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The day of Pope Francis’ election to the papacy was marked by joy and enthusiasm around the world. In schools staffed by the Congregation of St. Cecilia, students and teachers alike watched for the white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel and celebrated the gift of our new pope in different ways.
In Nashville, the Dominican Campus sponsored a “Rally for the Pope” joining other cities around the world in publically showing support for the Holy Father and the teachings of the Church. On 4:00 p.m. on the day of the election, over 300 children and adults came to the Campus bearing banners, waving Vatican City flags, and joining in a simple program of prayer, song, and witness. Father John O’Neill, chaplain of Overbrook School and St. Cecilia Academy led the group in prayer for the Holy Father in both English and Spanish. Kevin Keiser, teacher at St. Cecilia Academy gave a brief catechesis on the Petrine ministry, and two students (Avery Grant of St. Cecilia and Henry Bohman of Overbook) joined by the Coordinator of the Office of Catechetics at Aquinas College (Joan Watson), witnessed to the importance of the Faith in their lives and the gift of belonging of the Church. Claudia de Andrade of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and native of El Salvador led the intercessions in Spanish. All were then invited to attend Mass at Nashville’s Cathedral of the Incarnation with Bishop David Choby presiding.
The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia rejoice in the election of Pope Francis as successor of Peter and thank him for accepting this call from God. Our sister, St. Catherine of Siena, like our father St. Dominic, loved the Church and reverenced the Holy Father as “sweet Christ on earth”. As daughters of the Church, we too wish to pledge our obedience to Pope Francis, and promise him our love, support, and prayer. May he know the constant guidance and support of God’s grace, and the maternal care and protection of Our Lady in his ministry.
EWTN is encouraging our country to join in a Novena of prayer to the Mother of God from September 29-October 7. The link to the document can be found here: http://www.religiousliberties.org/novena/. You may download it or pray it directly from their website. Let us fervently petition our Lord through the intercession of his Most Blessed Mother during these nine days.
Important Information Regarding the HHS Mandate of the Healthcare Reform Act
Health Insurance Mandate: Religious Freedom and Conscience Rights in United States Seriously Threatened
The United States, from its very beginnings, has been an example of true human freedom and religious liberty for all. During its history, in fact, our nation has sheltered countless people who came here from countries where their basic freedoms were either in danger or being denied altogether. Sadly, Americans now face a similar threat. At this moment, which is strange and new to us, our own religious freedom and rights of conscience are in jeopardy. Sharing the very serious concerns expressed by Pope Benedict XVI and by our U.S. bishops in recent weeks, the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia will set aside nine days of prayer and fasting during the month of February, asking Our Lady to intercede for our country.
Background
The Holy Father noted in a recent address to U.S. Bishops visiting Rome that Catholics in the United States face “grave threats to the Church’s public witness” and “attempts to limit the most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion.” He was responding to the American bishops’ concerns about “concerted efforts…to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices” and the “tendency to reduce religious freedom to mere freedom of worship.” Pope Benedict stressed that it is imperative that “the entire Catholic community in the United States” recognize and counter these threats.
While faced with multiple threats to religious liberty, the most immediate concern is a January 20, 2012 ruling by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), made in conjunction with the recently approved healthcare law. In identifying the “preventive services” that must be covered in most health insurance plans, this HHS mandate specifies “all FDA approved forms of contraception,” including sterilization and some abortifacients. Although the ruling does allow an exemption for certain religious organizations, the exemption is so narrow that most religious institutions — including most Catholic schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, and charitable agencies — do not meet the criteria.
As a result of this ruling, religious employers will be required to pay for forms of health insurance coverage that violate both their religious beliefs and their rights of conscience. This would be the case with employers at both Catholic and many other religiously-affiliated institutions.
This decision was immediately denounced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as numerous individual bishops and other religious leaders, both Christian and non-Christian. According to the terms of the mandate, most new and renewed health plans will be required to include the aforementioned services beginning August 1, 2012. Nonprofit employers who, because of their religious beliefs, do not currently provide contraceptive coverage, may have an additional year, until August 1, 2013, to comply with the new law; but they must certify that they qualify for delayed implementation. In the meantime, they must provide their employees with specific information about sites where “contraceptive services” can be obtained. Thus religious employers are obliged by law to cooperate in actions which they hold in conscience to be intrinsically evil.
