2016 General Assembly of the North American Association of Dominican Monasteries

Four of our Sisters set out early on Monday Morning, Sept 12, to drive from our Monastery in Lufkin, Texas to the Motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, Tennessee, to take part in the third General Assembly of our Association of Monasteries. The drive was long but uneventful, There was a divided highway from Lufkin to Texarkana, the I-30 to Memphis and I-40 to Nashville and the Convent was just to our left when they exited the freeway. The Sisters are very warm and gracious, and the view from their property is breath-taking. It is on a hill which is the highest point in the city and the 360-panoramic view is amazing. Nashville itself is beautiful with trees EVERYWHERE.

In the photo above some of the Nuns enjoying the outdoors. The Nuns on the left of the statue of St. Dominic are from Summit NJ (Sr. Mary Magdalene and Sr. Mary Catharine; on the far right is our own Sr. Mary Rose and behind her is Sr. Anna Marie from the Monastery in Springfield IL.

Last evening everyone was welcomed by Sr. Maria Christine the Association President, Mother Ann Marie, Prioress General of the Dominican Sisters, Sr. Mary Reginald, Prioress of the Motherhouse and Sr. Marian the Guest Hostess.

The Assembly officially  began today with a Day of Recollection on September 14. There were two very profound reflection and a homily at Mass by Fr. Walter Wagner, OP, Pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Manhattan, NY. The theme was taken from the liturgical feast of the day–The Triumph of the Holy Cross. It is only through embracing the Cross that our lives can be transformed by the power of God. It is the paradox of the Christian life: in our weakness is God\’s strength; in our poverty is God\’s love and mercy. God is in control, not ourselves. We only cooperate with him. The message of the Gospel that we proclaim by our hidden lives of silence and solitude is the opposite of what the world and culture tries to make us believe. You, too, can find happiness in in giving your live over to Jesus our Lord and Savior.