Sr Winnie McGarry OP, secretary of Blackfriars Hall and Studium, responds with a reflection on her experience of Dominican life and ministry.
There are several branches in the Dominican Order, all adhering to the same major goal of preaching, all living in the spirit and charism of Saint Dominic. We Dominican Sisters live the apostolic life which is supported by the four pillars of Dominican life: prayer, study, community life, and ministry. Saint Dominic called this pattern of life the ‘holy preaching’. Our preaching finds expression in diverse ministries. In my case I taught in a school for a few years before becoming a Diocesan Youth Officer, then University Chaplain. I spent several years on the missions prior to returning to Oxford to join the administrative team in Blackfriars. In my various ministries I have taught, preached homilies, been a retreat-giving team member, been an active listener. On the missions I started and edited a small theological magazine, set up a clinic for those deprived proper access to medical care, and worked on the local Catholic newspaper. Contemplari et contemplata aliis tradere, ‘to contemplate and to give to others the fruits of contemplation’: what we contemplate, as Dominicans, is Truth, and it is that Truth which we have encountered in contemplation that we hand on to others through our preaching, teaching, and other ministry. I have tried, however feebly, to do that. The rest I leave to God.In the photograph (l. to r.) Sr Monica, former prioress of the Sisters' community in Oxford, who died earlier this year (may eternal light shine on her) and Sr Laurentia, a member of the community in Glasgow.
To learn more about the Nuns and Sisters of the Order visit the websites of the Nuns at Siena Convent, Drogheda, and of the Sisters with headquarters in England at Stone, Bushey, Crawley, and Lymington.
From my experience with Dominican sisters in the US, a great many of them are far less interested in historic Catholicism than in feminism, environmentalism, multiculturalism, etc. The left wing of the Democratic party at prayer. The OP sisters who taught me as a child now have as part of their "vision statement" that they "strive to be responsible members of the universe."
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as an onlooker, one would not expect the men's and women's "sections" to be clones of each other. I do see a greater emphasis on community and support among the women. I thank God we still have these generous women.
ReplyDeleteAnd EVERY part of the church went just a little bit haywire after Vatican 2. We all went a bit mad with our new toys! The women, especially had to find a new way of living in the church and in the world. Just think of how women's roles and lives have changed since 1930, and then imagine how difficult it must be to reconcile an authentic religious life with the "new woman."