Vestition of Sr. Dominica Maria
As Jesus was “driven into the desert by the Holy Spirit” on the First Sunday of Lent, it was our great joy to celebrate the “entrance into the desert” of postulant Khuyen as she received the Dominican habit and the religious name Sr. Dominica Maria of the Lamb of God. The ceremony took place in our monastery’s Chapter hall shortly before the Sunday Eucharist. In Dominican tradition, the reception of the habit marks the formal entrance of a sister into her time as a novice, which lasts two years.
During the ceremony, the sister is clothed piece by piece in habit by the hands of her sisters, without herself trying to help. This physical sign of trust shows both that the contemplative life is a gift which can’t be grasped, and that the monastic community will provide the care and guidance necessary to support the young sister along her walk with God.
At the end of the clothing, the moment everyone has been waiting for: what will the sister’s religious name and mystery be? Each candidate prays and discerns with the novice mistress in the months leading up to the ceremony (while the rest of the community tries very hard to guess!). Some receive a completely new name, while others are called to receive their Confirmation or baptismal names (or variations thereof). To our great joy, Sr. Dominica Maria received a “new-old” name, remembering both our founder St. Dominic and our dear Sr. Maria Dominica, one of our first foundresses who passed away while the monastery in Squamish was under construction.
Sr. Dominica Maria with a photo of Sr. Maria Dominica.
Please pray for Sr. Dominica Maria as she continues to “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Rev 14:4) in the footsteps of St. Dominic!