Dominican Nuns

DOMINICAN NUNS. – Female congregations inspired by the Dominican rule.
I. D. DELLA B. IMELDA (SUORE IMELDINE). — Congregation founded in Venice in 1922 by the Dominican Fr. Giocondo Lorgna, and approved by the Holy See in 1943. It currently numbers 278 religious in 29 houses, one of which is in mission territory (Brazil).

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

II. D. 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), led by Mother M. Gabriella Gill, and constituted as a Congregation in 1933. At the beginning of 1949, the religious numbered 152, in 17 houses, devoted to charitable works and particularly to education in approximately 20 schools with more than 1,500 pupils. III. D. OF THE ENGLISH CONGREGATION OF S. CATERINA DA SIENA. — Congregation formed in 1929 through the union of the five independent Dominican Congregations, the oldest of which was that of S. CATERINA DA SIENA, founded by Mother Margherita M. Hallahan in 1845. In 1949 it had 15 houses in England and Scotland, with 329 sisters devoted to parish work, the education of young women, and the care of the sick and orphaned. IV. D. 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), with the help and assistance of the Dominican Fr. 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 60 sisters engage in purely charitable work on behalf of orphaned, poor, and abandoned girls. They also devote themselves to nurseries, workshops, and elementary schools.

VI. D. OF THE PERPETUAL ROSARY. — They arose at Calais in 1880 through the work of Fr. Domenico Saintourens for the continual recitation of the Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament. They are dedicated to the contemplative life with strict enclosure. The few monasteries formed a federation in 1931; in 1939 they were approved by the Holy See. At present they have 14 houses with 300 sisters. VII. D. OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. — Religious women founded by Mother Domenica Lavandier in 1876 at Hardinghen (Pas-de-Calais). The approximately 110 sisters run retreats for female students, boarding schools, work homes, and clinics for the sick. VIII. D. OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS. — Religious women founded by Elmina Paz de Gallo (Sister M. Domenica del S.mo Sacramento) in 1888 at Tucuman, with the assistance of the Dominican Father Angelo Boisdron. They number eleven houses and just over one hundred sisters, devoted to the education and instruction of young people, especially girls, in schools, colleges, and orphanages. They also serve in hospitals. IX. D. OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY OF DETROIT. — It is one of the most flourishing congregations of the Dominican Third Order of women, with 1,448 sisters in 134 houses. It extends throughout North and Central America, with its motherhouse in Adrian, in the diocese of Detroit. It was founded around 1877 and is highly active in schools, colleges, academies, catechetical centers, etc. The sisters also serve in hospitals and homes for the elderly. XI. D. DEL S.MO ROSARIO E S. TOMMASO D'AQUINO. — They were founded in 1829 at Bar-le-Duc (branches in France, Belgium, Sweden, and one in Beijing). There are approximately 220 sisters, who devote themselves to the education and instruction of girls in all its forms: boarding schools, retreats, homes for female students, orphanages, and holiday camps. XII. D. DI NOTRE-DAME DE GRÂCE. — Congregation originating from the Work of the Refuge of S. Anna, for the preservation and rehabilitation of women. It has branches in France and abroad. It currently numbers 126 religious in 5 houses (1949). XIII. D. OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY. — An Australian congregation with its mother house in Adelaide, where it was founded in 1868 by M.-T. Moore and a small group of religious women from the Monastery of Our Lady of Cabra in Ireland; hence it is also called the Congregation of Cabra. The sisters number 106 and run about ten schools. XIV. D. OF S. SISTO VECCHIO. — 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. Their various apostolic works include the education and religious formation of young women, care of the sick in hospitals,

and the good press, through a school of typography and related works.

XV. D. OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. - The true purpose of this Institute is indicated by its designation of “sick-nurses,” for they devote themselves almost exclusively to the care of the sick, especially workers and the poor, in their homes. It was founded by M. Celeste at Perpignano in 1858. It now has (1949) approximately 170 religious in 17 houses. XVI. D. OF ST. CATERINA DE' RICCI. - Founded in 1880 by Sister Caterina de' Ricci of the Sacred Heart (Lucia E. Smith). They now number about 120 sisters devoted to the work of spiritual retreats, teaching, and the care of the sick in their homes. They have houses in North and Central America. XVII. D. DI S. MARIA. - A congregation existing in the United States, where it has 40 houses with 118 religious sisters devoted to teaching. It was established in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1860.

XVIII. D. DI WEST-MAITLAND (oggi di STRATHFIELD). - They were founded in 1867 near W.-M. by Mother M. Agnes Bourke. Spread throughout Australia, the nearly 200 religious sisters devote themselves to the teaching and education of girls.

XIX. D. TEACHERS AND NURSES OF S. CATERINA DA SIENA. - 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 independent government and its own superior general. It was approved by the Holy See in 1930, and at present has 55 houses (2 in mission territories) with 1,200 sisters devoted to works of charity, kindergartens, schools, workshops, orphanages, first-aid stations, dispensaries, and the care of the sick.