Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist is a Roman Catholic religious order that was started out of Pope John Paul II's call in "Vita Consecrata". The community is part of the Dominican Order. They are based in Ann Arbor, MI and was founded by four sisters in 1997.

History

In 1996 Pope John Paul II wrote Apostolic Exhortation "Vita Consecrata", calling for a renewal of religious life. [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_25031996_vita-consecrata_en.html Vita Consecrata] .] Inspired by his words, four Sisters set off to "undertake a new initiative". On February 9, 1997 John Cardinal O'Connor established them as a "Public Association of Christ's Faithful" in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. After their canonical establishment, the Sisters accepted an invitation by Bishop Carl Mengeling to teach in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing and began to administer the Spiritus Sanctus Academies located in Ann Arbor, MI and Plymouth, MI. [http://www.sistersofmary.org/article.php?id=119 Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, "Our History"] .]

Their Motherhouse in Ann Arbor, MI today counts nearly 75 Sisters with an average age of 28. [http://www.sistersofmary.org/article.php?id=143 Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, "Meet Our Sisters"] .] This summer more postulants are set to join the order which is raising funds to expand the Motherhouse in Ann Arbor, MI in order to better accommodate the growing community [http://www.sistersofmary.org/article.php?id=368 Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, "Going Forward in Hope"] .]

Apostolate

The community's apostolate is Catholic education. They currently run the Spiritus Sanctus Academies, private and independent K-8 Catholic Schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing, and also have small groups of sisters teaching in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Venice and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix at both the elementary and secondary levels. They also offer spiritual retreats, and spreading the faith by giving talks at colleges, Catholic groups, vocation fairs and other places. The sisters also host a catechetical series on EWTN entitled "Truth in the Heart" for elementary school age children.

Name

The Order's name reflects their spirituality. They are "daughters of St. Dominic" and members of the Dominican Order. [http://www.sistersofmary.org/category.php?id=182 Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, "Our Dominican Charism"] .] The Sisters have a devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. [http://www.sistersofmary.org/category.php?id=1826 Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, "Eucharistic Adoration - The Heart of Our Religious Life"] .] They also have a "total filial entrustment to Mary, the Mother of God". [http://www.sistersofmary.org/category.php?id=119 Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, "Our History"] .]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.sistersofmary.org/ Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s7YP3tWU_Y Video of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist on "The Today Show"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U-M97Vk3C8&feature=related CARITAS, Video of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist]
* [http://www.madredelleucaristia.it/indexen.htm The true source of the title Mary, Mother of the Eucharist]