testimony
The Rosary Shrine stands very prominently on a hill - arguably at
one of the most important cross roads of a very influential
community. Summit is the home of more CEOs and high profile
politicians than nearly any other municipality in the NYC area.
Silently, the Rosary Shrine stands. Quietly, the Sisters pray. Daily,
the city of Summit consciously or unconsciously revolves around the
anchor they provide by their presence and prayer. Their presence is without question critically important to the city.
The Rosary Shrine is an
unambiguous, Catholic community of
selfless sacrifice and love completely
committed to service and the Catholic
ideals of virtue, humility and poverty. It is precisely these
characteristics that have drawn so
many souls into the prayer life of the
Sisters. | Regina Magazine 31
Testimony
I am supporting the Sisters for many reasons.
They provided me with shelter when I needed a place to
stay as a young man.
The sisters fed
which to build
d me, they provided me with a context within
d my life in Christ.
Testimony
They taught me how to farm in the garden, a skill I
use to this day.
They ta
aught me the meaning of true love.
These Sisters, the Dominicans of
are my heroines.
f Summit...
Peter Kenny is a major supporter of the Dominicans of
Summit, NJ. Mr. Kenny is an independent market strategist and
consultant, currently acting as Chief Market Strategist for a Wall
Street financial technology firm. He is a regular contributor to
Yahoo Finance and the founder of Kenny’s Commentary
Keep Our Catholi
Just as it was passed dow
Faith to the next generat
Click here to support the Domi
ic Tradition Alive
wn to us, passing on the
tion is our responsibility.
inicans of Summit, New Jersey.
35
SR MARY
JACINTA’S
STORY
DID YOU KNOW YOU HAD A VOCATION?
I was in a Dominican active Community already before I entered the Summit monastery. I
spent two years in formation with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist
at Ann Arbor, Michigan. After prayerful discernment, I felt that Our Lord was calling me to
a much simpler life, but I had no idea what that meant.
One thing I knew is that I never had any desire to be a Cloistered Nun because I was too
active and I could never be able to pray so long. I have always thought that a Cloistered
Nun has to ‘already’ have a very deep prayer and spiritual life, if not mystical.
Due to my active temperament, meditation and contemplation have always been a great
struggle for me, and therefore I relied on spiritual books to keep my mind on God. I
thought you had to be holy before entering.
Sr Mary Jacinta’s Story
After I left Ann Arbor, I knew that I still had a vocation. At least, Our Lord has not removed from
my heart His calling to be a religious. I have promised Our Lord that I will wait before I began
discerning again.
I continued to remain open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit until one night as I went praying
before the Blessed Sacrament, I started to have this simple conversation with Our Lord and all I
said was “Could it be possible that you are calling me to the cloistered life? I kept going back and
forth with that crazy idea and kept saying “No way, that’s not for me”.
So I went to bed still thinking about that conversation and my resistance at the thought of living
my life behind a cloistered wall. Since I have already immersed in the Dominican Spirituality at my
previous Community, I thought a Dominican cloistered community is what I should start with. So
I went online to search for one in New Jersey and the Monastery of Summit came up. I continued
to pray and remain open to God’s will.
WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS?
I contacted Sr. Mary Catharine, the vocation directress. I came for my first initial weekend visit in
November 2009 and stayed in the guest room for a weekend. I was 39 then.
I had planned to spend this weekend listening to God and praying to know His will. I turned off
my cell phone so I could be very attentive for the sole purpose of why I was here. Well, I began
to feel very bored being in a large Chapel alone. The Chapel is absolutely magnificent and very
conducive to prayer and quiet time with Our Lord, but I kept apologizing to Our Lord for wanting
to leave his Presence so quickly to run away from it all. Since at that time, the Sisters did not have
a very good sound system (now we do), their singing sounded beautiful but I could not really hear
the words.
On my second day, I ran to a beauty salon down the street from the monastery that had a special
$25 offer and treated myself to a lovely manicure and pedicure which cheered me up immensely.
Then I came back for my initial talk and meeting with Sr. Mary Catharine.
After she patiently heard my stories, she must have had a feeling of my hesitancy and struggling,
she encouraged me to make an aspirancy. I said to myself “no way” it’s impossible. All I was doing
