New Year Traditions

New Year's morning brings the community together in the Chapter Hall for our custom of receiving our patron saint and prayer intention for the year.

Each Sister's name is called randomly and while she kneels before the Infant Jesus her patron saint, a spiritual quote and her prayer intention is read aloud. This year, Sr. Denise Marie took quotes from a little book called, "Dear Little Sister" which are the letters of Fr. Dominick Koudelka, OP to Sr. Ruzena of our monastery in Prague, Czech Republic.

The Community and Novitiate also receive a patron and prayer intention. This year the community is prayer for the families of the Sisters. The Novitiate is praying for seminarians.

After this little ceremony we gather in the community room for informal recreation. Some sisters watched a Christmas concert that had been taped earlier (as in several years!) while others got some tea and joined in a circle of conversation.