2012 Year of Women Religious at 401 E. 20th Street, Covington, KY 41014 US - ‘Come and see’ Oct. 14 -- women religious offer invitation
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‘Come and see’ Oct. 14 -- women religious offer invitation Tim Fitzgerald Editor |
Capitalizing on the interest in the Year for Women Religious, vocation directors for the women’s religious orders have organized a day for open houses at four provincial houses and monasteries in the Diocese of Covington. (The Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker in Walton are unable to participate but will offer prayers for the success of the day.) On Oct. 14, from 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m., everyone is invited to visit and tour all four of the provincial houses of the Sisters of Divine Providence, the Sisters of Notre Dame and the Passionist Nuns and the monastery of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Walburg. (Please see addresses and contact information below.) This is the first time the sisters’ vocations directors have scheduled simultaneous open houses. While conceived and planned by vocation directors, the day’s program has a broader purpose. "We invite you to come and celebrate the Year of Women Religious with us. Experience a taste of our lives, our homes and our spirits. Bring your family to see one or more communities and enjoy the afternoon," said Notre Dame Sister Ruth Lubbers, S.N.D. vocations director and an Oct. 14 organizer. Benedictine Sister Cathy Bauer, who represents the Benedictines as vocations director and Oct. 14 organizer, said their plans for the day are similar to those of the other orders. They will offer tours of the monastery and grounds, use displays to highlight the 150-year history of the Benedictines’ contribution to the Diocese of Covington, and detail the variety of ministries that Benedictine sisters are contributing to. The day is an “opportunity to open our doors, for the first time for some as well as for those friends who have visited before,” said Sister Cathy. “We hope to connect to families, with the idea that parents can support their children in whatever vocation choices they are considering.” Divine Providence Sister Theresa Falkenstein, vocations director and an Oct. 14 organizer, said lay people from the C.D.P. Associates will assist during the day in Melbourne, as the Benedictine and Notre Dame lay associates are contributing. “We are hoping that (the Oct. 14 event) would be an opportunity for the people to come and ask questions and to understand more about who religious are” during this Year for Women Religious, Sister Theresa said. “It would open the doors and help them see a joy and a freedom that’s in our life, so that if anyone were considering a vocation it would not be such a frightening thing for them and it might affirm their discernment a little bit more. And for parents too … so they might experience our lives a little more and be more encouraging if one of their children expresses an interest.” Notre Dame Sister Marla Monahan, provincial superior, praised the vocations directors for initiating the plan for the open houses and appreciated the tie-in with the Year for Women Religious called for by Bishop Roger Foys. “The Year for Women Religious has been a wonderful encouragement and support for us, ... a wonderful blessing for our diocese. The open house gives us another opportunity to share our vocation to religious life with others,” said Sister Marla. “We are all partners in the ministry of Jesus.” Sister Cathy described the Oct. 14 events as a “fruit of the Year for Women Religious.“ She too appreciated the opportunity provided by Bishop Foys “to reflect on who we are and how we have been a part of the diocese.” “We grew up with the diocese and helped it grow,” Sister Cathy said. In conjunction with the Year for Women Religious, you are invited to Open Houses at the provincial houses and monastery in the Diocese of Covington. Sunday, Oct. 14 1 p.m.--to 4:30 p.m. Please plan to visit all four! Click here for a map to local convents and monasteries. Benedictine Sisters of St. Walburg 2500 Amsterdam Rd. Villa Hills Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence 1000 St. Anne Dr. Melbourne Passionist Nuns 1151 Donaldson Rd. Erlanger (859) 371-8568 Sisters of Notre Dame 1601 Dixie Highway Park Hills www.sndky.org