The Redemptoristine Nuns in Dublin are hosting a Monastic Vocations Weekend from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 March 2016. The weekend will offer those who might be considering a vocation to contemplative religious life and opportunity to spend time with the sisters in prayer, to see what a day in their life is like and to ask questions about the order.
Their day begins at approximately 6.30 am Meditation takes place at 7 am in the chapel followed by Morning prayer at 7.30 am.
After morning prayer the sisters have breakfast in silence, get a short walk in, and then have a Little Hour from the Divine Office in the chapel.
At 8.30 am each sister will go to wherever she is working. Sisters work in the altar breads, the sacristy, the laundry, the kitchen, the Retreat and Faith Centre, the infirmary, and many other jobs are done around the house. At 10.30am sisters avail of soup, tea or coffee for a snack.
At 10.50 am the younger/newer sisters meet Sister Gabrielle for lecture until 11.50 am. They read and discuss various subject pertinent to their lives. At 12 noon they pray the Office of Readings from the Divine Office and the Angelus.
12.30 pm is dinner time and dinner is in silence everyday except Thursdays and Sundays, Feast days and other special days. The sisters make a thanksgiving visit to the Blessed Sacrament after dinner. During the next hour they have a half hour meditation and a half hour spiritual reading usually in their private room or outside (weather permitting).
Between 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm if a sister has study to do, they do it during this time. Each sister would be occupied in completing an earlier task or studying. At 3.00 pm they have another Little Hour from the Divine Office. At this time the sisters pray in a special way for the dead by ringing the bell 33 times symbolizing the years our Lord lived.
3.25 pm is snack time in the refectory. For an hour after that the sisters study, gets the supper ready, prepare for Mass, and look after the Retreat Centre. At 4.50 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and meditation takes place, followed by 5.20 Evening Prayer at 5.20 pm, and Mass at 5.45 pm.
The public join the sisters for meditation, Evening Prayer and Mass. Supper is at 6.30 pm. The sisters always have recreation at supper. After super they say Night Prayer which is about 7.45 to 8.00 pm. They would have recreation for an hour – during the summer, outside for a walk, on the bikes or a game of scrabble indoors. The news is watched on TV a couple of evenings a week. The Great silence begins at 10.00pm.
For more information on the order and the vocations weekend please contact: [email protected] or check out their website at www.rednuns.com
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