Dominican Nuns Drogheda launch new website

Our Dominican contemplative nuns in Siena Monastery in Drogheda, County Louth launched a new website for the community today August 8th- to coincide with the feast of Saint Dominic. You can find it here and it is well worth a visit!

The attractive website gives a very good insight into the life and ministry of the nuns. It boasts up to date information on upcoming events, vocations, preaching, reflections, the hospitality afforded to guests and much more.

The nuns are also Facebook (search for Dominican Nuns Ireland) and also host a blog - www,dominicannunsireland.blogspot.com

Unique vocations event at Siena monastery, Drogheda

A vocations event with a difference will take place at the Dominican monastery of Saint Catherine of Siena, Drogheda, County Louth on Saturday March 1st next. The event is unique in that it is a collaborative project of the Dominican nuns at Siena monastery and the recently arrived Franciscan sisters of the Renewal to the town of Drogheda.

The one day event is primarily for young women to spend a day of retreat and recollection to consider the call of the Lord in their lives. There will be testimony from both sets of sisters, time for Eucharistic adoration, input on the nature of religious life, question and answer sessions, celebration of the Eucharist and more.

To reserve a place for this important event you should contact Sr Niamh OP (siena3@eircom.net) or the Franciscan sisters on +353 41 9830441.

Master of the Order visits Dominican nuns in Drogheda, Co Louth.

The community of Dominican nuns at Siena monastery in Drogheda with fr Bruno Cadore, fr Dominic Izzo and fr Gerard Dunne (vicar of the master of the Order for the monastery)

The Master of the Dominican Order (fr Bruno Cadore OP) is currently visiting the friars of the Irish Dominican province. This formal visit, called a 'canonical visitation' is an opportunity for the head of the Order to meet with all the communities and friars of the province and to discuss how our lives as friars are being lived at this time. Fr Bruno is accompanied by a socius, or assistant, fr Dominic Izzo OP ( a friar of the Saint Joseph Province in the United States).

The Master of the Order also has responsibility for the Dominican contemplative nuns throughout the world, including the Dominican nuns at the monastery of Saint Catherine of Siena in Drogheda, County Louth. Last Thursday I was privileged to accompany fr Bruno and fr Dominic as they visited the nuns. It was a wonderful meeting with lively discussion and brought home the closeness of the contemplative nuns to the friars of the Order. The friars are heavily dependent on the prayers of the nuns for the preaching mission of the Order. May that close bond of friendship and prayer sustain us.

Pro Orantibus Day - the contemplative vocation.

Today's feast of the Presentation of Mary (November 21st) is also a day designated by the church to honour those men and women who live a cloistered and contemplative life and vocation - Pro Orantibus Day. As a church we are asked to offer spiritual and material support to those in religious life who have dedicated their lives to prayer and sacrifice.

In celebrating the feast today, Pope Francis visited cloistered nuns in Rome. In his address, the Holy Father explained that Mary understood that the will of God outlines a higher law and he reflected on Our Lady's unconditional love and trust and described her as a role model for all Christians. In a real sense, those who live the cloistered contemplative life conform their lives in imitation of our Blessed Mother.

The Dominican family in Ireland is blessed to have our own contemplative Dominican nuns at the monastery of Saint Catherine of Siena in Drogheda, County Louth. Today we pray for them in a special way and ask that their dedication to Mary, the Mother of God will give them abundant graces and blessings - and new vocations too. Visit their website www.dominicannuns.ie 

Dominican nuns in Drogheda celebrate first profession

Sr Mary Cathy Howard OP who made first profession today

The Dominican contemplative nuns at Siena monastery in Drogheda, County Louth celebrated the first profession of Sr Mary Cathy Howard today February 2nd - the feast of the Presentation and the world day for consecrated life.

The profession ceremony took place during the celebration of the eucharist and Sr Mary Cathy was joined by her family and friends, her community at the monastery, Dominican friars, sisters of the Cabra congregation and members of the Dominican laity.