was setting obstacles in God’s ways, but it wasn’t until I gave my consent to the Holy Spirit to let
Him do His works of grace in my heart, that everything began to fall into place and I began to be
at peace. So I went home and continued to pray and listen to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit.
With the guidance of my spiritual director and the patience and encouragement of Sr. Mary
Catharine, I received the grace to say “Yes” to aspirancy
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY DREW YOU TO THE SISTERS?
First and foremost, Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament drew my heart to Him. Then the authenticity, and the simplicity of the way the Sisters live the life in general, confirmed my deepest desire:
the longing to be united with Our Lord through faithfully living the monastic life and its observances for my own salvation and for the salvation of souls.
HOW DID YOUR FAMILY REACT?
I must say that Our Lord has blessed me with a beautiful and loving family who always gave the
Holy Will of God FIRST PLACE in the lives of their children. My parents were very positive and very
happy because they know they are only “stewards” and not “owners” of their children, and they
could not stand in God’s way. Whatever Our Lord wants for us, they were more than willing to give
Him, even at any price. My baby and only sister is a Missionary of Charity, a Superior for the house
in Birmingham, London (UK). I have 5 brothers (no priest) I thank God greatly for His wonderful
gift of my parents.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE THREE MOST SURPRISING THINGS ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE OF
YOUR VOCATION TO THESE SISTERS?
1. I mentioned how meditation was always a struggle for me. I soon realized that everyone
struggled with it. That’s an encouragement.
2. I also thought that holiness was a prerequisite, I was so glad to see that everyone is not “a
Saint” but is on the way to Sainthood and had to struggle as well with their imperfections.
3. Keeping vigils with a Sister’s coffin in Choir was a little surprising and scary at first. I did not
know if I coul do it. It’s amazing the grace God gave me to feel at peace being alone with a
dead sister during my night guard (adoration).
Sr Mary Jacinta’s Story
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES OF YOUR LIFE SO FAR IN THE CONVENT?
I have several, but the Holy Week celebration in the monastery beginning with Holy Thursday is
one of my favorites. We have the washing of the feet, “the mandatum”, when the prioress kisses
the feet of each Sister as two sister-helpers assist in the washing of the feet. I found this tradition
the most moving and unforgettable memory because it is such a deep expression of Our Lord’s
humility. Jesus, although Lord and Master, stooped down so low to wash his creature’s feet. It
is also a beautiful expression for those who are in a leadership position like a prioress to be the
“servant of all”, just like Our Lord who came to serve and not to be served. What a great lesson
of humility!
My other favorite memory is the spirit of Advent in the monastery. Although we are busy filling
up orders in the soap and candle departments, it’s a different type of busyness than the world
since we always try to keep in mind the meaning of what we are preparing for as we work.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT CONVENT LIFE IS SO ATTRACTIVE TO SO MANY YOUNG
CATHOLICS?
I think from my own experience that young people are looking for truth, beauty and goodness
which define who God is: all Truth, Good and Beautiful. When you find a Community that is
faithful to their Charism and the Spirit of their Founder and a Community that knows what they
are really about and try to live authentically their religious vocation in spite of our own human
limitations in true fraternal charity and the spirit of joy, then for me that is very attractive.
Help plant a seed for
the future of the Faith.
Click here to support the Dominicans of
Summit, New Jersey.
Behind Monast
tery Walls
An Interview with Sister
Mary Veronica
DID YOU KNOW YOU HAD A VOCATION?
I started thinking seriously about the religious
life in seventh grade. At some point, I came
across the community’s blog but I didn’t pay
much attention to it because I wasn’t interested in the cloistered life at the time.
I first visited the Summit monastery a few
weeks after graduating from college. I was 22
years old. Because I’m from the area, I didn’t
come for an overnight visit. Instead, I came to
the parlor to visit for the afternoon.
On my first visit, I met with the novice mistress
and the young sisters. I found them quite lively. When I left I was shocked to realize how
much time had passed. On my second visit I
met and was interviewed by the counsellors.
A few of them were fifty years older than the
