Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist
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The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in 1997 by four members of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, it has, as of 2010, approximately 100 Sisters.
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[edit] History
In 1996 Pope John Paul II wrote Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, calling for a renewal of religious life.[1] Inspired by his words, Mother Mary Assumpta Long, former superior of the Nashville-based Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia,[2] and three other Sisters of the community, Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, Sr. Mary Samuel Handwerker and Sr. John Dominic Rasmussen, set off to "undertake a new initiative". On February 9, 1997 John Cardinal O'Connor established the new foundation as a "Public Association of Christ's Faithful" in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. After their canonical establishment, the Sisters accepted an invitation by Bishop Carl Frederick Mengeling to teach in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing and began to administer the Spiritus Sanctus Academies located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Plymouth, Michigan.[3]
In 2010 the order announced that it had agreed to buy the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. to be used as a house of studies,[4][5] but withdrew from the purchase in 2011 to concentrate on building their new priory in Austin, TX.
[edit] Apostolate
The community's apostolate is Catholic education. They currently run the Spiritus Sanctus Academies, private and independent K-8 Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan and also have small groups of sisters teaching in the Catholic dioceses of Charleston, Sacramento, Austin, and Phoenix, at both the elementary and secondary levels. They also offer spiritual retreats, and spreading the Christian faith by giving talks at such places as colleges, universities, Catholic groups and vocation fairs. The sisters also host a catechetical series on EWTN entitled "Truth in the Heart" for elementary school age children.
[edit] Spirituality
The Sisters "fully embrace the charism and spirituality of the Order of Preachers", the Dominican Order.[6] The Sisters have a devotion to the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration is an important part of the spirituality of the Sisters.[7] They also have a "total filial entrustment to Mary, the Mother of God".[8]
[edit] Current status
The Motherhouse in Ann Arbor today counts over 100 Sisters with an average age of 28. The average entering age is 21.[9] The Sisters are currently expanding geographically, with missions in California, Florida, South Carolina, and Texas, as their Motherhouse in Michigan is at its full capacity.[10]
[edit] In popular media
The Sisters were profiled twice on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2010.[11][12]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Vita Consecrata.
- ^ Ave Maria University Board of Regents
- ^ Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, "Our History".
- ^ Letter of Announcement
- ^ William Wan (October 27, 2010). "Michigan Dominican sisters to buy John Paul II Cultural Center in D.C.". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/26/AR2010102607102.html.
- ^ Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, "Our Dominican Charism".
- ^ Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, "Eucharistic Adoration".
- ^ Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, "Marian Devotion".
- ^ Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, "Meet Our Sisters".
- ^ Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, "Our National Expansion".
- ^ "Keeping the Faith". The Oprah Winfrey Show. February 9, 2010. http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Lisa-Ling-Goes-Inside-a-Convent.
- ^ "Dominican Sisters of Mary appearing on Oprah Winfrey show Tuesday, for second time". AnnArbor.com (newspaper). November 22, 2010. http://www.annarbor.com/faith/dominican-sisters-of-mary-appearing-on-oprah-show-tuesday-for-second-time/.
