Dominican Sisters of the Heart of Jesus facts for kids
The Dominican Sisters of the Heart of Jesus are a group of religious sisters. They live in Lockport, Louisiana. These sisters follow a life of prayer, study, community, and work. They promise to live by special vows called the evangelical counsels. These vows include chastity, poverty, and obedience. This means they dedicate their lives to God in a special way.
It's important to know that this group is not officially part of the main Dominican Order. They are also not recognized by the local Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. They operate independently.
History of the Dominican Nuns
The first Dominican Nuns started about 800 years ago in 1206. Saint Dominic began his Order of Preachers by first creating a monastery for women. This monastery was in Prouille, France.
Dominican monastic life came to the United States in 1880. About 50 years later, a young woman named Anna Rita McKanna joined a Dominican monastery. She was only 16 years old. She later became known as Sister Mary Henry of Jesus, O.P.
Sister Mary Henry joined the Dominican Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, Michigan. After making her vows, she helped start a new monastery. This was the Dominican Monastery of the Infant Jesus in Lufkin, Texas, founded in 1945.
Thirty-six years later, Reverend Mother Mary Henry of Jesus, O.P., started another new monastery. This was the Dominican Monastery of the Heart of Jesus in Lockport, Louisiana.
Visiting the Monastery
The monastery has a guesthouse where people can stay. It has rooms for individuals or groups. You can visit at any time of the year.
If you are thinking about becoming a sister, you can spend days at the monastery. You can join the sisters in their daily prayers. You can also have talks and ask questions about their way of life. This helps you explore if this path is right for you.
Private or silent retreats are usually for priests and other religious people. However, special arrangements can sometimes be made. This might include students studying to become priests, members of the Third Order, or single women. You need to make reservations in advance to stay at the guesthouse.
