Religious
Communities for Women
Chapter 9:
THE
DOMINICAN SISTERS
OF WANGANUI, NEW ZEALAND
History:
The Dominican Sisters of Wanganui can trace their ancestry back
to St Dominic's 1206 foundation at Prouille. A convent at Galway
in Ireland was founded in 1640 from Prouille. This convent founded
other convents including Cabra in Dublin. From Cabra a convent was
founded at Sion Hill, also in Dublin, and from Sion Hill ten Sisters
came to Dunedin in 1871 to found Dominican Convents in New Zealand.
In 1997 a New Zealand Dominican Sister came to Wanganui to teach
in the schools run by the Society of St Pius X. In January 2002
two young ladies from Australia joined Sister in the hope that a
religious congregation would be founded. On 8 December 2002 Bishop
Fellay gave permission for the foundation of a Congregation with
the status equivalent to a Congregation of Diocesan Right. Since
then other young women have joined the Dominican Sisters of Wanganui.
At present there are five professed Sisters and one Novice.
Association
with Society of St Pius X:
The Dominican
Sisters of Wanganui are situated in the North Island of New Zealand
in the town of Wanganui where the Society of St Pius X has
a Priory and Schools. The Sisters are fortunate in having the protection
and help of the Priests of the Society.
Plans for the first phases of the new convent and school buildings.
Stage One is now completed and the Sisters have already moved into
the building as of the beginning of February 2007. They look forward
to the completion of Stage Two which will give two more classrooms
and the completion of the convent. Stage Three, including a larger
chapel, is being left until numbers have increased further.
Action
and Contemplation:
The life of the Sisters reflects the contemplative origins of the
Congregation. The Sisters are bound to the full Divine Office in
choir, two periods of meditation a day, the Rosary, and Spiritual
Reading. They also teach school in St Anthony's Primary School and
St Dominic's College. This combination of contemplation and action
is typically Dominican and gives the Sisters a full and balanced
life.
Study:
Like all Dominicans
the Sisters study all their lives. They do religious study, some
with Mother Prioress and some with the Priests of the Society of
St Pius X. They also study in order to gain the background to teach
secular subjects in the school and to gain teaching qualifications.
All, except
the novices, take part in the teaching apostolate.
Daily
Timetable:
5.20 Rise
5.50 Lauds, Prime, Pretiosa
6.30 Meditation
7.15 Mass
8.00 Breakfast
8.30 School
9.00 School or Novitiate lectures.
12.00 Spiritual Reading
12.15 Sext
Lunch
1.30 School. Novitiate Duties
4.10 None
5.00 Vespers and Rosary
Dinner
6.45 Matins
7.45 Recreation
8.30 Compline |
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Dominican
Links:
The Dominican
Sisters of Wanganui have an excellent relationship with the Dominicans
in France, especially the Dominican Sisters of Fanjeaux from whom
they receive help and encouragement. These Dominican links to other
traditional groups are important to the Sisters' sense of family
and also to securing books and music for the Dominican Liturgy.
Formation:
Six
to twelve months' postulancy.
One year novitiate
Five years' temporary profession
Vocations:
The
Dominican Sisters of Wanganui welcome enquiries from women
interested in a Dominican Vocation. Write, email, or telephone
to the address below.
Mother
Prioress,
St Dominic's Convent,
12B York Street,
Wanganui,
New Zealand.
Phone:
00-64-6-344-2265
Fax: 00-64-6-348-0116
Email:
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prioressgeneral@dominicansisters.net.nz |
Website: www.dominicansisters.net.nz
Blog: www.dominicansisterswanganui.blogspot.com/ |
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