aforementioned novices, but they were
lively and engaged too. It was certainly a
relief to see that I could feel at home among
the sisters.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY DREW YOU TO THE SISTERS?
I came here because I wanted to be a Dominican nun. The campus ministry at the
college I attended is staffed by the Dominican friars. I attended Mass on campus
several days a week and was involved in other Catholic community activities. This
let me see the Dominican charism at work. I first visited some active Dominican
sisters, but I realized the demands of an apostolate put constraints on how much
time could be left for prayer and decided to find the nuns.
Behind Monastery Walls
HOW DID YOUR FAMILY REACT?
Initially, no one was happy that I was entering. In addition to objecting
because they would miss me and because they saw my entrance [as] wasted
potential, they also didn’t think I could be happy in a monastery without the
freedom to go out and with the obligation to follow a monotonous schedule
and someone else’s rules.
To be honest, I also wondered about how I would deal with these things, but
I sensed the grace of God in the matter and so I was willing to make the
necessary leap of faith. Four years later, I think they’ve changed their minds.
WHAT HAVE BEEN THE MOST SURPRISING THINGS ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE OF YOUR VOCATIO
The first surprise was that day to day life here is not monotonous. The horarium gives every day a rhyth
goes on. If you have a talent, it will be discovered and used.
The second surprise was how easy I found the initial adjustment to life in the monastery. I’m not sure a
with this, but the exterior observances were not difficult to adopt. Interior conversion takes longer thou
The third surprise is how little known the contemplative life is today. There is a Carmelite monastery in
with some basic knowledge of the cloistered life. When I was preparing to enter, I expected to have to
non-Catholic acquaintances, but as it turns out a lot of Catholics are also unaware of the existence of c
Behind Monastary Walls
ON TO THESE SISTERS?
hm but within that structure a lot
all the sisters here would agree
ugh.
n my hometown, so I grew up
o do a lot of explaining to my
cloistered nuns.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE
MEMORIES OF YOUR LIFE SO
FAR IN THE CONVENT?
I like to tell the story about
how I promised one of the
now deceased older sisters
I would make her favorite
dessert for her feast day. She
seemed unimpressed so I
offered to make something
else if she preferred. Then
she said “No, I like it, but I do
not know how you will make
it.” Her honesty caught me off
guard.
WHY DO YOU THINK THE CONVENT IS SO ATTRACTIVE TO SO
MANY YOUNG CATHOLICS?
I don’t know. I can only speak for myself and say that I had an
overwhelming desire to consecrate my life to God and found the
religious life the most effective way to do so. I imagine that anyone
who would persevere in this life would say something similar.
TIME TO GIVE BACK
So many of us were
educated by the amazing
work of Catholic Sisters.
Summit, New Jersey.
Love
Transforms
You!
An Interview with Sr. Mary Magdalene of the
Immaculate Conception, OP
How did you learn of the Dominican Nuns of
Summit? I actually found them online, but first I had discovered them in the “Blue book”. I was praying a lot
about where God wanted me to be, and I kept seeing
this word “cloistered”.
I thought they’d all died out in the Middle Ages. I
had no idea they were still around. I visited some
nearby Carmelites and as I was driving home
thought to myself, “Those women are crazy.” After a
long pause, I said, “I think I’m crazy, too.”
Then I started looking into the Dominican Nuns and
everything started coming together. | Regina Magazine 63
Hmm…. I loved the magnificently huge church! I also really
wanted to see the other side of the grille. I was also impressed by
their hospitality when they picked me up from the train station all
the stress of traveling was soon forgotten. I love the diversity of
the sisters.
The “most” surprising thing to me is, and I think
will always remain, human nature: the incredibly generous things that people do and the
incredibly selfish things and the same goes for
myself. The incredibly selfish things I do, and
the real moments of grace.
Love Transforms You
Did you know you had a vocation for a long time before this?
I was certain I had a vocation, even before I knew where. I knew in my heart that I wanted to be a nun, but it
took a lot of prayer and grace for me to accept that. I did a lot of praying, and the hard part was accepting it.
From the first time I contacted Summit, I had only known for about three months.
In April of 2008, I had the opportunity to attend the Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium so I made a point of arranging a visit here beforehand. At my first visit I was 20, and 21 when I entered.
