Dominican Monastery (elmira) Closing

[Luigi]

osted: January 31, 2014

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Dominican nuns to leave Elmira

The Dominican nuns of Elmira, who have resided at Monastery of Mary the Queen since 1944, plan to close the monastery and relocate approximately one year from now.

According to a Christmas 2013 newsletter from the monastery, the cloistered sisters expect to move to an active community of Dominicans in Springfield, Ill., by late 2014 or early 2015. The newsletter noted that Father Bruno Cadore, master (worldwide leader) of the Order of Preachers -- also known as the Dominicans -- "has urged the nuns around the world to reflect on their future due to the lack of vocations."

The Elmira Dominicans' previous newsletter, dated Sept. 29, 2013, had first raised the probability of a move, explaining that the community has not received new vocations "in a number of years" and asking for prayers while stating that "it is a tremendous undertaking to empty and close a monastery after living here for almost 70 years."

Monastery of Mary the Queen is located at 1310 W. Church St., a half-mile west of Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Although as a cloistered community the sisters do not leave monastery grounds, they have maintained ties with the general public by making daily Mass available and inviting prayer requests to be mailed to them. The monastery also hosts the Third Order Dominicans, a branch of the Order of Preachers created for laypeople. Elmira's chapter is the only lay Dominican group in the Diocese of Rochester.

 

- See more at: http://www.catholiccourier.com/regional-life/chemungschuyler/briefs/dominican-nuns-to-leave-elmira/#sthash.0LKBeLba.dpuf

[OnlySunshine]

It's such a sad thing to see monasteries and convents having to close due to a lack of vocations.  I pray that their move will help the active Dominicans they are joining.  :(

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

I don't know where that site got the information but it is ALL WRONG!!!

The sisters are not closing their monastery. THEY ARE MOVING! They will live with the Springfield Sisters so as to be "on deck" when their monastery is being built nearby.

The current monastery is very small, there is no property, just a TINY backyard and Elmira is on the way to no nowhere. The sisters want to be closer to the friars and we have very few monasteries in the midwest. 

 

Please pray for them as it is a very big job to move a monastery!

[TheresaThoma]

Thanks for clarifying Sr Mary Catherine. That is exciting that they are  building a new monastery. 

[Luigi]

Thank you for clarifying, Sister Mary Catherine. I was surprised to read that news because I know they still have double-digit nuns there, and smaller monasteries are staying open. I couldn't put it together. I also thought that, if they did close, the nuns would probably move in with other Domincan nuns - I've seen Benedictine monks do the same thing.

 

May I suggest, though, that someone (Sr. M. Cath?) contact the Elmira nuns and recommend that they post an explanation of their situation? I looked for their web page last night and could find only the one from a few years ago. Maybe they could nip some misconceptions in the bud that way.

 

Thanks again.

[nikita92]

Do they let peek know that they are in need of vocations?

[nikita92]

Do they let people know that they are in need of vocations?

[Luigi]

The article does say they will "relocate," but it doesn't mention building a new monstery. I think, technically, everything in the article is accurate, but it doesn't depict the whole story.  

 

The Catholic Courier is the official newspaper of the Rochester diocese, so I thought I had a reliable source.

[AnneLine]

Luigi, we know you are not a sensationalist -- certainly, you are not to blame for posting the wrong info -- especially if it was in the diocesan newspaper!!!  

 

Sister Mary Catharine, thank you for correcting this!   Perhaps the Elmira nuns (or you? or Luigi?) could do a Letter to the Editor clarifying htis and/or contact them to print a correction?

 

It sounds like this is actually VERY good news for that community!   They are much more likely to get vocations if they are in a less remote place, with good support from the Sisters and Friars.  

 

I wonder if perhaps arrangements might also be in the works for the Nuns to have some of their elderly and/or sick sisters cared for with the Springfield Dominican Sisters if/as the need arises, just as the Summit nuns have done with some of your very sick sisters with the Caldwell Dominicans.  (That could explain part of the story... maybe it was mangled notes by the reporter!)   I know the Menlo Park Dominicans here in California have sometimes had their infirm sisters stay with the Mission San Jose Dominicans in Fremont (about 10 miles away).... and it just makes sense!  Many of the Active communities have MANY elderly and infirm sisters who need good nursing care, so those communities have often set up supportive living situations where the Sisters can continue to live their religious life with the additional support (and/or nursing support) that they need...  

 

The Carmelite Sisters in Duarte (near Alhambra in Southern California) have taken in Carmelite nuns and Friars as needed into their supportive living community as well.  

 

And at least on one occasion, I know that one of the secular Carmelite men who was a nurse served as a hospice nurse for one ofthe Carmelite Friars at the House of Prayer in Oakville.  It is wonderful to see the whole family work together!

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

I sent the link to the community and hopefully, there will be a clarification. Several years ago when we were at the Springfield Sisters for our Assembly of monasteries we went out to see the property the nuns will be building their monastery! It's just lovely! Right now all they have is something a little bigger than a residential back yard.

 

Please pray for them as it is a big project! We're happy for them.