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CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA Cuba Curaao Nicaragua Puerto Rico
Argentina Cordoba San Justo (Buenos Aires) Mendoza Catamarca
Concepcin (Tucuman) Aatuya Santiago del Estero Valle (Corrientes)
Bolivia Cochabamba Brazil Sa Roque SP Chile Santiago
Copayapu-Atacama Yerbas Buenas
Colombia Ocaa Bogota Duitama (Boyaca) Sogamoso (Boyaca) Ecuador
Quito Duran Los Chillos (Pichincha) Ibarra - Caranqui Peru Cusco
(Santa Catalina) Lima (Santa Catalina) Arequipa (Santa Catalina)
Lima (Santa Rosa) Arequipa (Santa Rosa) Quillabamba Suppressed
monasteries Hispaniola Venezuela (Caracas)
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CUBA Monasterio de Santa Catalina de Siena Calle 41 # l 605
(entre 36 y Kholy) Nuevo Vedado La Habana, Cuba Tel. (00-53-7)
882-00-29 Founded in 1687 The Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena
owes its foundation to the three young daughters of Don Juan
Archaga, who was appointed Royal Treasurer of the Island of Cuba in
1688; the three sisters were determined to be professed as
Dominican nuns in Havana. The request to Spain was made in 1679 and
Royal Letters of Approval, dated August 2 1684, received. Land for
construction of the convent was given by the Archaga daughters. On
April 29 1688 the monastery was founded, thanks to three professed
nuns sent from the Monastery of Santa Clara in Havana: Sister Mara
de la Ascencin de Soto, her blood sister Clara de Jess and Sister
Buenaventura de Arteaga. The Archaga sisters entered religious life
on April 29 1688, supported economically by their elder brother
Juan de Archaga. The buildings of the Monastery of St. Catherine of
Siena came to occupy the blocks bounded by Compostella, OReilly,
Aguacate and Empedrado streets. The conditions contained in the
Royal Letters stipulated a maximum of fifteen nuns at any given
time; that the monastery would be built on land given by the
Archaga sisters and its construction funded by them; that the first
fifteen nuns would each bring a dowry of two thousand ducats in
gold in order for the foundation to meet its present and future
needs and requirements. The buildings were not planned or
constructed in any unified way; on the contrary, the monastery grew
little by little living spaces, walls, roofs until two floors were
completed. The church bell-tower was not finished until 1728. The
monastery of St. Catherine of Siena was typical of the early period
of Cuban religious architecture. At the centre of the building was
a large, square cloister surrounded by four two-storey galleries.
On the ground floor and contiguous to three of the galleries were
the refectory, reception rooms, parlours and other areas of general
community life. The upper level was destined for the religious
only, and contained the chapter house and the cells. The church was
situated on the fourth side of the cloister, with access to the
street; separating the church from neighbouring buildings was the
three-storey bell-tower. The nuns choir was situated at the end of
the main nave and adjacent to the facade wall. It was held up on
three transversal beams. The front of the choir was protected by a
grill of worked metal bars. The monastery church suffered serious
damage in the hurricane of October 1846. Repairs were undertaken
immediately. At the same time, the ugly stone covering the front of
the church was removed and a porch built onto the principal entry.
Although its architecture offered nothing out of the ordinary, for
two hundred years the church of the Monastery of St. Catherine of
Siena was one of the more outstanding buildings in Havana.
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Modern structures of three or more storeys built in the vicinity
of St. Catherine of Siena and overlooking the nuns courtyards and
galleries resulted in the violation of strict enclosure. When to
this was added the danger that the convent would be cut in half due
to the extension of the Calle San Juan de Dios, the nuns decided to
sell their house and lands and to build outside the city. In 1918,
the property was sold and the buildings were razed in 1924. On the
site, a huge office building went up. On May 13 1918, the Dominican
nuns of the Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena took possession of
their new home in El Vedado, a much more spacious building, with a
beautiful largely neo-Gothic church. The church has two towers with
cupolas; the style is a mixture of neo-Gothic, neo-Romanesque and
the Habanera architecture of the time. The church still contains
the windows for use by strictly cloistered nuns. The altars are of
marble and the main altar, dedicated to the Virgin, covered in
wood. There is stained glass. The entire structure is of finely
worked stone. The convent school, occupying the equivalent of a
hectare, was later ceded to the Cuban Ministry of Education and
transformed into an Institute of Pre-University Studies. Amazingly,
despite the many vicissitudes of Cuban history in the 20th century,
the Domincan nuns of Havana were able to maintain their monastery
in existence, at times they depended greatly on sisters on loan
from other communities, but in recent years they have been able to
accept Cuban vocations again.
