Local Nunnery Reports Rise In New Sisters
FARMINGTON HILLS (WWJ) - Living as a nun. It's not for everyone, but it is a new trend that one local nunnery says is a true blessing. WWJ's Kathryn Larson had the chance to visit the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament in Farmington Hills and has more on the Cloistered Dominican Sisters and their rise in population.
"It's just a wonderful life, it's praise, it's prayer, it's thanksgiving," said Sr. Mary Thomas the prioress or head nun at the monastery. "And we often say to women who aren't sure, well come and try, you can leave at any time, if it fits you are going to stay, if it doesn't fit, you leave and that's fine, at least you are satisfied to know you tried."
Watch the video by WWJ's Kathryn Larson:
In the last year at least six new recruits have come into the monastery to experience the lifestyle of the Dominican Nuns.
That includes a 24-year-old from Redford and Maria Carol from Nigeria - who adopted the name Sister Marie of Jesus . A former professor of education at USC, she says she was tired of the daily grind but on occasion misses technology:
"It was an adjustment for me, because I was always watching t.v. or on the internet every day," said Sr. Mary of Jesus.
Sister Mary Thomas says from sun up to sun down - their order of more than 30 nuns lead a busy day, but a new treat does help:
"You can stop and get a cup of coffee, if you'd like ... that is new," said Sr. Thomas.
And she says it's not the economy that's driving her numbers up. She says there's new faith coming in young people.
"Our fidelity to being who we are, who we claim to be, we try, we try to be Dominican nuns," added Sr. Thomas.