Sr Mary Cathy, who is from Dublin, has completed her novitiate, made profession in the hands of the prioress, Sr Mary Breda Carroll using the following formula:

I, Sister Mary Cathy Howard, make profession, and promise obedience to God, and to Blessed Mary and to Blessed Dominic, and to the Master of the Order of Friars Preachers, Brother Bruno Cadoré;

and to you Sister Mary Breda Carroll, Prioress of this Monastery of St Catherine of Siena, Drogheda; and to your successors, according to the Rule of Blessed Augustine and the Constitutions of the Nuns of the Order of Preachers that I will be obedient to you and to your successors, for three years.

 

This joyful event for the Dominican nuns in Drogheda is an important event in the life of that community and also for all Dominicans in Ireland. It follows the first profession of Sr Sabine Schratz of the Cabra Dominican sisters yesterday.

The Dominican nuns in Drogheda, who live a life centred on prayer and adoration of the Most Blessed Eucharist are the only community of contemplative Dominican nuns in Ireland. You can learn more about their way of life by visiting their website www.dominicannuns.ie and their blog www.dominicannunsireland.blogspot.com

Below are some images from the profession ceremony today:

Sr Mary Cathy makes profession in the hands of the prioress, Sr Mary Breda

Sr Mary Cathy with her parents at the reception following her profession

Left to right: Sr Mairead (novice mistress), Sr Mary Cathy and Sr Mary Breda cutting the celebratory cake

Sr Mary Cathy with members of her family

Sr Mary Cathy with fr Gerard Dunne OP, vicar of the Master of the Order to Dominican nuns at Siena monastery in Drogheda

  

Dominican Nuns Drogheda - Vocation Weekends

The Dominican nuns at Siena Convent Drogheda, County Louth have organised a number of vocation weekends during the coming year. These 'formal' weekends are provided for single women who are attracted to the way of life of the sisters. Apart from the dates below, other weekends can be arranged by contacting the vocations promoter Sr Mairead OP.

The scheduled dates for these monastic weekends are as follows:

February 15th to 17th, 2013
March 8th to 10th, 2013
April 26th to 28th, 2013
May 17th to 19th, 2013
September 13th to 15th, 2013
October 25th to 27th, 2013

Further information can be had by contacting Sr Mairead OP, Monastery of Saint Catherine of Siena, The Twenties, Drogheda, Co. Louth. Tel +353 (0)41 983 8524; Email: siena3@eircom.net or visit www.dominicannuns.ie and www.dominicannunsireland.blogspot.com 

The video above is a talk on vocational discernment by Sr Mary Theresa OP, of the Siena Convent community in Drogheda.

Dominican Nuns Drogheda Vocation Weekends

The contemplative Dominican nuns living near Drogheda, Co Louth, have prepared live-in weekend experiences for women who may be interested in becoming a Dominican nun.

Three weekends have been organised for the period before Christmas 2012.

The dates are 14th-16th September, 26th-28th October, 16th-18th November.

For further information, contact Sister Mairéad, Monastery of St Catherine of Siena, The Twenties, Drogheda, Co Louth.

The monastery website: http://www.DominicanNuns.ie

'Are You Happy'?

The monastery of Saint Catherine of Siena, Drogheda, Co. Louth

The reflection below in italics from one of the community of Dominican nuns at Siena monastery in Drogheda, Co. Louth deserves to be shared with as many as possible. The reflection is a response to a questioner at the recently held Dominican family vocations day in Saint Saviour's Priory in Dublin on March 24th last. It captures the essence of the vocation of the contemplative Dominican nun, but also should prove helpful to anyone considering the Dominican way of life. Here is the reflection, which can also be accessed at the blog of the Dominican nuns http://www.dominicannunsireland.blogspot.com/

Some weeks ago now, there was held in Dublin, a vocations day for the Dominican Family, at which one person from each ‘branch’ (i.e. friars, sisters, nuns and lay Dominicans) – spoke a little on their path to where they now are. One of the nuns (this one) I don’t know what happened to her, but not to be remembered if at all possible. It caused one of the listeners to ask ‘Are you happy?’ and I don’t know if I even answered the question – rather helplessly, I’m afraid. Something along the lines of ‘our life is needed’! Very lame, like a saturated sponge, pretty awful.