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CURAAO Monasterio Mama di Dios Scherpenheuvel 3 5999 76 78 183
Founded from Olmedo in 1974 This monastery in the Dutch West Indies
has always housed a community of mixed nationalities, mostly
Spanish and South American, but Dutch sisters also. In the early
1990s the community needed to relocate, but thanks to the
generosity of benefactors the nuns were able to build a new
monastery.
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NICARAGUA Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe Carretera vieja
a Len. Km. 13 Las Piedrecitas p. 232 Chiquilistahua, Managua,
Nicaragua Tel. (00-505) 883-79-06 Founded from Mexico in 1986 The
first Dominican nuns came to Nicaragua on June 3, 1986, from
various monasteries in Mexico. In Len they founded the first
monastery of Dominican contemplative life, in the province of San
Vicente Ferrier in Central America. They were supported from the
outset by the friars, "who taught us to take the first steps in
these lands" The community was founded by ten nuns, of whom a
number returned to their respective monasteries for health reasons.
Today there remain only three nuns of that initial group. The
sisters were happy in Leon, but in November 1998 hurricane Mitch
destroyed most of the monastery monastery, leaving the community
incommunicado for several days until they were rescued by
neighbors. When the emergency was over, the sisters returned to
live in the fragments of their monastery that had survived, and
began to think about relocating to a safer area. In due course they
were able to purchase two hectares of land closer to the capital,
Managua. It took a while to raise the funds, but on 25th March 2003
the new monastery was blessed and the sisters moved in, although
much work remained to be done. As the pictures below show,
progressively work on the site has advanced to include a new
chapel.
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PUERTO RICO Monasterio Madre de Dios Carr. 643 Buzon 90 Barrio
Pugnado 00674 Manati Tel. 787 854-6269 Founded from Olmedo in 1966
This was the first of the overseas foundations of the Dominican
monastery at Olmedo, Valladolid, Spain, and so it forms part of the
Mother of God Fraternal Union together with the other foundations
of this prolific monastery. In the 1960s monastery was led by
Prioress Mother Teresa Maria Ortega, who began this expansion
creating new foundations, in order to extend the contemplative life
to mission territories. On June 5, 1966, the foundresses from Spain
settled in Bayamn, Puerto Rico, where they remained for nine years.
In 1974 they moved to Utuado in what used to be a retreat house
belonging to the Capuchin Friars of the parish of San Miguel, in
Utuado. The friars donated the chapel, the buildings and the farm
which today form the Monastery of the Mother of God. The donation
was in fact made to the Bishop of Arecibo. The surrounding grounds
were donated by Ismaro Rivera and his wife, residents of the
neighborhood. The monastery has expanded according to needs of the
nuns as they are now more than thirty. From 1985 onwards the ground
surrounding the buildings subsided and part of the structure has
collapsed. It became necessary to plan for relocation, and a new
monastery was built for the nuns in the Barrio Pugnado of the town
of Manat. They moved into their new home in 2009. The nuns make a
living by baking and supplying the hosts that are consumed in
different parishes.
