On Sunday, June 20, we celebrated the Solemn Profession of Sr. Florentina Marie of the Heart of Jesus. Sr. Florentina Marie was born in Moshi District, Tanzania, and was a sister of Our Lady of Mt. Kilimanjaro for over three decades before discerning a further call to the contemplative life. The ceremony was presided over by Archbishop Michael Miller CSB of Vancouver, and many friend and family were able to witness this beautiful consecration—the first for Queen of Peace Monastery since our foundation.
"I, Sister Florentina Marie, make profession
and promise obedience to God
and to blessed Mary and to blessed Dominic,
and to the Master of the Order of Friars Preachers,
and to you Sister Marie Tersidis,
prioress of Queen of Peace Monastery, and to your successors,
according to the Rule of blessed Augustine
and the Constitutions of the Nuns of the Order of Preachers,
that I will be obedient to you, and to your successors,
until death."
During this same Mass, we also celebrated the blessing of our new tabernacle, generously donated by a group of generous benefactors and handbuilt by a local craftsman. The panels were designed by Sr. Claire Marie, and feature the four living creatures from Ezekiel 1:5, representing the four evangelists. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who made this new creation possible, and pray that it will give glory to God and beauty to our chapel for generations to come!