That was a while ago, and obviously not far from my mind since, but here during our retreat, I was dreaming with the Lord in the garden – which is not unusual – and in God it was that my answer was found.


We don’t ‘go out’ as such; our whole life here is lived here, for the most part lived within the walls and garden of the monastery. If you were to ask many of the sisters here, they would tell you that they all have a missionary heart within them. To go where there is need and bring the Lord with them, to the poor and the sick and the troubled in whatever way. It’s in a sense peculiar, but there it is – true none the less.


I am not God, nor am I like Him – even remotely – but I love Him and through baptism, I am in Him. My whole life here is lived in God, in the heart of the Lord – He is everywhere, at every moment. I was smelling the sea, and we are very far from the sea here; but the breeze carried it to the garden, and that sense came over me, which has done so before – a realisation that I don’t have to be everywhere; only here, in God. I can’t go everywhere for God, but if I remain in Him, and He is with me, He makes everywhere to be where I am. He brings everywhere to me.


My favourite place in all the world is off the west coast of Ireland, so whenever He brings the sea to me, I am there – out in the middle of the ocean, on a small little island that nowhere can compare to. Out in the middle of the wild, unpredictable ocean – often disturbed and stormy; very often restless and even angry. It depends on the weather.

If you are still with me … it made me wonder about ‘we Irish’; even not only Irish, but ‘we who live on the land of Ireland’ – we are used to unpredictable, disturbing, angry, restless weather, are we not? I think we could easily translate the weather outside to the history of the country through which we are living now – even in the Church. The storm is quite violent, and it seems to be attacking us at our very roots; even deeper – on the floor of the ocean – down there where it’s as though the earth’s plates are rubbing against each other, wreaking chaos.


And that seems to me to be the answer to the question asked those weeks ago – a part of the answer – about our life here; for us who so so love the Church, and long so much more than can be put into words, for her unity and healing – our life is to be the offering of our living blood, that it may sink into that foundation, to fall between the plates in a sense, the blood that can fill in the cracks and join them, if that makes sense. As we were reminded during the week; we belong, as a Church, out in the middle of the storm, not safely tied up at the harbour (I’m not a sailor, don’t know the language, sorry) – if we stay faithfully there, Jesus will come to us, as He did to the disciples: ‘It is I: do not be afraid’. Col. 1:24 – 26 (making up all that has still to be undergone by Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the Church) - I don’t think you could call it a question of happiness; definitely an aching desire that the world may come to know the joy of Christ; the wonder of His mercy and love. There is nowhere in the world I’d rather be. For Him. …. and for you.

New Publication: 'The Dominican Way'

I have just finished reading a new book 'The Dominican Way' edited by Lucette Verboven with an introduction by English Dominican Timothy Radcliffe OP. It is published by Continuum, runs to just over 200 pages and is reasonably priced in Ireland at €12.95.

The author is a Flemish writer and film producer and interviewed 17 contemporary Dominicans both male and female about their lives as members of the Order of Preachers. It is a fascinating read, because almost all who are interviewed give an account of their reasons for joining the Order. Some are well known - Timothy Radcliffe, Jean Jacques Perennes, Kim en Joong, Helen Alford - others less so. But it is the contribution of Irish Dominican nun Sr Breda Carroll of the Dominican community at Siena monastery in Drogheda that caught my attention more than most. When asked in the interview for this book what her greatest joy is, she responds 'The joy of being here (in Siena monastery, Drogheda). If I had to start over, I would choose it again. The words that come to my mind are those of Blessed Reginald, quoted by Blessed Jordan of Saxony in his book the Libellus that tells the story of the foundation of the Order. He says that he had no merit because he experienced such joy in the Order. I can identify with those words: I love liturgy, Eucharistic adoration, community life. Living in community which hasn't always been painless, has brought me a great joy because we are basically a united community. I often wonder why God chose me from an insignificant family and an insignificant background to enter a monastery. I can only marvel at God's goodness to me.'