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ARGENTINA Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena Monjas Dominicas
- Obispo Trejo, 44 Casilla de Correo n 791 5000-Crdoba Tel.: 00 54
35 14 21 65 03-Fax: 00 54 35 14 22 67 58 Founded in 1613. The city
of Cordoba, Argentina, was founded on July 6th 1573 by Don Jernimo
Luis de Cabrera. In 1613, Argentinas first monastery and first
female religious community was created in this city. The foundress
was Doa Leonor de Tejeda y Mirabal, daughter of Captain Tristn de
Tejeda and of Doa Leonor Meja y Mirabal, and wife of General Manuel
de Fonseca y Contreras. The marriage was childless. The couple
were, however, inspired to create a spiritual family, through the
founding of the Monastery of St Catherine of Siena, saint for whom
Doa Leonor nurtured a particular devotion. After the death of her
husband, she dedicated herself wholeheartedly to this foundation,
which had been duly approved by Philipp III of Spain on March 6th
1613. The solemn celebration of foundation took place on July 2nd
1613, the feast of the Visitation, in the presence of the
foundress, of the Bishop - Hernando de Trejo y Sanabria, OP, and of
the entire city. After the formal blessing of the twelve white
habits the Te Deum was sung, and the nuns entered their cloister,
from where they would dedicate themselves to the Divine Office and
to intercession for their Dominican brothers and for the men and
women who would forge the beginnings of the nation. The monastery
was definitively and canonically established by the Bull of Pope
Urban VII, dated July 15th 1625. The ideal and inspiration of the
nuns is that of Doa Leonor de Tejeda herself: love and the dialogue
in prayer with God.
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ARGENTINA Monasterio Santa Catalina de Siena Monjas Dominicas
Triunvirato, 3625 1754-San Justo-Buenos Aires Tel. : 00 54 11- 4115
9189 Founded in 1745 Five nuns from the monastery of Cordoba,
Argentina, founded this monastery, established first of all in the
city of Buenos Aires, and since 1974 in San Justo. Throughout its
long history, the community has lived its vocation of worship in
the Church, following Christ in poverty, chastity and obedience,
forming a fraternity where the word of God celebrated, lived and
shared has filled the existence of hundreds of sisters. The city of
Buenos Aires was from its inception profoundly Christian. Since the
years of its Foundation (1580) its inhabitants wanted a monastery
of contemplative life that would be a focus of spirituality in the
city and offer a home to women wishing to devote themselves
entirely to God. To this end, the priest Dionisio de Briceo Torres
dedicated his life and fortune. He began this work by making a trip
to Spain to obtain a charter from King Felipe V, essential for any
foundation. His Majesty granted it on October 27th 1717, but with
certain conditions, among them that the number of nuns should not
exceed forty. They should also receive within the enclosure pious
ladies and girls to be educated. And the monastery was to be placed
under the patronage of Santa Catalina. On his return to Buenos
Aires Dr. Briceo began the task of founding the monastery in 1727
but unfortunately he died two years later. Once the essential was
built but the rest still unfinished, five nuns of the monastery of
Santa Catalina de Siena came from Cordoba. These sisters were only
loaned for six years, after which they should be returned to their
monastery of origin. These five nuns set out at the beginning of
May 1745. They were escorted by soldiers during the entire trip.
They arrived in Buenos Aires on May 25, after a bleak and uncertain
journey through vast nad sparsely populated plains. They were
received by the Bishop of Buenos Aires and large number of priests
and Dominican friars. As the monastery as yet had no doors or
windows, they delayed the opening of the monastery and settled in a
family house, where they were joined by the first five vocations
who had long awaited the arrival of the nuns. In the first ten
years of the foundation forty religious mad profession. Regular
life was interrupted after several years by the invasions of the
English troops in the city of Buenos Aires. The first was in 1806
and the second in 1807, the latter was very important, since the
English army had some 9,000 men, and the city had no army to speak
of. The monastery became the British headquarters and the nuns
suffered great hardships for several days, but miraculously the
city was retaken and the sisters were released. The Prioress, Sr
Teresa of the Holy Trinity wrote to the Archbishop of Charcas:
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On 5 June in the morning we heard close to our monastery all the
horrific noise of war. We were encircled by these men who came in
droves through the door of our enclosure where the seventy sisters
who make up this community and the twelve servants were gathered
together in the choir. They found us kneeling in profound silence,
we were preparing for death as they came at us with their rifles
and bayonets... After being held hostage for three days by the
British troops, no sister was hurt, but their belongings were
destroyed. After these incidents, the nuns resumed their regular
life. Over the centuries there were other vicissitudes, typical of
a community whose history runs parallel to that of a nation in
gestation, and seeking independence. For more than two centuries
the community remained in the monastery located between San Martin
and Viamonte streets; the building was declared a historic monument
in 1942. In 1974, looking for a more suitable place to carry
forward the contemplative life the community moved to a new
monastery in the Diocese of San Justo, Buenos Aires province.
