Dominican Nuns

DOMINICAN NUNS. - Female congregations that draw their inspiration from the Dominican rule.

I. DOMINICAN SISTERS OF BLESSED IMELDA (IMELDINE SISTERS)

Congregation founded in Venice in 1922 by the Dominican Father Giocondo Lorgna, and approved by the Holy See in 1943. It currently numbers 278 religious with 29 houses, one of which is in mission territory (Brazil).

The special purpose of the Congregation is the diffusion of the Eucharistic spirit through perpetual adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament and intellectual, moral and religious assistance, especially of youth.

II. DOMINICAN NUNS OF THE CONGREGATION OF NEW ZEALAND

They were founded near Dunedin in 1871 by a group of religious women from the Irish monastery of Sion Hill, Blackrock (Dublin), headed by Mother M. Gabriella Gill, and constituted as a Congregation in 1933. At the beginning of 1949 the religious women numbered 152, in 17 houses, dedicated to works of charity and particularly to education in about 20 schools with over 1500 pupils.

Abele Redigonda

III. DOMINICAN NUNS OF THE ENGLISH CONGREGATION OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA

A congregation formed in 1929 by the union of 5 independent Dominican Congregations, of which the oldest was that of St. Catherine of Siena, founded by Mother Margherita M. Hallahan in 1845. In 1949 it had 15 houses in England and Scotland, with 329 sisters dedicated to parish works, the education of young women and the care of the sick and orphans.

IV. DOMINICAN NUNS OF THE LITTLE HOUSE OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE

They arose in Genoa in 1863 through the work of Teresa Solari (Sister Caterina Domenica dello Spirito Santo), and with the help and assistance of the Dominican Father Vera. In 1939 the Congregation received the decree of praise, and at the beginning of June 1948 it had 7 houses with 4 orphanages.

The sisters, numbering 60, carry out purely charitable work on behalf of orphaned, poor and abandoned girls. They also devote themselves to nurseries, workshops and elementary schools.

V. THE DOMINICAN NUNS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Institute founded in 1866 by Mother Edvige Portalet. It has its generalate house at Pompignan and some branches in France, but it is more widespread in Peru and Ecuador, where two true provinces have been established. It currently consists (1949) of about 325 sisters in 24 houses, dedicated to schools, orphanages and nurseries; they also engage in social works for workers and the blind.

Abele Redigonda

VI. DOMINICAN NUNS OF THE PERPETUAL ROSARY

They arose at Calais in 1880 through the work of Fr. Domenico Saintourens for the continuous recitation of the Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament. They are devoted to the contemplative life with strict enclosure. The few monasteries federated in 1931; in 1939 they were approved by the Holy See. At present they have 14 houses with 300 nuns.

Giulio Mandelli

VII. DOMINICAN NUNS OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Religious women founded by Mother Domenica Lavandier in 1876 at Hardinghen (Pas-de-Calais). The sisters, about 110, have meeting places for students, boarding houses, work houses and clinics for the sick.

VIII. DOMINICAN NUNS OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS

Religious sisters founded by Elmina Paz de Gallo (Sister M. Domenica of the Most Holy Sacrament) in 1888 at Tucumán, with the cooperation of the Dominican Father Angelo Boisdron. They number eleven houses and a little more than a hundred sisters devoted to the education and instruction of youth, especially girls, in schools, colleges and orphanages. They also carry out their work in hospitals.

IX. DOMINICAN NUNS OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY OF DETROIT

It is one of the most flourishing congregations of the Dominican female Third Order, with 1448 sisters in 134 houses. It extends through North and Central America, with its general house in Adrian, diocese of Detroit. It was founded around 1877, and carries on extensive activity in schools, colleges, academies, catechetical centers, etc. The sisters also serve in hospitals and homes for the aged.

X. THE DOMINICAN NUNS OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY OF MONDOVÌ

A religious institute founded in Mondovì in 1844 by Msgr. Tommaso Ghilardi, for the education and instruction of youth in nurseries, schools (including secondary and higher schools), colleges, orphanages, workshops, etc. The sisters also care for the sick in clinics, hospitals and at home, and give their service in homes for the elderly. Today the religious number about 300, with 34 houses, 2 of which are abroad.

XI. DOMINICAN NUNS OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY AND ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

They were founded in 1829 at Bar-le-Duc (branches in France, Belgium, Sweden, and one in Beijing). There are about 220 sisters, who devote themselves to the education and instruction of girls in all its forms: boarding schools, retreats, houses for students, orphanages, and holiday colonies.

XII. DOMINICAN NUNS OF NOTRE-DAME DE GRÂCE

A congregation born from the Work of the Refuge of St. Anne, for the preservation and rehabilitation of women. It has branches in France and abroad. Today it numbers 126 religious in 5 houses (1949).

XIII. DOMINICAN NUNS OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY

An Australian congregation with its general house in Adelaide, where it began in 1868 through the work of M.-T. Moore and a small group of religious from the monastery of Our Lady of Cabra in Ireland; for this reason it is also called the Congregation of Cabra. The sisters number 106 and direct about ten schools.

XIV. THE DOMINICAN NUNS OF ST. SISTO VECCHIO

A religious congregation founded in 1893 by Sister Antonia Lalia, at S. Sisto Vecchio, which was the first seat of the Dominicans in Rome. In 1948 it had 39 houses scattered throughout the regions of Italy and one in America, with 350 sisters. The works of apostolate to which they devote themselves are various: education and religious formation of young women, care of the sick in hospitals, and good press through a printing school and affiliated works.

XV. THE DOMINICAN NUNS OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA

The true purpose of this Institute is given by its appellation of "guardamalati" [nurses of the sick], because they devote themselves almost exclusively to the care of the sick, especially workers and the poor, in their homes. The foundress was M. Celeste at Perpignan in 1858. Today (1949) it numbers about 170 religious in 17 houses.

XVI. THE DOMINICAN NUNS OF ST. CATHERINE DE' RICCI

Founded in 1880 by Sister Catherine de' Ricci of the Sacred Heart (Lucia E. Smith). Today there are about 120 sisters dedicated to the work of spiritual retreats, to teaching and to the care of the sick at home. They have houses in North and Central America.

XVII. THE DOMINICAN NUNS OF ST. MARY

A congregation existing in the United States, where it has 40 houses with 118 religious dedicated to instruction. It was established in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1860.

XVIII. D. OF WEST-MAITLAND (today of STRATHFIELD)

They were founded in 1867 near W.-M. by Mother M. Agnes Bourke. Spread throughout Australia, its nearly 200 religious dedicate themselves to the instruction and education of girls.

XIX. DOMINICAN NUNS TEACHERS AND NURSES OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA

A religious congregation founded in 1879, the year in which the Italian houses separated from the French ones, founded by Sister Gerina Fabre and canonically erected by the Archbishop of Albi in 1852, with an independent government and its own superior general. It was approved by the Holy See in 1930, and currently has 55 houses (2 in mission territory) with 1,200 sisters devoted to works of charity, nurseries, schools, workshops, orphanages, first-aid stations, dispensaries and care of the sick.

XX. IRISH DOMINICAN NUNS

A congregation made up of about thirty monasteries, scattered throughout Ireland and South Africa, of which the oldest and best known are the two in Dublin, at Cabra (1717) and at Sion Hill, Blackrock (1836), with 721 religious dedicated to teaching and to the training of teachers.