Sr Breda's contribution above in many ways mirrors those other Dominican men and women interviewed for this excellent book. It is a timely reminder for those interested in joining our way of life that there are a thousand reasons for wanting to be a Dominican but there is only one reason why we ultimately stay.

This book will now become essential reading for all new enquirers to the Dominican way of life.

Dominican nuns in Drogheda offer vocation weekends

Sisters Mairead, Teresa, Kathy and Breda.

The contemplative Dominican nuns at Siena Convent, Drogheda in County Louth are offering the opportunity to women to experience their life, prayer and community living at two scheduled vocation weekends in the near future. The dates are 14th to 16th October 2011 and 11th to 13th November 2011.

These weekends are designed to assist women interested in Dominican contemplative life by means of conferences, opportunities for personal prayer and communal prayer, reflection and the chance to speak about vocational discernment with some of the sisters.

The sisters at Siena convent are the only community of contemplative Dominican women in Ireland. While the main focus of the community is prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, they are also engaged in other activities to assist with the upkeep of the community. The sisters have in the past year had two solemn professions and currently have one novice. For more information on the life and work of the nuns, please visit their website and blog. If you would like to avail of a contact form for these weekends, please click here.

Substantial increase in interest in Dominicans in Ireland

Readers of this blog will be aware of the recent solemn profession of Sr Mary Teresa Dunphy OP at Siena Monastery in Drogheda, County Louth. The newly released video above of the liturgy during which solemn profession is made gives another glimpse into the solemnity of the occasion - and the nature of the seriousness of making a commitment to the contemplative aspect of the Dominican way of life.

Sr Teresa's solemn profession as a Dominican nun comes at the mid point of 2011 which will see a surge in activity of new membership in the Dominican family in Ireland. It is appropriate to state that there has been a renewed interest in the Dominican charism and spirituality in recent years.

This is evidenced by (1) a dramatic increase in the number of enquirers to the Cabra Dominican sisters. Later this month they will hold interviews to accept new candidates to their form of life. (2) The Lay Dominicans in Ireland have experienced unprecedented growth in the past couple of years - culminating with the beginnings of a new group (chapter) of young Lay Dominicans about to be established in Queens University in Belfast. New young members have also been added to chapters in Kilkenny, Dublin and Belfast. (3) The solemn profession of Sr Teresa Dunphy at Siena monastery in Drogheda is the second such profession for the Domincan nuns in the past year. There is also a novice in the monastery at the moment. (4) The friars of the Irish Dominican province will this year have three of our brothers ordained to the priesthood, three brothers will make solemn profession and hopefully by September of this year three will have made simple profession. The friars will also be receiving new novices in autumn of this year.

For further information on the various branches of the Dominican family in Ireland, please visit the websites of the Lay Dominicans, the Cabra Dominican sisters, the Dominican nuns at Siena monastery in Drogheda, and the friars of the Irish Dominican province.

Laois Dominican nun makes final profession in Siena Convent Drogheda, Co Louth

Sr M Teresa prostrates before the altar before making profession and seeks the mercy of God

There was great joy and delight for the enclosed Dominican nuns who are based in Drogheda, Co. Louth, and for the wider Dominican family in Ireland today as Sr Mary Teresa Dunphy OP made her solemn profession.

I, Sister Mary Teresa Dunphy make profession, and promise obedience to God...........that I will be obedient to you and your successors, until death.

Final profession, called "solemn profession" among Dominicans, is the final commitment a men or woman makes to remaining a Dominican brother or sister for life.

Originally from County Laois, Sr M.Teresa entered the Dominican monastery in 2005 at the age of 26, after having qualified and worked as a chartered accountant.

She and the Dominican community of nuns Drogheda, Co Louth were joined by family, friends and members of the Dominican Order for 12.30 p.m.  Mass during which the profession ceremony took place.