Cardinal-Designate Timothy M. Dolan, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has termed the HHS decision “literally unconscionable.” The Washington Post, in a January 22 editorial, noted that the final HHS ruling “fails to address the fundamental problem of requiring religiously affiliated entities to spend their own money in a way that contradicts the tenets of their faith.”
Numerous bishops and other religious leaders have continued to issue public protests against the HHS decision. The bishops have vowed to continue fighting the mandate, urging their people to do the same.
The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation strongly share the concern of our bishops and other religious leaders who have expressed opposition to this decision of the HHS. We are providing in this newsletter links to statements and articles giving more complete information about the implications of this ruling, one which poses an unprecedented threat to freedom of religion and conscience in our country.
United in Prayer
We beg God for the preservation of our great and beautiful country, and of the freedom we have all enjoyed and been privileged to share with others. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia invite you to join with us in a novena of prayer and fasting, asking Mary, Patroness of the United States of America, to implore God’s loving mercy on us at this critical time. The novena will begin February 11 and end February 19, 2012. The sisters will be praying the following prayer each of the nine days (see next drop-down).
The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation invite you to join us in a novena of prayer February 11-19, 2012
Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.
Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners – on all who are in need.
Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.
Imprimatur, Patrick Cardinal O’Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, 1959, for public consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; renewed by U.S. Bishops, November 11, 2006
link to pdf of this document
The Catholic News Agency has set up a webpage devoted to current information on the HHS Mandate
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/mandate/
Obama's Revised HHS Mandate Won't Solve Problems, USCCB President Says (February 14, 2012)
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1200596.htm
Six More Things Everyone Should Know About the HHS Mandate (USCCB Blog, February 14, 2012) Bishops Renew Call to Legislative Action on Religious Liberty (February 10, 2012) Letter from United States Conference of Catholic Bishops General Counsel on HHS Interim Final Rule (August 2011)
http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2012/02/six-more-things-everyone-should-know.html
http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-026.cfm
http://usccb.org/about/general-counsel/rulemaking/upload/comments-to-hhs-on-preventive-services-2011-08-2.pdf
January 20, 2012 press release by Department of Health and Human Services giving final mandate on insurance coverage:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/01/20120120a.html
January 20, 2012 Statement of Cardinal-Designate Timothy M. Dolan
http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-012.cfm
Summary of Bishops’ Responses:
http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2012/01/here-comes-everybody-on-hhs.html
http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-020.cfm
February 6, 2012 From the USCCB website "Six things everyone should know about the HHS mandate"
http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2012/02/six-things-everyone-should-know-about.html
CNN Interview:
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/01/is-obama-losing-the-catholic-vote/?hpt=hp_t1
Fox News:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1427865065001/holy-war-over-health-care-law/?playlist_id=86858
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has urged Catholics to study the issue and write to Congress urging support for the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act:
http://www.nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=292
Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012:
http://www.consciencelaws.org/media/releases/releases-2012.html
February 6, 2012 From the USCCB website "Six things everyone should know about the HHS mandate"
http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2012/02/six-things-everyone-should-know-about.html
CNN Interview:
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/01/is-obama-losing-the-catholic-vote/?hpt=hp_t1
Fox News:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1427865065001/holy-war-over-health-care-law/?playlist_id=86858
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has urged Catholics to study the issue and write to Congress urging support for the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act:
http://www.nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=292
Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012:
http://www.consciencelaws.org/media/releases/releases-2012.html
Sr. Agnes Marie visits with other participants before the Rally for Religious Freedom at the Tennessee State Capitol. This was one of over 140 rallies coordinated to take place across the nation at noon on Friday, March 23, 2012.
Our novices and postulants join other participants on Capitol Hill in the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of the Rally.
Sr. Catherine Marie meets U.S. Representative Diane Black, who was one of the key speakers in defense of Religious Freedom at the Nashville Rally.
The sisters gather on the steps of Capitol Hill after the Rally to show their love and devotion to our country.
Many of the sisters shake hands with Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, who spoke at the Rally. Dr. Land emphasized that the HHS Mandate was not a Catholic issue only and pledged his support of the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ fight for religious freedom for all.
Bishop David Choby gives his blessing to the sisters following the Rally for Religious Freedom.
Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in the News
Time-Honored Treasures Find Homes in New Sacred Spaces
National Catholic Register
April 21, 2013
At Aquinas College, 8 Houses Will Soon Be Home
National Catholic Register
September 15, 2012
Aquinas College Files Suit Against HHS Mandate
Aquinas College
September 12, 2012
Alaska Youth Travel to Convent to Seek God's Will
Catholic Anchor (Archdiocese of Anchorage)
September 2, 2012
New St. Cecilia Principal Follows "Noble Calling" of Catholic Education
Tennessee Register
August 17, 2012
Trio Profess Vows as Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese
August 10, 2012
Dominican Sisters Turn Heads While Attending USM
Gulf Pine Catholic (Diocese of Biloxi)
August 6, 2012
Nashville Dominicans Respond to God's Love with Final Profession of Vows
Tennessee Register
August 3, 2012
Aquinas College Goes Residential
Aquinas College (Nashville, TN)
July 16, 2012
Nashville Dominican Sister Appointed to USCCB Education Post
National Catholic Register
June 1, 2012
Siblings Support One Another in Priestly and Religious Life
Our Sunday Visitor
April 1, 2012
Unique Stories of How Two Religious Found Their Calling
Rome Reports
February 12, 2012
A Bride of Christ: Desire for Christ leads Bishop Chatard graduate to life as Dominican sister
The Criterion (Archdiocese of Indianapolis)
January 13, 2012
Dominican nun, doctor strives to heal the whole person
Tennessee Register
October 14, 2011
Women Religious Leave Lasting Impact on Diocese
Tennessee Register
August 19, 2011
Australians Profess Vows as Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese
August 11, 2011
Dominican's Dream Comes True with Final Profession of Vows
Tennessee Register
August 5, 2011
New Spring Catholic High School Named
Your Houston News
July 16, 2011
De Sales Campus Opens New Convent for Nashville Dominicans
The Catholic Review
June 16, 2011
Notre Dame’s Return of the Dominican Sisters
Chattanooga CityScope
Spring 2011
Sr. Joan of Arc, Former University of Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Player
Living Bread Radio AM1060
February 21, 2011
Nuns in St. Mary’s Convent Shed Light on Everyday Life
WBIR
February 15, 2011
Younger Catholic Women Get Into the Habit
Voice of America
January 11, 2011
April 2013 Vocations E-Newsletter
Nine sisters made their Perpetual Profession of Vows with the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia on July 25, 2012, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville, Tennessee.
Before the Mass, the sisters to make perpetual profession gather outside the Cathedral with Mother Ann Marie; Sr. Mary Angela; Most Reverend David R. Choby, Bishop of Nashville; and Most Reverend John M. LeVoir, Bishop of New Ulm.
Sr. Mariana Thayer and Sr. Christiana Mickwee prepare to enter the Cathedral for the Mass of Perpetual Profession.
The sisters stand in the sanctuary during the Examination. Following the Rite of Perpetual Religious Profession, Bishop Choby asks them if they are ready to dedicate themselves to God and to seek perfect charity according to the Rule and Constitutions.
The sisters lie prostrate in the sanctuary as the choir and the congregation sing the Litany invoking the aid of God and His saints to assist them in fulfilling the resolutions which God Himself has inspired in them.
After professing her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience “for all my life,” Sr. Beatrice Clarke signs her vows on the altar.
Mother Ann Marie congratulates Sr. Sharon Rose Goellner after her perpetual profession of vows.
Beginning with Mother and the members of the General Council, all of the perpetually professed sisters in the community express their fraternal love for the newly professed by the sign of peace.
Sr. Sophia Lopez visits with her mother on the afternoon of her Profession. All the guests were invited to a reception at the Motherhouse after the Mass.
On July 28, 2012, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville, Tennessee, nineteen novices made their First Profession of Vows as Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia.
The novices gather in the courtyard of the Cathedral with Mother Ann Marie Karlovic, their novice mistress Sr. Mary Angela Highfield, and the Most Reverend Lee A. Piché, Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Sr. Regina Mary Rzeppa and Sr. Rose Miriam Collins await the beginning of the Mass for the Rite of First Religious Profession.
With her hand on an ancient copy of the Constitutions of the Dominican Order and the present Constitutions of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, Sr. Jacinta Man professes her vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience into the hands of the Prioress General, Mother Ann Marie. Because of their bilingual backgrounds, three of the novices also professed their vows in the native language of their parents: Sr. Maria Thuáºn Nguyen in Vietnamese, Sr. Jacinta in Cantonese, and Sr. Helena Pasztetnik in Polish.
Sr. Josemaria Pence watches as Mother Ann Marie signs below her own signature in the book of vows.
Bishop Piché presents Sr. Ann Dominic Mahowald the black veil as a sign that she is “totally given to Christ the Lord, and dedicated to the service of the Church.”
