{"id":4971,"date":"2012-05-20T07:44:00","date_gmt":"2012-05-20T07:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/2012\/05\/20\/st-dominics-convent-term-1-2012\/"},"modified":"2023-05-10T02:18:37","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T02:18:37","slug":"st-dominics-convent-term-1-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/2012\/05\/20\/st-dominics-convent-term-1-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"St Dominic\u2019s Convent – Term 1, 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"
TOUT EST GR\u00c2CE<\/em><\/strong>, is
\nwhat we have been hearing again and again at our Spiritual Conferences lately.
\nAll is grace<\/em> \u2013 whether it is opening the mail to find you have received a
\nsubstantial grant for the school tempting one to dance all the way down the
\nconvent corridor alternating shouts of delight with side-kick leaps of joy or
\nhaving to cope with printers not working, the network down and the telephone
\nringing non-stop at a time when you have to make an important deadline that just
\nhas to be thrown out the window. Yes, all is Grace<\/em>. The key is to have a stable
\ncheery disposition amid the storm and sunshine, knowing that God is in control
\nof all things. We simply have to submit like warm wax in his hands, accepting
\nthe joys and sorrows, for the good of the Church, as God moulds us more and
\nmore into an image of himself. <\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
So let me
\nquickly summarise our time of grace<\/u> during the first term here at St
\nDominic\u2019s Convent, New Zealand.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Let us start
\nwith storms \u2013 literally. We had one great whopper during Lent. I have never
\nexperienced anything like it in all my many years in New Zealand. Heavy rain
\nand very strong winds caused havoc all over the city. One morning, while the
\nsisters, well – some<\/i> sisters, were
\nenjoying the contemplation of seventh heaven, they were immediately brought
\nback down to earth by a large bang which seemed to be coming from one side of
\nthe chapel. Noticing it was our gutter hanging by a thread, \u201cMission-Save-Gutter\u201d
\nbegan. Two brave sisters, with a bit of string and heavenly determination had
\nit fastened securely to our windows in no time. Scaffolding was erected at a
\nlater date, at which time we noticed our solar panels were on the brink of
\nfalling into our convent; Deo Gratias, both are now fixed.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
One of our large & “ancient” trees was struck down during the storm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n
Then there were
\nthe many trips to the hospital as one poor sister had to undergo the surgeon\u2019s
\nknife. Although we do sorely miss our medical sisters who are now residing in
\nTynong – after the experience, we all now feel we have sufficient knowledge to graduate
\nwith a doctorate in medical science. I know all there is to know about pain-medications,
\nshort and long-lasting, and what to do in the event of a multitude of health
\nproblems.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
On the Feast of
\nSt Thomas Aquinas we had the honour of attending and singing the Mass of Final
\nProfession of one of our Third Order Tertiaries, Mr Guy Legrega (Brother
\nDominic in the Order).\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
We have also
\nbeen very fortunate to have received two big grants this year \u2013 one for new
\ncomputers and the other for sports equipment, as well as receiving a surprise
\nvisit from a young pro-life group who travel around the world, singing and
\npromoting Catholic family values. It was lovely to see some good Catholic
\nyouth, who were also wonderful choir singers, actually go out and do some good
\nin the world. May God grant them the grace of a religious vocation!<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sisters with Pro-Life Group – who gave a presentation to the school<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n
Just before
\nEaster we had the pleasure of seeing Mother General again, who stayed with us
\nto celebrate the joys of the Paschal season.
\n<\/span>Spider webs were brushed away from every nook and cranny, shoes
\nscrupulously polished and a cell prepared which would be fit for our busy
\nMother General and Foundress. The week Mother arrived we attempted (for the
\nfirst time in the history of our congregation) singing Tenebrae according to the
\nDominican rite<\/strong>, (rather than assisting the priests, brothers and schola of the parish\u00a0with the singing of the Roman<\/strong> rite<\/strong>) which includes the long but beautiful Prayer of Jeremiah as
\nwell as a beautiful Lenten-yet-heavenly ending. For those wondering what it
\nentails, my lips are sealed \u2013 you\u2019ll have to come and see for yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mother General addressing the students<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Now we are all enjoying the contemplative atmosphere of the convent during our two week break from school. One of our Dominican benefactors recently paid us a visit and donated a FIRST-CLASS relic of our Holy Father
\nSt Dominic in a beautiful reliquary along with another one of St Catherine of Siena. When we heard what first class relics usually comprise of, faces moved a little closer to investigate and an interesting conversation followed with thoughts of \u201cewww\u201d going across some sister\u2019s minds. Nevertheless, we all foster secret hopes of one day having a proper chapel to put them in but when we hear of our postulants\/novices sleeping in walk-in wardrobes\/barns and cardboard rooms due to lack of room in Australia, our heart goes out to them and we pray that very soon, we will have proper Motherhouse.\u00a0We unite with them in preparing for the upcoming Feast of Pentecost – imploring the Holy Ghost:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Come, O Creator
\nSpirit blest!<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
And in our souls
\ntake up Thy rest<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
Come, with Thy
\ngrace and heavenly aid,<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
To fill the
\nhearts which Thou hast made.<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
An article will be following soon by our Head of School\u00a0about St Dominic\u2019s COLLEGE – Term 1; She is enjoying an apostolic experience in New Caledonia at this present time. I would like to just end by mentioning two humorous anecdotes which brought a smile to all the Sisters during recreation one day.<\/span><\/div>\n
Mother Mary Rose O.P<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
From Sr Jacinta \u2013 Standard 1&2 Catechism Class<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\nSister:\u00a0 “What is the sixth commandment of the Church?”<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Student: \u201cThe sixth commandment of the Church is to observe all the laws of the Church concerning marge.\u201d (thou shalt not eat butter on thy toast, it is too expensive, only marge).<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
From Sr Madeleine \u2013 Suggestion submitted on paper by Form 1&2 Girls<\/u> <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“BEST FRIDAY TIMETABLE”<\/em><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
7:00am School Sung Mass, Morning Prayers<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
8:00am Breakfast for whole school with desks joined together<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
8:30am Music and Singing<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
10:15am Morning Tea followed by one hour of playtime<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
11:25am Physical Education for the whole school<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
12:55pm Lunch and Playtime<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
1:40pm Home Economics for the whole school<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
3:05pm Free Time<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
4:00pm Rosary<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
4:15pm Inter-house competitions for the whole school<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
5:30pm Do jobs (mop), pack bags<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
6:00pm Dinner with all the desks joined together<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
7:00pm Evening prayers and go home<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
\u00a0Signed: all the Form 1 & 2 students<\/em><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TOUT EST GR\u00c2CE, is what we have been hearing again and again at our Spiritual Conferences lately. All is grace \u2013 whether it is opening the mail to find you have received a substantial grant for the school tempting one to dance all the way down the convent corridor alternating shouts of delight with side-kick … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","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\/4971","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=4971"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5217,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4971\/revisions\/5217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}