Sister M.Teresa is the second Dominican nun to make solemn profession in her monastery in 13 months, Sr Niamh Muireann Galvin having made solemn profession in 2010. The monastery currently has one sister in formation as a novice.

Left to right: Sr Breda Caroll OP (prioress), Sr Mary Teresa, Sr Mairead Mullen (novice mistress)

Sr Mary Teresa with her parents

Sr Mary Teresa with her brothers and sister

For more information about the Irish Dominican contemplative nuns, see their website and their blog:
http://www.dominicannuns.ie/
http://dominicannunsireland.blogspot.com/

Irish Dominican contemplative nun speaks about her vocation

Sr Mary Teresa Dunphy OP is a member of the community of the contemplative Dominican nuns in Drogheda, Co. Louth. She is preparing to make her solemn (perptual) profession next month (June 29th, 2011). In this video, she speaks about her vocation story, with a particular emphasis on discernment. In listening to her reasons for wanting to join the Domincan nuns, you will note that there is a universality about the vocational call, while everyone has a very different story to tell as to how they get there in the end. This talk was given as part of the annual Dominican family vocations day held in March of this year.

For more information on the Dominican contemplative nuns, please visit their website www.dominicannuns.ie or their blog www.dominicannunsireland.blogspot.com Irish Dominican Vocations asks you to remember Sr Teresa in your prayers as she continues her preparation for her solemn profession.

Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum

I will be spending the Paschal Triduum with our contemplative Dominican nuns in Drogheda, Co. Louth this year. The triduum is that period of three days from Holy Thursday, beginning with the Mass of the Lord's Supper and concluding with vespers on Easter Sunday. For those wanting to join with the nuns for these days, the timetable is as follows:

Holy Thursday:
6.30pm - Mass of the Lord's Supper.

Good Friday:
6.55am - Office of Readings
8.30am - Lauds and Terce
11.20am - Midday Prayer
3.00pm - Celebration of the Lord's Passion
6.15pm - Compline

Holy Saturday:
6.55am - Office of Readings
8.30am - Laudes and Terce
12.45pm - Midday Prayer
3.00 pm - Afternoon Prayer
5.30 pm - Vespers
9.30 pm - Easter Vigil Ceremonies and Mass

Easter Sunday:
9.00 am - Lauds
10.10am - Terce
10.30am - Mass
1.00pm - Midday Prayer and Rosary
3.30pm - Afternoon Prayer
6.30pm - Vespers, followed by Compline

Joy as Dominican nuns in Drogheda give habit to new novice

 Left to right: Sr. Mairead OP (novice mistress), Sr Teresa OP, Sr Mary Cathy and Sr Breda (prioress)

The call to the Dominican way of life takes many forms. The Dominican family is made up of four parts - the apostolic sisters, the Dominican laity, the friars and finally the nuns (contemplative). There is one monastery of contemplative Dominican nuns in Ireland - based in Drogheda at the Monastery of Saint Catherine of Siena. It is more popularly known as Siena Monastery.

Yesterday was a very important day for that community as it clothed in the habit of the Order, Sr Mary Cathy Howard. Sr Cathy has spent a period of time as a postulant in the community, and has now received the habit of the Order. During the novitiate, she will continue to discern her vocation with this contemplative community. As Sr Breda, prioress of Siena monastery reminded Sr Cathy yesterday during the clothing ceremony as she offered herself to the community " ...we can trust the One into Whose Hands we entrust ourselves, with all that we are and have – He will not test us beyond our strength but will give us grace and strength in time of need..." This act of receiving the habit by Sr Mary Cathy is a very important moment for our Dominican sisters in Drogheda, and we pray that they will continue to receive vocations into the future.

