Ceremony of Perpetual Religious Profession
Vows of Sr. Mary Joseph of the Holy Family, O.P.
April 28, 2012
Most Reverend Donald Hanchon, Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit Celebrant
Reverend Shafique Masih Chaplain, Con-Celebrant
Reverend Thomas Heier, CMM Con-Celebrant
 
 The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord
She is his new creation by water and the word.
From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride.
With his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.
 

Bishop Hanchon welcomes the people.

The Liturgy of the Word

    
I will pour out water upon the thirsty ground,
and streams upon the dry land;
I will pour out my spirit upon your offspring,
and my blessings upon your descendants.
Isaiah 44
 
We proclaim Christ Crucified...
God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise.
1 Corinthians 1

 
 
 I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them.
John 17:26

Rite of Perpetual Religious Profession

Call and Request
 

 Sr. Anne, the Prioress asks Sr. Mary Joseph what she seeks. Sister responds "God's mercy and yours."

Bishop Hanchon's Homily

 

 

 Bishop Hanchon drew God's wisdom from each reading and shared how each reading signifies a particular aspect of our consecration to the Lord. Isaiah 44 proclaims that one shall say "I am the Lord's". St. Paul to the Corinthians proclaims that to the world the Cross is foolishness but for us who the world sees as foolish it is the Love of God made manifest. Our Lord in his prayer to the Father just before His Passion, captured in St. John's Gospel, expresses the love that is in the Trinity and our desire to radiate that love to all others.

Questioning and Prayer for the Nun to be Professed

   
Sr. Anne, the Prioress, asks Sr. Mary Joseph a series of questions. Is she resolved to make Profession according to the Constitutions of the Order, to join herself more closely to Christ through her baptism and Profession, to make progress in love of neighbor and love of God for the salvation of souls, to be incorporated into the Dominican Order and partake in its hidden fruitfulness. All to which Sr. Mary Joseph firmly responds "I am with God's help and yours". Bishop Hanchon exhorts all to pray to God the Father Almighty that He may pour out the grace of His blessing on His servant whom He has called to follow Christ more perfectly.

Litany of the Saints and The Profession

   

Sister prostrates while all invoke the Communion of Saints through this sacred and traditional prayer.
 Sister promises obedience to God, to blessed Mary, to St. Dominic, to the Master of the Order, to the Archbishop of Detroit, and to the Prioress of the Monastery according to the Rule of St. Augustine and the Constitutions of the Monastery until death.

Kiss of Peace and Perpetual Blessing

 
  

Giving of Veil and Conclusion of the Rite

 

 

   

 Parents of Sr. Mary Joseph

 Sr. Mary Joseph and her sister, Victoria, preparing to offer the Gifts for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

 

Fr. Heier, Bishop Hanchon, Fr. Shafique preparing to receive the Gifts.

 

Sr. Joseph provides testimonial and thanksgiving for her vocation.

 

Bishop Hanchon responds with request for all religious women present to raise their hands.

 

Alleluia! Praise with us the God of Grace.

 A very special thank you to all who were present to pray and bear witness with us to Sr. Mary Joseph's taking of Final Vows of Perpetual Religious Profession - a true gift from God. You will all be forever remembered as special friends who shared with us the glory of the day. God's Blessings to all!

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