As promised, here are some pictures from Saturday’s Vestition ceremony! Doesn’t Sr. Maria Dolorosa make a lovely novice? It was a special blessing to confer the holy habit for the first time in our new Chapter Room - it provided a beautiful yet close-knit setting for this special event in community life. Ad multos annos, Sister!
Our Holy Founder watches over the habit and Rule soon to be presented to the new novice
Aspirants Morgan and Marie led the procession into the Chapter Room
Each Sister placed a votive light next to Our Sorrowful Mother, with space in the center for the soon-to-be novice’s candle
Look at those curls!
Collette kneels before Mother Mary Veronica to formally request entry into the novitiate
Sr. Maria Faustina, Novice Directress, proclaims the Gospel reading for the ceremony - John chapter 17
Collette receives the holy habit, piece by piece, from Mother Mary Veronica
The first glimpse of our new novice: Sr. Maria Dolorosa of the Suffering Face of Jesus!
Singing a hymn of praise: “I Love Thee, O Thou Lord Most High.” (By a “God-incidence,” Sr. Maria Dolorosa picked this hymn without realizing that its lyrics are attributed to St. Alphonsus Liguori, who happens to be one of her favorite Saints!)
Sister formally receives her new religious name, signifying her special call from God to serve Him in the Passionist way of life
The novice receives a copy of the Passionist Nuns’ Rule and Constitutions, which she will study in depth over the next two years as she prepares to profess vows
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the newly-vested novice exchanges the Sign of Peace (aka “liturgical hug”!) with each of her Sisters in community.
Mother Mary Veronica, Sr. Maria Faustina, and Sr. Maria Dolorosa
Since everyone was gathered for the occasion, we took the opportunity to get a community photo!
A special hug from Sister’s novitiate companion, Postulant Noelle
Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for our novitiate members and for all young women discerning Passionist life!