Author: Texas OP Nuns

Hurricane Harvey

The recent hurricane to charge through Texas was not as windy as some, but it was very cruel none the less. We are praying for our many friends and benefactors along the coast who have been flooded by the overabundant water.

During the Hurricane itself we received many phones calls from friends and relatives to check on us to see if we were OK. Yes, we are fine and thank you for your love and concern. We only had a light rain for over a week that amounted to about 2 feet, but fortunately no flooding. Our pond did fill up as you can see.

During Hurricane Rita about 12 years ago, there was a great deal of wind and we lost over 40 trees. However, because there was not much wind we only lost one tree. It looks like it fell over due to water-logged soil.
Since Hurricane Harvey left the area, many evacuees have come up to Lufkin and other towns, from what in Texas is called the \”Golden Triangle\”, that is, Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange. It is called golden because of Spindletop that brought much wealth to the region. Spindletop was the first oil well along the Gulf Coast and issued Texas and the USA into the oil boom age. Now the area is populated with refineries.
Lufkin has almost 2,000 evacuees and some places have run out of food. So we sent down some food (they wanted cooked meals). In the photos below you can see our latest donations: healthy chicken soup and nourishing Texas white beans.

We pray for all who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey. May the Lord send you the Good Samaritans you need, and  the Lord embrace you with His compassion and courage.  

A Feast of Roses

On August 23, Dominicans around the world celebrate the feast of St. Rose of Lima, the first canonized saint of the Americas. But that day is also the feast day of our own Sister Mary Rose, the Novice Mistress of our monastery. Because of her office, or duty, the sisters in the novitiate always make it a special celebration. This year it was magnificent!

Here is the Guest of Honor-Sr. Mary Rose-as she enters the Novitiate

Sister Mary Therese devised two fun and exciting Dominican games. In the first one the Sisters scoured the Novitiate building for clues on the back of Dominican shields telling them how to find the grand prize. After that there was a more \”sedate\” card game. Sad to say, our honoree did not win any of the games.

Here, Sr. Mary Dominic, Sr. Mary Rose and Sr. Mary Therese are playing the 2nd Dominican game. It was a card game as you can see with all the Dominican shields.

The Sisters enjoyed hamburgers for dinner and in the afternoon watched a movie, \”The Secret of Ronan Inish\”.

There were cupcakes galore (twice as many as seen in the photo), and each one was different!!!

After Vespers, the party sisters returned to the Novitiate for a special supper prepared by Sister Mary Dominic who helps in the Novitiate. She cooked a delicious chicken dish with wine, which turned the chicken purple!

 The recipe goes back to 4-5th century Rome!!!

 After the meal it was time for Sister Mary Rose to open gifts.
Here\’s an unusual gift: a knitted crocodile that also functions as a scarf. I bet a little boy would like that one.

Looking on as Sister opens her gifts: Sister Mary Dominic and Sister Bernadette Marie.

Providence Does Provide!

We had only just finished consuming the last chunk of the big watermelon, when a friend from the Dallas area showed up yesterday morning with FIVE watermelons!!!!!

Sister Mary Veronica had been praying for more watermelon; and when she starts praying … watch out!

We are constantly thanking and praising God for the way He takes care of us and provides for our needs, … even ones we don\’t know we have.

One of the Sisters went to the Laundry after dinner and smelled something strange. She did not have time to check it out because it was time for her Eucharistic adoration.

The memory of the strange smell kept coming back to her during adoration. So as soon as she finished she went to find our workman, David. He went to the Laundry and the smell was even worse. \”It\’s an electric burning!\” he diagnosed. The Sister and he began to feel the walls to find where it was. David found it with an \”Ouch!\” It had become very hot. The electrician that works on our A/C was called and quickly fixed the problem.

PRAISE GOD Whose hidden Providence saved us from a fire. Another providential moment was to realize that it the burning had happened at night, it probably would have burst into flame.

Thank you GOD,
St. Joseph and all our Guardian Angels
for protecting us from fires!

A Surprise Visit

We were unexpectedly called to the parlor yesterday afternoon for a visit with our friend Bishop Eduardo Nevares, Auxiliary of Phoenix. Bishop Eduardo is busy throughout the Arizona diocese ministering to the 30+ ethnic groups, as well as the many spirituality communities, such as Cursillo, Charismatic, Encounter, etc.

This time he surprised us with a beautiful gift in honor of Sister Maria Guadalupe\’s Golden Jubilee. You can see them both in the photo above. And Sister Mary Veronica, his \”spiritual mother\” enjoying the scene from the background.

Summmmer time

Summer time in Texas is watermelon time. And someone recently gave us a very large watermelon. We like watermelon, and have several being chilled right now.

We want to thank all our friends who have shared with us the produce of their gardens, or sent over fruits and vegetables.
We remember you in our prayers as we consume these delicious gifts of God\’s creation.