Irish Dominican Vocations wishes Sr Cathy every blessing as she takes this new step in her Dominican life. For a more full account of this event, please see the blog of the Dominican nuns at Drogheda www.dominicannunsireland.blogspot.com

The 'O' Antiphons - Dominican Nuns Drogheda

The Dominican nuns at Siena Monastery, Drogheda, Co Louth are the only community of monastic Dominican nuns in Ireland. Their life of prayer, contemplation, study and community is a vital witness of the Dominican Order in Ireland. The friars of the Irish Dominican province receive huge support from the prayers of the nuns and we are very much in their debt. As vocations promoter for the friars in Ireland, I try as much as possible to highlight the vocation of our nuns in Droegheda as well. In trying to promote their way of life during this season of Advent, I am posting videos of the nuns singing the beautiful 'O' antiphons which are chanted in the ocatve before Christmas. The 'O' antiphons refer to the seven antiphons that are recited (or chanted) preceding the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours. They cover the special period of Advent preparation known as the Octave before Christmas, Dec. 17-23, with Dec. 24 being Christmas Eve and Vespers for that evening being for the Christmas Vigil. The videos also include some still photos of the life and work of the Dominican nuns at Siena monastery. For more information see http://www.dominicannunsireland.blogspot.com/ or http://www.dominicannuns.ie/

Dominican Nuns Drogheda - Solemn Profession Video

As noted elsewhere in this blog, the Dominican contemplative nuns at Siena Convent, Drogheda, Co. Louth celebrated the solemn profession of their sister Niamh Muireann OP on May 31st last. It was a very joyful event and the nuns have published a short video of the event as seen above. The nuns also have a very good blog http://www.dominicannunsireland.blogspot.com/ and an excellent website http://www.dominicannuns.ie/

The contemplative Dominican vocation of the nuns at Drogheda draws many to enquire about their life. To that end, the nuns hold vocation (come and see) weekends on a regular basis and in the recent past have offered a one day experience for those interested in konowing about the work and prayer of the community. Please refer to their blog and website for more information.

Solemn Profession of Sr Niamh Muireann Galvin OP

Today, May 31st, the feast of the Visitation, was a very special day for all Irish Dominicans and particularly for our Dominican nuns at Siena Monastery, Drogheda, County Louth. Today the nuns celebrated the solemn profession of one of their sisters, Sister Niamh Muireann OP (pictured above). By making solemn profession, Sr Niamh gives her life to God and the contemplative community of nuns in Drogheda until death.

The Mass, including the rite of profession, was a very moving celebration and a reminder to all of us who were there, and all others of the call of the Lord to us in our lives.

This is the formula of profession that Sr Niamh made today in the hands of the prioress of the monastery Sr Mairead Mullen OP: I, sister Niamh Muireann.....promise obedience to God, and to blessed Mary and to blessed Dominic, and to Fr Carlos Aspiroz Costa, Master of the Order of Friars Preachers and to you Sr Mairead Mullen, prioress of this monastery of Saint Catherine of Siena, Drogheda and to your successors, according to the rule of blessed Augustine and the Constitutions of the Nuns of the Order of Preachers, that I will be obedient to you and your successors, until death.

Irish Dominican Vocations wishes Sr Niamh every blessing on this day of her solemn profession. For more information on the Dominican nuns at Siena Convent, Drogheda see their website: http://www.dominicannuns.ie/

Dominican Nuns in Drogheda enter blogosphere!

The Dominican nuns at Siena monastery in Drogheda, Co. Louth have begun a new blog. It can be located at http://dominicannunsireland.blogspot.com/ Welcome aboard sisters!

The blog is designed to allow readers to know more about their contemplative way of life and also to help those who are discerning a vocation to that form of life. I encourage you to take a look and to let the sisters know that you visited.

Vocation Stories

The telling of the story of one's vocation can be quite powerful, especially to hearers or readers and particularly to those who are considering vocation themselves. Every vocation story is unique. I have noticed that our Dominican nuns at the monastery of Saint Catherine of Siena in Drogheda, Co. Louth have, through their website, uploaded the vocation stories of some members of their community. I was particularly taken by the vocation stories of their recently professed sisters Niamh and Teresa (both pictured above). To access these stories, please log on to http://www.dominicannuns.ie/ and follow the link to 'vocation stories'.