Friday, February 19, 2016
Never Did I Ever
Think I would find myself interviewing to be on the news in the convent. Once again, I was proved wrong. A local news reporter contacted the Sisters a few months back about doing a piece on the Sisters. The reporter has a teen daughter and wanted to find some positive role models for young women in a culture that is filled with a lot of not so great role models. So, in light of this, I found myself sitting between two of our temporary professed Sisters yesterday morning answering questions about how we found our way to the convent and gave up lives that would be considered ideal for people our age. My goal during the whole thing was to allow the two Sisters to answer as many of the questions as possible, which thank goodness, happened.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Remember Where You Belong
As part of our Salesian Spirituality class with Sr. B, we recently took a field trip to visit the Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ. You might find this strange that a Sister would take us to visit another order, but it really was a great opportunity for us. Some of us, myself included, didn't really look a lot of other orders during our discernment so our knowledge of other congregations' spirituality is very limited. The purpose of the trip was for us to interview the Sisters and then compare and contrast the differences between our Salesian charism and their Dominican charism.
It was very enlightening. Going in Sr. B had prepped us a bit telling us that we would be sitting in a room with a wall in the middle and windows, the Dominicans would be one side and we would be on the other with the windows opened for interaction. Other than than that all I knew about this particular cloister of Dominicans I learned from a five minute YouTube video we watched in class.
In my mind, cloistered nuns were quiet and super prayerful. I figured they would be reserved and the conversation might be a little awkward just because of how reserved they were. I was quickly proved wrong. The Sisters came in and were super cheerful, one opening up the windows while another rolled in a cart with homemade hot chocolate and biscotti for us to snack on. They were laughing and joking with each other and were super welcoming of us. Sr. B and the Prioress (their Superior) exchanged little gifts and then we all sat down. Each of us had prepared questions for them and after a round of introductions, we started asking. My first question was if they took some form of a vow of silence. They don't and they were quick to inform us that although they have times during the day where they do observe silence, they never formally take a vow of silence and it's actually a very inaccurate stereotype of cloistered nuns. Throughout the rest of the interview, I was surprised by several moments where I realized there were similarities to Salesians. Obviously, there were major differences as well because they're cloistered so their ministry is mostly contemplation and sharing the fruits of their contemplation through praying for others. However, I noticed a joy the Sisters had that I have come to realize is present from doing God's will and living to serve Him. They also had a real family like spirit. After talking to them, it makes a lot of sense because unlike with the Salesians where we are moved from one house to another depending on ministry needs, once they enter the cloister that's their community for life.
The time for conversation passed very quickly and honestly I think I might have left with more questions than I came with, at the same time possessing a better idea of what cloistered life could be like. We had already planned on staying for evening prayer, just participating on the public side of the chapel, but the Prioress invited us to join the Sisters in their side of the chapel. It was a beautiful experience. The Sisters' chapel, instead of regular pews, has choir stalls since the Sisters sing the Divine Office. All of the choir stalls were made of very beautifully carved woodwork.
No worries though. I won't be jumping ship to enter the cloister. Before leaving on our field trip Sr. TK told each of us have fun but remember where we belong. Coming back I told her the Dominicans were nice, but they just weren't the Salesians.
It was very enlightening. Going in Sr. B had prepped us a bit telling us that we would be sitting in a room with a wall in the middle and windows, the Dominicans would be one side and we would be on the other with the windows opened for interaction. Other than than that all I knew about this particular cloister of Dominicans I learned from a five minute YouTube video we watched in class.
In my mind, cloistered nuns were quiet and super prayerful. I figured they would be reserved and the conversation might be a little awkward just because of how reserved they were. I was quickly proved wrong. The Sisters came in and were super cheerful, one opening up the windows while another rolled in a cart with homemade hot chocolate and biscotti for us to snack on. They were laughing and joking with each other and were super welcoming of us. Sr. B and the Prioress (their Superior) exchanged little gifts and then we all sat down. Each of us had prepared questions for them and after a round of introductions, we started asking. My first question was if they took some form of a vow of silence. They don't and they were quick to inform us that although they have times during the day where they do observe silence, they never formally take a vow of silence and it's actually a very inaccurate stereotype of cloistered nuns. Throughout the rest of the interview, I was surprised by several moments where I realized there were similarities to Salesians. Obviously, there were major differences as well because they're cloistered so their ministry is mostly contemplation and sharing the fruits of their contemplation through praying for others. However, I noticed a joy the Sisters had that I have come to realize is present from doing God's will and living to serve Him. They also had a real family like spirit. After talking to them, it makes a lot of sense because unlike with the Salesians where we are moved from one house to another depending on ministry needs, once they enter the cloister that's their community for life.
The time for conversation passed very quickly and honestly I think I might have left with more questions than I came with, at the same time possessing a better idea of what cloistered life could be like. We had already planned on staying for evening prayer, just participating on the public side of the chapel, but the Prioress invited us to join the Sisters in their side of the chapel. It was a beautiful experience. The Sisters' chapel, instead of regular pews, has choir stalls since the Sisters sing the Divine Office. All of the choir stalls were made of very beautifully carved woodwork.
No worries though. I won't be jumping ship to enter the cloister. Before leaving on our field trip Sr. TK told each of us have fun but remember where we belong. Coming back I told her the Dominicans were nice, but they just weren't the Salesians.
You can kind of see the wall and windows which were separating us during our visit.
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