The old Monastery of Buenos Aires and the new, at San Justo
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ARGENTINA Monasterio Nuestra Seora del Rosario (NOVICIADO
FEDERAL) Talcahuano, 150 5521-Villa Nueva (Guaymalln) Mendoza Tel.
y Fax: 00 54 26 14 26 54 99 Founded in 1888 at Forcall (Castelln)
Spain, transferred to Mendoza, Argentina 1972 The Confiscation of
Mendizabal of 1835/6 closed a large number of Spanish convents and
confiscated their buildings, although not those which had passed
into episcopal hands. Many priests and religious left Spain for the
New World, evangelizing and giving their lives for Christ and the
Church. One of the male religious communities suppressed by the
government was the monastery of Dominican brothers at Forcall, a
17th century foundation which had served as a study centre for the
Order. Forcall is a small town in the province of Castelln (in the
ancient Kingdom of Valencia). It belongs to the Diocese of Tortosa.
Its Patrons are the Virgin of Consolation and St. Victor Martyr.
The solemn celebration of the 200th anniversary of the reception of
the relics of St. Victor marked a period of intense spiritual
renewal among the inhabitants of Forcall and, as a memorial to this
renewal, a devout local woman of wealth, Doa Carmen Palos Llop,
bought part of the 17th century convent of Dominican friars in
order to establish a monastery for Dominican nuns. She obtained
both the permission for this foundation from the Bishop of Tortosa
and the material return of the church building, and acquired the
old convent land and part of the convent building (the old
guest-house) as a residence for the community. The foundation took
place on July 25th 1888, the feast day of the Patron of Spain, St.
James the Apostle, and during the reigns of Pope Leo XIII and of
Maria* Cristina, Queen Regent of Spain. The six founding nuns came
from the Monastery of Corpus Christi, Villareal, founded in 1639 by
the Venerable Reverend Mother Ines de Sisternes y Oblites. The new
Dominican foundation of Forcall continued peacefully until 1936. At
8 in the evening of July 22 1936, the existing community was
obliged to abandon their cloister and seek refuge with family
members. They were in danger of death. On March 25 1939, the
dispersed nuns were able to reunite and, in the presence of the
civil authorities and of the faithful, to hear mass and resume
their conventual life. The post-Civil War years were as hard for
the nuns as for the rest of Spain: the deplorable state of the
buildings, the scarcity of food, the lack of economic resources,
the difficulty of obtaining paid work, the bitter winter cold. But
God continued calling young women to consecrate themselves to Him,
following Jesus poor, chaste and obedient in a life of prayer and
penance. Spanish monasteries found themselves with an undreamed of
wealth of vocations. The community at Forcall, however, had to
move, due to the lack of regular spiritual care, the distance from
centres of population and the truly ruinous state of the buildings.
Monastic life had become untenable. On August 9 1965, Reverend
Mother
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Maria Teresa Muoz Garde op, the Federal Prioress of the
Immaculate Conception Federation, together with her Council and
after long study, decided to move. On October 2 1966, therefore,
sixty-six years after its foundation, the Dominican monastery at
Forcall closed, in the firm hope it would re-open in a place of
Gods choosing. The nuns were housed in the Monastery of Our Lady of
Consolation in Jativa, whose community generously opened their
doors and their heart. At the express wish of the Bishop of
Tortosa, Manuel Moll y Salord, the Forcall community was not to be
dispersed among other houses of the Federation. During this period,
the authorities appeared to find a solution a convent, belonging to
the Jesuits, was under construction in Gandia. Arrangements went
well enough for the Forcall community to acquire choir-stalls for
the new convent. A short time after, however, negotiations failed.
