{"id":4909,"date":"2015-01-30T04:45:00","date_gmt":"2015-01-30T04:45:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2023-05-12T20:54:30","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T20:54:30","slug":"how-to-commence-a-new-year-in-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/2015\/01\/30\/how-to-commence-a-new-year-in-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"How to commence a new year in 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"
\nEvery one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them,
\nshall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock. And the rain
\nfell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house,
\nand it fell not, for it was founded on a rock.<\/u><\/i> (Matthew 7:24-25)<\/o:p><\/u><\/div>\n
\n
<\/u><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nAs Dominican religious who try to
\naid the cause of the Catholic Church in her mission to lead souls along the
\npath of salvation, a sound plan of action is needed if we are to succeed in
\nthis noble cause for the new year. The apostles who wish to sanctify
\nsouls must themselves firstly be closely united with God, for one cannot give
\nto others what one does not already possess.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nIn putting into practice the above
\nwords of Our Lord, January is thus a month where our spiritual energies are
\nconsolidated together by our annual retreat before being dedicated to God by
\nthe ceremonies of clothing and profession. These are then channelled under the
\ndirection of our superiors into our apostolate of teaching and prayer.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A stained glass window depicting
\nSt Catherine of Siena in
\nSt Dominic’s Church, Camberwell. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\nSt Catherine of Siena gives us a
\nbeautiful analogy of an overflowing fountain: each religious is a fountain,
\nreceiving the water which is Christ through contemplation, and then letting the
\nwater overflow onto others through our apostolate. Our prayer and contemplation
\nmust come first in our lives because it is only through these means that we can
\ngive with profit to those who come to us.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nIt was then with much
\nanticipation that we looked forward to the first week of January. The three
\nkings who arrived at the infant Jesus\u2019s crib on the Epiphany brought with them
\nto Tynong Fathers Albert and Thomas, two Dominican friars from Belgium who had
\ncome to preach the annual retreat and to direct the ceremonies. <\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nThis precious sense of fraternal
\nunity within our Dominican family was further highlighted by the arrival of our
\nown sisters from Wanganui a few days later.<\/p>\n

The blessed union of mind and heart
\nin Christ that was promised by the Holy Ghost to brethren who dwell in unity
\n(Ps 132) was experienced sensibly by us, and was nourished especially by our
\nparticipation in the Dominican rite of Holy Mass (a rare occurrence here!)<\/o:p><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The sisters on a trip to Emerald Lake Park.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A tour of St Dominic’s Priory at Camberwell, East Melbourne<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Praying the Dominican Office together at the College chapel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\nTherefore, behold I will allure her, and will lead her into the
\nwilderness: and I will speak to her heart.<\/u><\/i> (Osee 2:14)<\/o:p><\/u><\/div>\n
\n
<\/u><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nAs Father Albert O.P. emphasised,
\nit was necessary to retreat into the desert if we were to hear the voice of Our
\nLord and respond to Him. The spiritual life, that indispensable and
\nfoundational element of true union with God, was chosen as the theme of our
\nretreat from 10 to 18 January. <\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

 The golden thread linking the
\nvarious conferences on the Redemption, sin, grace, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the
\ntheological virtues, the gifts of the Holy Ghost and the various stages of
\nspiritual progress was of course none other than writings of the Angelic
\nDoctor, notably his Summa Theologica.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A lecture by Father Thomas O.P. in the school library<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/i>
\n<\/p>\n

\n<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n

\nMuch wisdom was also drawn from a
\nconstellation of saints by both friars– St Bernard of Clairvaux, St Therese of
\nLiseux, St Bernadine of Siena and H.E. Archbishop Lefebvre
\ncontributed many of their own examples and works for our edification and
\ninstruction.
\n<\/o:p><\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nA special highlight of the retreat was the Salve procession during the office of Compline. This homage to Our Lady and Patroness of the order is dear to every Dominican heart, and it was enhanced by the attendance of our entire congregation of sisters. The substantial train of religious served as a testimony to the graces of vocation received through the mediation of her Immaculate Heart.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n<\/p>\n
\nOn 18 January, Miss Alexandra Reis from Ontario, Canada was
\nreceived as a postulant by our congregation after the morning Office. The
\nsimple reception ceremony ended with the Salve Regina and the smiles of the
\nentire community were evident as we prayed to the Immaculate Heart for her
\nmaternal intercession over our newest entrant.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/a>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Miss Alexandra Reis with Sister Mary Francis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/u><\/i>
\n
<\/u><\/i>
\n\u201cWhat do you ask?\u201d<\/o:p><\/u><\/i><\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n\u201cGod\u2019s mercy and yours, Father.\u201d (The Ceremonies of Clothing and
\nProfession)<\/o:p><\/u><\/i><\/div>\n
\n
<\/u><\/i><\/div>\n
\n<\/a>
<\/u><\/i><\/div>\n
\nAs mentioned above, an important
\nstep in the hallowing of a new year to the glory of God and to the
\nsanctification of our neighbour is the dedication of our entire self to His
\nlove.<\/p>\n