What would you say drew you to the Monastery?
Ultimately, God’s grace drew me in. Next, it was really funny things. I loved meeting the Novitiate in the
parlor, the tremendous amount of laughter and joy, and the excitement. It was a very brief visit overall, but I
remember thinking I could see myself fitting in here.
I also recall this extremely strong desire to want to get INSIDE. You can really only tell so much about cloistered life from a conversation, experiencing it is something completely different. That pull to go deeper was
really strong for me.
I like to describe Dominican Spirituality as very balanced. I think our monastery is also like that, balanced. How did your family react?
Just like any controversial subject, you have the extremes. Some acted as if I’d just told them I was volunteering myself to catch a fatal disease and concluded I must be mentally disturbed. Others reacted as if I’d
just won something better than the million dollar jackpot (and in ways I have). The ones who were able to be
most happy for me weren’t thinking about themselves.
Also, I’ve always been an energetic, lively and outgoing person, so
I think the “cloistered nun” idea shocked basically everyone.
My father, who is not Catholic, said, “Well, it wasn’t what I would
have imagined you would do, but if that’s what you think will make
you happy, go for it! We support you.”
Many people think cloistered nuns sit in a corner and pray all day.
We do pray a lot, but the day is VERY dynamic.
I think sometimes people think you enter and give your
heart to Jesus and that’s it. However, you have to decide
EVERYDAY to give your heart to God, because it’s easy
to slowly, piece by piece take it back. That daily surrender
holds a true freedom. | Regina Magazine 71
When you spend a lot of time around the same people, usually
you get to know them pretty well. For example, when you see a
sister, whom you know to be EXTREMELY impatient, being patient
with someone else, then you see fallen human nature conquered
by grace. You only notice because you have a greater insight into
that sister’s struggles. It comes in these tiny moments that look
like nothing on the outside. These moments are the real victory of
God’s love. I find a real joy in that. We want to make an
impression. We want to make a difference and leave something
behind. We want to radically accomplish and succeed.
Love Transforms You
I believe that the culture of today’s youth (which I would still partly consider myself included in) are looking to give meaning to their lives.
All the worldly pursuits will leave one feeling empty and confused. So, we ask the
deeper questions, “What is the meaning of life?”
Love Transforms You
The world is so full of lies and vanity; we seek Truth. The world is so full of noise
that we seek a radical silence.
The world is so full of seeking sexual pleasure, so we seek chastity. The world is
so full of lawless irresponsibility; we seek obedience.
The world is absolutely obsessed with material goods, and we seek poverty. The
world loves instant gratification, and we are thinking about eternity.
These eternal truths
never fade. God remains the same,
yesterday, today, and forever.
Love Transforms You
What do you think draws so many vocations to the Monastery? It’s different for every sister. No matter what, the core has to be a genuine love of God. You have to fall in love
with God, and that love becomes what motivates and drives you. It gets you up in the morning. You do it for
Him and that Love transforms you.
PAY IT FORWARD
Help a thriving Order
grow.
Summit, New Jersey.
Prayer
Cover
An Interview with Fr. Roger Landry on why he
supports the Dominicans of Summit, NJ.
~
The first thing that struck me was how well-informed they are about
what is happening in the Church and in the world. I had
anticipated that cloistered nuns would spend most of their time
worshipping God, learning theology, and growing internally as
individuals and as a community.
~
84 Regina Magazine | Domincan Nuns of Summit, NJ
Prayer Cover
But because the nuns provide
because their principle aposto
very much up to date on what
The first time I met with all of t
of the awareness of the challe
e “prayer cover” for all of the Church’s preaching work as well as
olate is praying for the needs of the Church and the world, they stay
t those needs are.
them in the parlor across the modified grille I was stunned at the depth
enges faced by the Church and society on the other side.
I was also very much impressed by the depth with
which they’ve assimilated the monastic and
theological tradition of the Church and kept it very
much alive and vibrant.
Prayer Cover
They know their foundations, love them, and seek to build themselves firmly
on the foundations bequeathed them by the holy nuns and friars stretching