Meanwhile, the Assistant of the Federation of the Immaculate
Conception, Marceliano Llamera op, had travelled to Buenos Aires to
visit the community of the Monastery of Sta. Catalina de Siena. In
conversation with the Prioress Sister Maria Jesus op, he learned
that the friars of the convent of Santo Domingo de Soriano,
Mendoza, had requested a foundation of Dominican nuns in their
archdiocese, the Patron of which is precisely St. James the
Apostle. On returning to Spain, Father Llamera learnt of the
failure of the Gandia negotiations. He saw the Mendoza request as
providential. In due course, this request was formally supported by
the Archbishop of Mendoza, Monseigneur Olimpo Santiago. The
community from Forcall arrived in Buenos Aires on November 19 1970.
They were housed for twenty months by the community of the
Monastery of Sta. Catalina de Siena, whose Chapter and Council of
Holy Thursday 1970 had voted its commitment to build a monastery in
Mendoza for the Forcall sisters and to support them economically
until the new community could support itself. These monastic
buildings in the Archdiocese of Mendoza, in an area called El
Borbollon were inaugurated on July 2 1972. Due to construction
deficiencies and to the site itself, it was later decided at
hierarchical level that the community should be moved to new
buildings, better designed for the monastic life. The Monastery of
Nuestra Seora del Rosario, in is present location at Villa Nueva,
Guaymalln, was inaugurated on July 25 1988, exactly one hundred
years after its initial foundation. It is in the Archdiocese of
Mendoza and was built with the help of the Dominican Order and of
other monasteries of the Federation.
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ARGENTINA Monasterio San Alberto Magno 3443 Lavalle - Corrientes
Tel.: (03777) 49 4028 Founded in 1967 High up with magnificent
views and shrouded in silence, 15 km from Goya and four blocks from
the national highway, is located the monastery of contemplative
Dominican nuns, the monastery San Alberto. The Monastery of San
Alberto was born at the request of Monsignor Devoto, first bishop
of the Diocese of Goya, as he was convinced that the life of a
particular Church is not complete without a contemplative
monastery. When he travelled to Europe to participate in the Second
Vatican Council, he visited the Dominican Monastery of our Lady of
the Sorrows, Blagnac, France, and asked for nuns to make a
foundation in his diocese. On May 13, 1967, under the protection of
our Lady of Fatima, he opened this house of prayer. The atmosphere
of silence and the splendid view of the Paran River are conducive
to the contemplative life steeped in the Word of God. Being a small
community the sisters have chosen to celebrate the liturgy in a
sober and simple style. Besides the daily activities necessary to
the running of the monastery, the nuns earn a living by modeling
and painting on plaster and ceramics. The monastery has a
guesthouse with capacity for twenty people. It welcomes priests,
consecrated and lay people, especially of the diocese, seeking for
silence to be with the Lord.
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ARGENTINA Monasterio "La Inmaculada del Valle" Bartolom de
Castro s/n (Camino a El Jumeal) 4700-Catamarca Tel. y Fax: 00 54 38
33 42 52 12 Founded in 1979 No sooner does one enter the park
surrounding the Monastery of La Inmaculada del Valle, on the road
to El Jumeal (the capital of Catamarca), than one is conscious of a
comforting, relaxing atmosphere. A stand of tall pines and trees
with golden leaves dapple the ground with an almost celestial
light, and where the branches block the sun the visitor is wrapped
in deep peace. Here, time- so rushed, so desperate elsewhere
appears unhurried. Here live twelve nuns who have chosen
consecration to God in contemplation and enclosure, which is
relative according to the prioress, Sr Teresa Perz, native of
Cosquin, given that outside the nuns can enjoy a hectare of
parkland, fruit-trees etc. The monastic buildings are of brick and
simply decorated stone, in a style both modern and warm. The nuns
church is singularly austere and beautiful at one and the same
time
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ARGENTINA Monasterio Madre de Dios. Av. Espaa 150 2760 Aatuya
Santiago del Estero Tel./Fax: (03844) 42 1773 Founded in 1980 from
Olmedo The history of this monastery began in 1977, when Msgr Jorge
Gottau, C.Ss.R., then bishop of Aatuya, sent to the Monastery Madre
de Dios at Olmedo (Valladolid), Spain, introducing himself as a
beggar for God and asking for nuns to found a monastery in his
diocese. He explained that he had the necessary funds to build, but
no sisters. In 1980 authorization was received from both the Holy
See and the Master of the Dominican Order. On the 13th September of
the same year, a group of ten founding nuns set out to take up
their new mission. They arrived at Buenos Aires and were made most
welcome by the community at the Monastery of St Catherine of Siena
(San Justo). Two seeks later they set off again, accompanied by two
nuns of the San Justo community. The new monastery was inaugurated
on October 1st with the support of all the local civic and
religious authorities, and from this day forward the contemplative
life was begun with its particular mission of prayer for the
diocese. In due course the Sacred Congregation gave permission for
the monastery to be part of the Unin Fraterna de los Monasterios
Madre de Dios, a vicariate of the Spanish Federacin de Santo
Domingo. At the present time, the nuns earn their living
principally by baking altar breads.