The ceremonies of religious clothing and the profession and renewal of
\nvows enable the new novices and newly professed to consecrate themselves in
\nvarying degrees to God through the religious state. <\/o:p><\/div>\n

\n
<\/u><\/i><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
<\/u><\/i><\/div>\n
\nThese progressive stages of consecration
\nto God set the sister down the path to becoming a \u201cliving image of the church, a
\nvirgin by the purity of her faith, a bride by loving fidelity to the will of
\nChrist in fervent charity, a mother by self-sacrifice for the salvation of
\nsouls [and a] living temple of God by her life of prayer\u201d (Fr. Paul Hinnebusch,
\nO.P.). <\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n

\nIn changing their secular dress
\nfor the Dominican habit, five new novices undertook the first steps of
\nrenouncing the world and self at their official entrance into our congregation.
\nA new group of Dominican saints were chosen as patrons for our new sisters who
\ntook on their names, in accordance with their desire to put off the old man
\nwith his deeds (Col 3:9).<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/o:p>Miss Katherine Korr from the
\nUnited States is now known as Sister Mary Peter, after the Veronese martyr and
\ndefender of the faith. The Office for the feast of our sister\u2019s glorious patron
\nproclaims the victory of a champion who, endowed with the brilliance of virginity,
\neloquence and miracles, fell from the assassin\u2019s blow while writing the Credo
\nin his own blood.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sister Mary Peter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n

\nSt Augustine of Hippo, our law
\ngiver and father, has his name adopted by the former Miss Elizabeth Smith from
\nWanganui. His holy rule, chosen by St Dominic for its flexibility and breadth
\nof spirit, has served as the guide for religious perfection for countless
\nDominicans over 800 years. <\/o:p><\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sister Mary Augustina<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n

\nBlessed Diana d\u2019Andalo became the
\nheavenly patron of Miss Genevieve Erbacher who hails from Queensland. Founder
\nof the convent of St Agnes in Bologna and noted for her deep spiritual
\nfriendship with Blessed Jordan of Saxony, she had earlier made a vow to St
\nDominic himself to enter the order in spite of the resistance of her family.<\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sister Mary Diana<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n

\nMiss Mary Williams from St Mary\u2019s
\nin Kansas received the name of Sister Mary Vincent Ferrer. This Angel of the
\nApocalypse who re-ignited the spiritual soul of Western Europe in the early 15th<\/sup>
\ncentury by his preaching is a model for us sisters who are called to
\nre-evangelise a world which has turned away from God.<\/o:p><\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sister Mary Vincent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\nOur Lady of Sorrows, the exemplar
\nof apostolic immolation for all religious souls, assumes her patronage over a former Society oblate who is now called Sister Mary
\nof Compassion. <\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sister Mary of Compassion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n

Crowned with a coronet of thorns
\nand armed with the crucifix and rosary, our new novices are exhorted to imitate
\nthe Crucified Christ in their vocation and to serve Him and His Blessed Mother with
\nfervour. <\/o:p><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\nPlease pray for them as they
\nbegin an entire year of intense spiritual formation through their classes in
\nDominican spirituality and the Rule and Constitutions together with additional
\nperiods of silence, study and prayer.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n\u201cHe has placed His sign on my brow, that I may admit no other
\nlover.\u201d (Ceremony of Profession)<\/o:p><\/u><\/i><\/div>\n
\n
<\/u><\/i><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nIn making her First Profession
\nthe sister exchanges her white veil for a black one, symbolic of her
\nconsecration to God. In preparation for her Final Vows which are made usque ad mortem<\/i> (until death), he sister
\npromises to live in poverty, chastity and obedience, according to the Rule of
\nSt. Augustine and our Constitutions for three years and then for two additional
\nyears. <\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThese vows bind the religious to
\nGod and turn her entire life with its daily sacrifices, acts and aspirations
\ninto a holocaust that is consumed by love. Religious Profession is, after the
\nHoly Sacrifice of the Mass and martyrdom, the most fruitful source of graces
\nfor the Church and for souls.<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nIt was thus a great source of joy for our
\ncongregation to receive three First Professions and another three renewals of
\nvows on this day.<\/p>\n

