Our Charism

Our Study

The study of Sacred Truth is integral to our vocation as Dominican nuns.  Studying for us is not a preparation for an academic degree or to obtain some professional qualifications. In silence and solitude, we seek God, ponder his truth and grow in knowledge of the Church’s teaching. Study nourishes our life of contemplation.

Through studying, we become more attentive to Christ, who is the Word of God, and our study helps us to know Him, to seek Him and to ponder His truth.  Consequently, our studies enable us to delve ever deeper into the mystery of our salvation and grow in greater knowledge and maturity in our faith.

Our Common Life

St. Dominic chose The Rule of St. Augustine for his sons and daughters of the Order of Preachers. This Rule emphasizes building up and strengthening communal life within the monastery. As St. Augustine wrote, “The main purpose for your having come together is to live harmoniously in your house, intent upon God in oneness of mind and heart.”

Our Dominican Charism

Over 800 years ago, Saint Dominic founded the Order of Preachers to dispel the darkness of error with the light of Gospel truth. St. Dominic's holy preaching led to the conversion of several women to the Catholic faith. St. Dominic gathered these women in the monastery of Blessed Mary of Prouille, France in 1206. These women became the first Dominican nuns.

Our lives are shaped through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, studying and meditating on Sacred Scripture, Monastic observances, and living our common life together.

Our Cloistered Life

Since the early years of the Church, men and women have had a deep-seated desire to seek God in the desert and grow in greater intimacy through prayer and penance. Sometimes, people generally assume that someone who wants to withdraw from the world is running away from responsibility or trying to escape life's challenges. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Dominican nuns choose enclosure not to escape but to deepen their love for God by withdrawing from the world. The monastic enclosure creates an atmosphere of silence, simplicity, and shared life, where the Word of God may dwell abundantly.

Our Life of Prayer

At the heart of our day is the celebration of the Eucharist, the remembrance of the death and resurrection of the Lord.  In the Eucharist, the mystery of salvation is present. In union with Christ, we offer praise and worship to God, intercede with the Father of mercies for the universal Church as well as for the needs and salvation of the whole world. (cf. Constitution of the Nuns).

Our Work

In our daily monastic life, each sister dedicates a substantial amount of her time to various types of work in the monastery. Given the effort required for these tasks, work is one of the more common forms of asceticism.  Moreover, the perseverance and skill required for work, as well as the benefits it offers, contribute to mental equilibrium and the development of our Sisters' personalities (cf. Constitution of the Nuns).

At the monastery, we engage in a variety of activities. Cleaning, cooking, laundry, and sewing are just a few of the tasks that contribute to the monastery's overall operation and maintenance.  Additionally, there are various administrative responsibilities, including managing our community's mail.

Devoted to the Eucharist

We are devoted to Christ in the Eucharist, the heart of our monastic life. Through Perpetual Adoration, we remain in loving presence before the Lord, offering prayer and intercession for the Church and the world. This continual worship deepens our union with Jesus and draws us into the mystery of His sacrificial love.

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