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ARGENTINA Monasterio Inmaculada Concepcin Saavedra Lamas, 698
4146 Concepcin-Tucumn Tel. 00 54 38 65 42 43 00 Founded in 1990 by
the Federation of the Immaculate Conception, Aragon, Spain In the
1980s Jos Mara Cabrera, o.p., a young Dominican friar belonging at
that time to the community of Preachers of Tucumn, was aware of the
sincere wishes of the Dominican family of North-West Argentina to
have a monastery of contemplative nuns in the region. After certain
fruitless efforts, he spoke about the idea of a foundation to Mgr
Jorge Meinvielle, Bishop of Concepcin, southern Tucumn. The Bishop
contacted the Superior of the Federation of the Immaculate
Conception of Aragn-Spain, who explained the difficulties due to
recent foundations. Once these had been resolved, however, the
Federal Council agreed to the foundation and chose the five
founding nuns. Four were Argentineans, one from each of the
monasteries then existing in the country: Crdoba, S. Justo Buenos
Aires, Mendoza and Catamarca. The fifth was Spanish, from the
Monastery of St. Catherine, Valencia. September 4 1990 was the date
fixed for the implantation of this community in the diocese. As the
nuns did not yet possess their own home they lived in a small
house-monastery, lovingly prepared by the diocese and situated in
the city centre. On November 15 1990, a solemn Mass was
concelebrated in the cathedral by the diocesan Bishop with clergy
and friars of the Dominican Order, thanking the Lord for the gift
of the contemplative life in the diocese. The four years from 1990
to 1994, years of solitude and silence, were fruitful for the five
foundresses. Meanwhile, the monastic buildings were under
construction, and completed in 1994. On March 24, the community
moved into its new home, overflowing with gratitude to all who had
made this possible through the Federation and the generosity of
benefactors. On November 19 1994, Mgr Bernardo Witte, omi, Bishop
of Concepcin at that time, blessed the chapel and the monastery.
The monastery was not canonically erected until 1998 but here again
life anticipated official decrees; the Lord blessed the community
with new vocations, which have not ceased to knock at the door. By
2000, the size of the community had tripled. The nuns make hosts,
liturgical ornaments and candles. There is also a Dominican Lay
Fraternity, which has grown up in the shadow of the monastery
forming a true family.
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BOLIVIA Monasterio Santo Domingo de las Monjas Av. Garcilaso de
la Vega Nro. 188, Cochabamba Tel: 00591 4 4280842 Founded in 2008
by the Peruvian Federation of Dominican Nuns On the 21st November
2008, five nuns from various monasteries of the Peruvian Federation
of St Rose of Lima arrived in Cochabamba, Bolivia. In 2013 the
Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena at Arequipa took on
responsibility for the foundation, building up the community with
seven more nuns. This decision taken by the nuns of Peru to found
in Bolivia brought essential support to the young Vice-Province.