Sister Mary Anna, Sister Maria Columba and Sister Mary Jordan made their first vows, promising obedience to God, to the Blessed Virgin, to St Dominic and to the Mother Prioress General for three years.<\/p><\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sister Mary Anna O.P. making First Profession<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sister Maria Columba O.P. making First Profession<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sister Mary Jordan O.P. making First Profession<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n\u201cAn unparalleled promise! The Church knows well in her wisdom that those who choose obedience, that those who practice it, possesses everything. This promise is a contract of love. Without faith, this contract is incomprehensible, it becomes an enigma. We remember those religious, who, during the French Revolution refused to leave, to disobey\u2026those who were happy to submit themselves to that which the revolutionaries called \u2018an intolerable yoke.\u2019 Their love of authority was as solid as their faith, unchangeable as their faith, for God alone and to God alone.\u201d (The cloistered Dominicans nuns of Arville.)<\/i><\/div>\n
\n<\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nSister Maria Lucia O.P., Sister Mary Jacinta O.P. and Sister Mary Anthony O.P also renewed their temporary profession for another two years during the ceremony.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sister Maria Lucia O.P. renewed her vows for two years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sister Mary Jacinta O.P. renewed her vows for two years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sister Mary Anthony O.P. renewed her vows for two years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThese acts of profession have
\nconsequences for eternity both for the religious and for the souls she is
\nresponsible for. The sister is no longer the same after, for she is engaged entirely
\nto the service and love of the Holy Trinity and consecrated exclusively to Him.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The 3 Professed sisters who renewed their vows.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Celebrant invokes the Blessed Trinity in
\nthe final blessing that is given to the newly Professed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The celebratory cake for the
\nnew Novices<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The celebratory cake for the
\nProfessed sisters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“A religious will save by his prayers, labours and mortifications more souls in one year than in the whole of his life out of religion. As to his own personal merits, he will gain more in one year by practising obedience than in ten years by living in the world according to his own will<\/i>“. –St Alphonsus Liguori.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

NEW DEVELOPMENTS AT ROSARY
\nCONVENT<\/o:p><\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n \u201cThe Novitiate begins with
\nthe clothing and immediately after the clothing the novice participates in all
\nthe indulgences and spiritual favours granted by the Holy See to the Professed
\nsisters\u2026The Novitiate shall be, as far as possible, separated from the part of
\nthe convent in which the Professed sisters live.\u201d (Our Constitutions)<\/o:p><\/u><\/i><\/div>\n
\n
<\/u><\/i><\/div>\n
\nAn aspirant visiting our community
\nthis New Year will witness the setting up of proper novitiate quarters. A
\nlarger population of sisters within the Motherhouse and the availability of
\nsome extra space have now enabled us to provide an environment conducive to the
\nformation of our novices and postulants. <\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nOur community is pleased to
\nannounce that we now have the capacity to conform more closely to the
\nrequirements of canon law, where the professed sisters generally recreate and
\nwork separately from the novices who are devoting themselves to their religious
\ntraining. <\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nWe are also delighted to announce
\nthat Sister Mary Thomas O.P. and Sister Mary Anna O.P. will be present at St
\nThomas Aquinas College in the capacity of form teachers in the Secondary
\nSchool, having completed their teacher training during the previous year. Please
\npray for these newly registered teachers as well as for our student sisters who
\nare still training and studying for their education degrees. <\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
In the library at St Dominic’ priory, Camberwell<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nOur vocation as teachers cannot
\nbe limited to helping students develop their academic skills, for it must first
\nassist them in acquiring knowledge of the Truth, which has its origin and being
\nin God. The history of the Church, from antiquity down to the present is full
\nof admirable examples of consecrated persons who have sought and continue to
\nseek holiness through their apostolate of education while at the same time
\nproposing holiness as the fundamental goal of education.<\/p>\n

May God give us the
\ngrace to achieve these lofty goals and to imitate these glorious predecessors
\nin our vocation. <\/o:p><\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock. (Matthew … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":585,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-convent-life","infinite-scroll-item","masonry-post","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4909","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4909"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4909\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5284,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4909\/revisions\/5284"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}