back to all the way to Prouille and St. Dominic and beyond him to St. Augustine and beyond him back to the early days of the Church.
Another thing that impressed me very much was how they united perpetual
adoration of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist with the perpetual recitation of the
Rosary. Their piety is thoroughly Marian. | Regina Magazine 91
What a solace it is to know that there are women who never cease praying for the needs
of the Church and the world, but in a special way, those who live close to them are particularly lucky that the nuns follow Jesus’ command not only to love God with all their
minds, hearts, souls and strength but also to love their neighbor with special predilection
in their prayers!
In my life and work as a priest, I have grown increasingly dependent on the help of the
Sisters’ prayers. Supporting them, promoting vocations to their community, giving occasional talks for them, and helping them to grow is one of the wisest investments I could
ever make! But at a practical level, I’ve grown to love them all very much as my sisters in
the faith.
Why do you think the Sisters play such an important role for the Catholics in the
Summit area?
They are a tangible reminder of the primacy and presence of God, providing an oasis
where people can come to meet God in prayer, to pray with the sisters, and when needed to receive their advice and their specific prayers for themselves and their loved ones
when they’re in need of prayers.
In a secularist age in which many are structuring their lives and trying to structure society as if God doesn’t exist, in an era in which many believe they no longer have time for
prayer, in a culture in which many are satisfied giving God something rather than giving
him their best and their all, the sisters’ total and free choice to respond to God’s love with
the gift of their own is more eloquent than a thousand mellifluous homilies.
Prayer Cover
“What a solace it is to know that
there are women who never cease
praying for the needs of the Church
and the world”
In a
Materialistic
world, they show us the joy of the
merchant who sold everything to
obtain the pearl of great price.
In a
Hedonistic
world, they radiate the beauty of
the pure, chaste love of God
In a radically individualist,autonomous world,
they show the splendor of the
community dimension of Christian life
and the meaning of true freedom in
saying yes to the call
and will of God.
In a world of the immediate and
provisional
they point us to the eternal. In
a time of celebrity, they show
us the glamour of
being hidden in
God
They’re the ones who remind us of what
the real, real world is while most of the
rest of us are fascinated by the shadows
in Plato’s allegorical cave.
Prayer Cover
Why are you donating funds for this project?
I’ve sacrificed for their building fund because they really need the money to care for
elderly sisters today, to help in the formation of sisters for many decades to come, and
to provide for the opportunity for so many more people to receive graces by associating
themselves with their life.
These repairs will not only help the sisters but allow, for example, those who are handicapped to have access to the oasis of their chapel, to have those who are making a
retreat to have an adequate guest room, to enable those who are discerning vocations to
be able to come and stay at the same time rather than have to juggle schedules because
of lack of space.
Father Roger J. Landry is pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Fall
River, Massachusetts. Fr. Landry writes for many Catholic publications,
including a weekly column for The Anchor, the weekly newspaper of
the Diocese of Fall River. He was an on-site commentator for EWTN’s
coverage of the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis, appears
often on various Catholic radio programs, and is national chaplain for
Catholic Voices USA.
Investing in this building project is investing in all
they do and we all very much need what they’re
doing!
HONOR YOUR
LOVED ONES
~
With a Memorial Gift to Build the
Regina Pacis Gift Shop!
~
The Sisters sorely need an expanded gift shop to sell their
handmade soaps, lotions and rosaries.
NOW, YOU CAN HELP.
When you contribute just $25, $50 or $100, your name -- or
the name of your loved one -- will be memorialized on a
beautiful parchment.
This will be proudly displayed in the
Sisters' new gift shop for decades to come!
What better way is there to honor
the memory of your loved one than
this?
R.
www.reginamag.com

The Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ

Transcription

Similar documents

Drawing Contest! - Regina Public Library

Final Footnotes

Media Back - Arabisk London

IT`S TIME TO PROVE

100 Years of Astronomy in Regina

a campus map - Salve Regina University

View Fitch Catalyst Power Point

8702 BAROOTES WAY Regina

18 and over entry form

File - Our Lady of Peace Regina