This decision to establish Dominican sisters of the contemplative
life in Bolivia was promoted by successive Masters of the Order so
that the service of the Church might be as St Dominic intended it:
preaching the Good News that nuns receive in silence and in prayer
as a family of nuns, sisters, friars, laity and youth. The sisters
lived in a house belonging to the friars during the time it took to
find a suitable plot of land on which to build the first phase of
the monastery. The nuns subsequently moved into this first
building, which will ultimately serve as the novitiate. The next
stage will be the chapel. On February 2nd 2014 the community of the
Monastery of Saint Dominic of the nuns took possession of the
monastery during a celebration of mass presided by Msgr. Roberto
Flock, Auxiliary Bishop of Cochabamba. There was great rejoicing
throughout the Dominican Family in Bolivia on this occasion on
which the liturgy gave expression to the faith, hope and love that
contemplation brings to the world. At the same time links were
strengthened between members of the Order in Peru and in
Bolivia.
The New Monastery at Cochabamba, Bolivia
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BRAZIL Mosteiro Cristo Rey Caixa Postal 85 Rue Walter de Filippo
57 CEP 18130 970 Sa Roque Tel 0055 11 47122808 Founded from
Prouilhe in 1930 Dominican friars had been active as missionaries
in Brazil since the 1880s. Brazil had not the same historic
monasteries dating back to the time of the conquest as did other
Latin American countries, as the Portuguese crown the colonial
power - had forbidden it. In the early 20th century there was still
no monastery of nuns of the Order in this vast country, yet the
friars greatly desired this presence; it was natural enough that
they should turn to Prouilhe for the possible realisation of this
dream. But Prouilhe, which perhaps surprisingly has never made many
foundations, was busy at this time with the project for a Canadian
foundation, which would of course be made at Berthierville in 1925.
The first sign that something might be possible one day was the
arrival at Prouilhe of a Brazilian novice of the Dominican
congregation of Monteils, who hoped to transfer to contemplative
life, although she knew nothing whatsoever of the vague plans for a
Brazilian foundation. She was followed in due course by a second
and then an older Portuguese sister offered her services. The plans
took shape slowly, and after gaining approval and the offer of
temporary accommodation, six foundresses eventually set sail aboard
the Mendoza from Marseille in 1930. On arrival they discovered that
the house they had been offered was virtually a ruin and that
extensive repairs would be necessary. Also several promises of land
on which to build a permanent monastery faded away. The sisters
sought temporary shelter with the Carmelites in Sa Paolo this
location having been judged more suitable than Rio de Janeiro on
climatic grounds. Slowly but surely the foundresses established
themselves, and the monastery was placed under the patronage of
Christ the King. In the early 21st century, the monastery was
completely renovated, and the new permanent monastic church
dedicated in 2012.
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COLOMBIA Monasterio de Santa Ins Carrera 9 N 59 - 43 Bogot Tel:
0057 2494671 Founded in 1645 by local women Inaugurated with a
solemn ceremony at 7am on the morning of July 19 1645, this
foundation was made possible by the brothers Chavez Antolnez, who,
after years of patient waiting, obtained the Royal Letters from His
Majesty Phillip IV of Spain and of the Americas. The foundresses
were Mother Beatriz de la Concepcin, Mother Francisca Eufrasia de
Cristo and Mother Paula de la Trinidad, who swore obedience to the
local bishop. On the following day, four other women received the
habit. All promised to keep and to teach to all those entering
subsequently the Constitutions of the Nuns of St. Dominic, those
Constitutions professed with such sanctity by the glorious St Agnes
of Montepulciano. Brother Francisco Farfn was the Provincial at the
time, the famous Dominican Cristbal de Torres the Bishop, and
Brother Francisco de Achuri the Preacher General, appointed as
first instructor to the nuns by Bishop de Torre himself. In its
early period, therefore, the monastery benefited from the support
and guidance of illustrious Dominicans, well able to direct the
first vocations. From 1645 to 1873, the Monastery of Sta. Ins
provded the sole female religious presence in what is today
Colombia.