The newly professed sisters lie prostrate in the sanctuary for the blessing of the scapulars.
Mother Ann Marie hugs each of the newly professed sisters after the Mass of First Religious Profession. Pictured here from right to left are Sr. Maria Thuáºn Nguyen, Sr. Helena Pasztetnik, and Sr. Mary Leo Nordmark.
On July 29, 2012, thirteen sisters received the Dominican habit and their religious names, as they entered their year of canonical novitiate.
In their last moments as postulants, the sisters listen attentively to Mother Ann Marie’s address to the community, and especially to them. 
Sr. Delia Grace, having just received her new religious name, is given each piece of the Dominican habit by Mother Ann Marie, who is assisted by Sr. Anna Grace, the Novice Mistress.
Sisters help the new novices adjust their habits and mantles before returning to the chapel for the conclusion of the ceremony.
The thirteen novices stand before the altar wearing the black and white Dominican habit as the community sings the “Ave Maris Stella.”
Novice Sr. Caitriona explains the significance (and the Gaelic spelling) of her name to Sr. Judith and Sr. Mary Josephine.
Sr. Marie Vianney asks Sr. Joanna about her name and feast day in order to complete her list of the new novices.
The sisters in their first thirteen years after the Novitiate gather to hear an address by Mother Ann Marie, who reminded them of the continual need for renewal and for spiritual discernment. Another program of formation has been developed for the sisters who have been finally professed for eleven or more years.
Sr. Elinor proposes reflection questions based on the group’s readings from the year.
A group of Sisters enjoy the discussion of the ongoing formation texts and the time to be with one another.
Through the kindness of Clark and Caroline Baker and the staff at Camp Widjiwagan in Nashville, TN, the sisters were able to enjoy an overnight stay and a day of fun and relaxation at the YMCA camp.
The sisters pray Morning Prayers on the dock of Percy Priest Lake.
The sisters display their findings after the annual Easter egg hunt on the grounds of the YMCA camp. Other activities at the camp included street hockey, archery, canoeing, basketball, bike riding, and climbing the Alpine Tower.
Sr. John Catherine relaxes with a good book under a tree.
Aquinas College chaplain Fr. Jacek Kopera, O.P., celebrates Mass for the sisters at the Camp lodge on Easter Monday.
Sr. Luke, Sr. Christine, and Sr. Mary Angela celebrated their Golden Jubilee on Saturday, March 3, 2012, commemorating their First Profession of Religious Vows on March 10, 1962.
Sr. Christine, Sr. Mary Angela, and Sr. Luke with their families in the chapel just before the Jubilee Mass begins.
During the Jubilee Mass, the three Jubilarians renewed their vows. Pictured here is Sister Christine, a former Prioress General,
renewing her vows into the hands of Mother Ann Marie.
Sr. Marian visits with Sr. Mary Angela’s niece Molly and great-niece CiCi.
Sr. Luke gathers with her siblings, Joe Hollerbach and Kathy Carroll, and her extended family.
Sr. Mary Angela gathers with her siblings, Al Highfield and Dolly Millican, and her extended family.
Sr. Christine gathers with her family: from right to left, her brother Tom Born; her brother Jim Born and his wife Ann Christine;
and behind them, her sister Louise Rider and husband Steve.
Mother Ann Marie shares with the Jubilarians their gifts from the community during breakfast in the refectory the morning of the Jubilee celebration.
Fr. John O’Neill and Fr. Jacek Kopera, O.P., assist Fr. Alfred Wilder, O.P., in the Eucharistic procession through the corridors surrounding the cloistered garden during Forty Hours Devotion at the Motherhouse.
Assisted by servers from the local community, Fr. Alfred Wilder, O.P., bears the Eucharist in procession from the chapel during the Closing of Forty Hours as the congregation sings Pange Lingua Gloriosi .
Clergy from throughout the Diocese and across the state joined the community for the Closing of Forty Hours on Monday, January 16, 2012.
Sr. Ignatius, prioress of the Motherhouse, welcomes clergy and guests to a dinner in their honor following the Closing of Forty Hours Devotion.
Select one of the links below to read the Holy Father's messages regarding early Dominicans: (1) the life and virtues of Saint Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers; (2) Mendicant Orders; and (3) Saint Albert the Great.
Salt and Light, Canada's Catholic Television Network, produced a documentary on the life and work of the Sisters of Saint Cecilia Congregation.
Click on the link for a clip of this movie. http://nashvilledominican.org/Vocations/The_Vocation_Director
