We celebrated not one, but two birthdays this week! The first was a long-awaited party for Sr. Mary Annunciata, who turned 90 on August 15.
Sr. Mary Annunciata’s cat themed birthday cakeShe loved it!Getting ready to blow out the candles…A happy day for everyone!
Then, on Thursday, we celebrated Sr. Maria Guadalupe’s 80th birthday! (This was the actual date.)
You know we’re in Texas because we’re having cake and Blue Bell ice cream.Sr. Maria Guadalupe received this lovely cake as a gift, but we added the “80”.Sr. Maria Guadalupe making a wish…Another happy and delicious day for the community!
You may remember that we only have birthday parties for the 80th, 90th, 100th birthdays…but on the years following a sister’s 80th birthday we do have cake and ice cream on her special day in the refectory for dessert. We have a lot of octogenarians born in August, so this has been quite a month!
Sr. Mary Annunciata and Sr. Maria Guadalupe are both former prioresses of our monastery, and we are so blessed to be able to celebrate these milestones with them. May God grant them both many happy, healthy years!
We had a low-key but joyful feast of St. Dominic this year. Of course, we began the day with prayer, followed by solemn high Mass in honor of St. Dominic. Our chaplain, Fr. Ian Bordenave, presided, and Deacon Jesus Reyes, who is a member of the Dominican Laity, served.
Fr Ian, Deacon Jesus, and friends
We had a mostly free morning, with an optional movie screened for those who wished to see it, and then we had a delicious dinner in the community room. This meant a talking meal, and talk we did!
To our great joy, Sr. Martin Marie was able to come for Mass and dinner. It was wonderful to have her with us, and we plan to bring her again.
Sr. Marie Augustine, Sr. Mary Margaret, and Sr. Martin Marie
In the afternoon, we enjoyed more recreation along with delicious Mexican fruit drinks. The mango and pina colada were especially popular!
In the evening, we celebrated Sr. Mary Dominic’s feast day. She actually had the Mass for her intentions on August 6, which happens to be the day St. Dominic actually died, but we waited to have her song until the 8th.
Singing with all our heartsGreeting Sr. Mary Dominic on her special day
Following our song, we played several games of Domingo!–which as you can probably figure out is bingo with a Dominican twist. We had time for several people to win, and although there were no actual prizes we were happy just to be together enjoying ourselves on this day which is so dear to Dominicans everywhere.
Domingo!
And of course, we prayed for all of you on this solemn feast. May our Holy Father St. Dominic intercede for you!
Dominican Life on Lotus Lane 