Dominican Life on Lotus Lane

Yesterday, we received a large leg of a pig that was roasted by our local Knights of Columbus. Sister is cutting it up for now and it looks like it will provide many future meals!

A few days before this, there was a dragonfly that spent the entire day clutching a branch by the Sister’s door into our main building.

After the dragonfly was settled on the tip of the branch it would close its wings forward, as if to signal it was resting.

We have many of these critters that live down at the pond. During the summer they come up to the large grassy yard outside our refectory (dining room) to hunt for their own dinner. But then they are usually constantly flying around which is the only way they can catch their prey and eat it. This time we had a wonderful chance to really examine our insect-friend. In the second photo above, it almost looks like a person holding on to the twig, or maybe it’s an “alien”.

The Smithsonian Magazine has a fascinating article about these wondrous creatures. Here are a few nuggets:

Flying insects are usually annoying. Mosquitoes bite you, leaving itchy red welts. Bees and wasps sting. Flies are just disgusting. But there’s something magical about dragonflies.

His name is Father Gerard Francisco Timoner, III, OP; and he is the first Asian to be elected Master of the Order! Father Timoner is the former Provincial of the Province of the Philippines. He also served as vice-chancellor of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Father was one of the chaplains for the Dominican monastery in Cainta outside of Manila. We hear he has a love for the nuns of the Order. Praise the Lord! Before being elected, he served as Socius (Assistant to the Master) for the Asia-Pacific region of the Order of Preachers.

Yesterday afternoon under the Presidency of our Bishop, Joseph Strickland of Tyler, TX, we elected a brand-new prioress: Sister Mary Margaret, OP.

Sister was born in Aurora IL and originally entered the Dominican Sisters of Springfield IL. Shortly before her final vows she discerned her vocation to the cloister and came to Lufkin in 1972. Previous to being elected prioress, Sister Mary Margaret was our Sub-Prioress and in charge of our Print Shop. Sister is very talented artistically, as well as practically and spatially (i.e., she would have been a good engineer). Sister is also our Liturgist and principal organist. So please pray for her, she has her hands full! And pray for us as well. The rest of the community now awaits their new work assignments for the next three years.

We want to also take this opportunity to express deep thanks to Sister Maria Guadalupe who concluded her six years of totally selfless service to our community. God reward you, Sister!

Every three years the Dominican Friars meet in “General Chapter” to consider the state of the Order, make or change laws, and on the 9th year elect a new head of the Order, the Master General. All Dominicans, and especially the Nuns, are praying for the guidance of the Holy SpiritToday, the General Chapter opens in Vietnam! Our Friars will also elect a new Master of the Order on July 13. Below is the logo for this important meeting.

The meaning of the symbolism: the design above is a lotus blossom, the national flower of Vietnam, as well as a common flower throughout Asia. The black below it represents the Dominican cappa, or mantle. The words indicate, in Latin, the General Chapter, and the city where it is being held, Biên Hòa, Vietnam, near Saigon, in the south.

The Friars come from all over the world representing the thousands back home. Each Province sends the Provincial and a delegate. We will post news of important events as they happen. The General Chapter will continue for about a month, concluding on August 7.

Our Summer so far has not been as bad as it could be, weather-wise. It seems we\’ve been having a little rain one or two days a week. The plants have really been thriving. So we have a few pictures where you can see some of our lovely flowers.

Above is a photo of our “Baby Jesus” Shrine. We call him that because the statue arrived on Christmas Eve. If you haven\’t had a chance to visit Him, He\’s on the far right side of our building.

Recently we had a surprise visit from Father Peter Lobo, OP, who teaches at St. Charles Seminary in Nagpur, India. This is up in the north of the country, although he is originally from the southwest (Mumbai/Bombay).

Father first came to see us about 30 years ago. Although we have not seen him often, went do keep in contact by correspondence and he has sent us several of his books.

Father taught for a number of years at the Dominican Pontifical University in Rome. Many years ago, he founded an English-speaking periodical on Dominican spirituality. It ceased publishing for a few years while he was away from India. However, now that he has returned he has begun publishing Dominican Ashram again. Ashram is an Indian word for a spiritual hermitage, prayer community or monastery.

Father was able to visit us because he is in the United States visiting relatives in different parts of the country. A younger brother, Michael, is retired and lives in the Houston area. So, Michael and Fr. Peter came up to the Monastery for lunch and a good visit.

Fr. Peter Lobo, OP

Michael Lobo

At the end of May we celebrated our annual May crowning of Our Lady of the Pines.

Sr. Mary Therese crowns Our Lady.

We have not been able to post until now. But, you can follow some of events occurring here in the Monastery, by checking out our Facebook page HERE.