Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist
Encyclopedia
The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist is a Roman Catholic religious order
founded in 1997 by four members of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia
. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan
, it has, as of 2010, approximately 100 Sisters.
, and three other Sisters of the community, Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, Sr. Mary Samuel Handwerker and Sr. John Dominic Rasmussen, set off to "undertake a new initiative". On February 9, 1997 John Cardinal O'Connor established the new foundation 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 Frederick Mengeling
to teach in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing
and began to administer the Spiritus Sanctus Academies
located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Plymouth, Michigan
.
In 2010 the order announced that it had agreed to buy the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
in Washington, D.C.
to be used as a house of studies, but withdrew from the purchase in 2011 to concentrate on building their new priory in Austin, TX.
, Michigan and also have small groups of sisters teaching in the Catholic dioceses of Charleston
, Sacramento
, Austin
, and Phoenix
, at both the elementary and secondary levels. They also offer spiritual retreats, and spreading the Christian
faith by giving talks at such places as colleges, universities, Catholic groups and vocation fairs. The sisters also host a catechetical series on EWTN entitled "Truth in the Heart" for elementary school age children.
. The Sisters have a devotion to the Real Presence
of Christ
in the Holy Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration
is an important part of the spirituality of the Sisters. They also have a "total filial entrustment to Mary, the Mother of God".
Although attracting large numbers of aspirants and postulants and evidence of more care being taken in accepting candidates, concerns exist over the number of very young candidates entering directly from High School and the high rate of fall-out during the first year. Many believe that the communnity are overly aggressive in their recruitment and the care taken in the discernment process.
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
founded in 1997 by four members of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia
Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia
The Congregation of St. Cecilia, commonly known as the Nashville Dominicans, is a religious order within the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church located in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a member of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, one of the two organizations which represent women...
. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, it has, as of 2010, approximately 100 Sisters.
History
In 1996 Pope John Paul II wrote Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, calling for a renewal of religious life. Inspired by his words, Mother Mary Assumpta Long, former superior of the Nashville-based Dominican Sisters of St. CeciliaDominican Sisters of St. Cecilia
The Congregation of St. Cecilia, commonly known as the Nashville Dominicans, is a religious order within the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church located in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a member of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, one of the two organizations which represent women...
, and three other Sisters of the community, Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, Sr. Mary Samuel Handwerker and Sr. John Dominic Rasmussen, set off to "undertake a new initiative". On February 9, 1997 John Cardinal O'Connor established the new foundation as a "Public Association of Christ's Faithful" in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
. After their canonical establishment, the Sisters accepted an invitation by Bishop Carl Frederick Mengeling
Carl Frederick Mengeling
Carl Frederick Mengeling is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Lansing from 1995 to 2008.-Biography:...
to teach in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing
The Catholic Diocese of Lansing is located in Lansing, Michigan. It encompasses an area of 6,218 square miles including the counties of Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw...
and began to administer the Spiritus Sanctus Academies
Spiritus Sanctus Academies
Spiritus Sanctus Academies is a group of private schools based in southeastern Michigan teaching the Roman Catholic faith and regular classes founded by Thomas Monaghan and run by the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. Currently, there are two active schools...
located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,132 at the 2010 census. The City of Plymouth is an enclave completely surrounded by Plymouth Charter Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
.
In 2010 the order announced that it had agreed to buy the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center was established to house a Roman Catholic museum and think tank in Washington, D.C. The concept for the center began at a meeting between Pope John Paul II and then-Bishop Adam Maida in 1988. The building is set on 12 acres adjacent to The Catholic University...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to be used as a house of studies, but withdrew from the purchase in 2011 to concentrate on building their new priory in Austin, TX.
Apostolate
The community's apostolate is Catholic education. They currently run the Spiritus Sanctus Academies, private and independent K-8 Catholic Schools in the Diocese of LansingRoman Catholic Diocese of Lansing
The Catholic Diocese of Lansing is located in Lansing, Michigan. It encompasses an area of 6,218 square miles including the counties of Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw...
, Michigan and also have small groups of sisters teaching in the Catholic dioceses of Charleston
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States and comprises the entire state of South Carolina, with Charleston as its see city. Currently, the diocese consists of 92 parishes and 24 missions...
, Sacramento
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento is an ecclesiastical territory or particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States...
, Austin
Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin includes 125 parishes, or faith communities, in 25 counties in Central Texas. The diocese stretches from West, Texas, in the north to San Marcos in the south to the Bryan/College Station area in the east to Mason in the west...
, and Phoenix
Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
-History:The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix in Arizona is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was established on December 2, 1969 when it was split off of the Diocese of Tucson...
, at both the elementary and secondary levels. They also offer spiritual retreats, and spreading the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
faith by giving talks at such places as colleges, universities, Catholic groups and vocation fairs. The sisters also host a catechetical series on EWTN entitled "Truth in the Heart" for elementary school age children.
Spirituality
The Sisters "fully embrace the charism and spirituality of the Order of Preachers", the Dominican OrderDominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
. The Sisters have a devotion to the Real Presence
Real Presence
Real Presence is a term used in various Christian traditions to express belief that in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was previously just bread and wine, and not merely present in symbol, a figure of speech , or by his power .Not all Christian traditions accept this dogma...
of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
in the Holy Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration
Eucharistic adoration
Eucharistic adoration is a practice in the Roman Catholic Church, and in a few Anglican and Lutheran churches, in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed to and adored by the faithful....
is an important part of the spirituality of the Sisters. They also have a "total filial entrustment to Mary, the Mother of God".
Current status
The Motherhouse in Ann Arbor today counts over 100 Sisters with an average age of 28. The average entering age is 21. The Sisters are currently expanding geographically, with missions in California, Florida, South Carolina, and Texas, as their Motherhouse in Michigan is at its full capacity.Although attracting large numbers of aspirants and postulants and evidence of more care being taken in accepting candidates, concerns exist over the number of very young candidates entering directly from High School and the high rate of fall-out during the first year. Many believe that the communnity are overly aggressive in their recruitment and the care taken in the discernment process.