Through prayer and penance, the nuns of the Convent of Sta. Ins
supported the evangelising fervour of the young church of New
Granada. Through their listening to those who sought their help,
through contemplation, they contributed to the spread of the faith,
so eagerly received by the indigenous peoples. They taught and held
classes in catechism, prayer, liturgy and penance and, from within
their convent, supported the work of the Confraternities. Once the
Republic had been established, the nuns opened a small school for
the Christian education of young women. This school lasted for
twenty-five years. In 1861, during the dictatorship of Toms
Cipriano de Mosquera, and as a result of the Decree of Suppression
of all Convents, the community of the Monastery of Sta. Ins was
expelled and dispersed. It was reorganised after the Dictators
death, and continues today, faithful throughout its history to its
dual mission to bear witness to the transcendence of the Divine,
and to pray night and day for the work of the Order of
Preachers.
The prophetic apostolate of St Agnes of Montepulciano, oil
painting at the Monastery of Bogota
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COLOMBIA Monasterio Nuestra Seora del Santisimo Rosario Carrera
13 N 15 -17 Duitama (Boyaca) Tel: 0057 2 494671 Founded from Bogota
in 1960 The Dominican nuns of the Monastery of Sta. Ins in Bogot
founded this second monastery in Colombia on August 15th 1960 in
Duitama, thanks to the initiative of Mgr. Jos Joaqun Flrez, then
Bishop of that diocese. In order to make the foundation, the
community of Bogot sent eight choir nuns, three lay and one extern
sister, all of whom they prepared and equipped most generously. The
two monasteries maintain the closest links. The nuns celebrated
their fiftieth anniversary on August 15th 2010 with a flourishing
community in a purpose built monastery.
The Dominican Monastery at Duitama
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COLOMBIA Monasterio del Espiritu Santo Transversal 4 N 5 218
Barrio la Florida Sogamoso (Boyaca) Tel: 0057 787 703179
Founded
COLOMBIA Monasterio de Ntra. Sra. De las Gracias de Torcoroma
Calle 10 N 8A-15 Ocaa Norte de Santander Tel: 0057 77 5623288
Founded in 1977 This monastery achieved its canonical erection on
the 8th December 1977.
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ECUADOR Monasterio Santa Catalina Calle Flores y Espejo 779
Quito Tel 00593 22 287213 Founded in 1592 by local women In the
year of 1592, according to a report of the royal ambassador in
Quito to King Felipe II of Spain, quoted by Fr Jos Mara Vargas:
"the Lady Mara Siliceo de Troya founded in the city of Quito, in a
house bought from Don Antonio de el Canal, a monastery for
cloistered Dominican nuns, who, according to the charism of St
Dominic de Guzmn, would be devoted to prayer, contemplation, and
penance".1 The monastery was placed under the jurisdiction of the
Order of Preachers. The then Provincial, Br. Rodrigo de Lara, gave
the founding nuns the habit and received their first profession.
The provincial chapter of 1598 appointed as vicar of nuns Fr. Juan
de Todos los Santos op. The founding nuns were: Dona Maria de Trya
together with her two daughters, and five other young women, mostly
poor orphans. The foundress took the name of Sr Mara of Santa
Catalina, her two daughters that of Sor Isabel de Santo Domingo and
Sor Maria de Santo Toms. As tends to happen in new foundations, the
beginnings were difficult: the first nuns had to endure patiently
many hardships and privations. The King was informed and on
December 4th 1585, he ordered royal administration of Quito, to
grant the monastery two thousand Ducats, as well as wine, wax and
oil for the sacristy. The house was not really suitable; very soon
there were thirty-six nuns and, their lodgings were damp and
gloomy. Thus they began to look for a suitable place near the
Dominican brothers. A house that belonged to Don Lorenzo de Cepeda,
brother of St. Teresa of vila, was purchased. The acquisition was
made in two stages: the first of May 8, 1608, and the second the 17
July 1613. Since then organized the nuns according to the
constitutions of St. Dominic and the rule of S. Augustine, and more
ordinations and guidelines of the General Chapter of 1601, in terms
of the closure, silence, work, prayer and the performance of the
charges within the monastery. Today the monastery of Santa Catalina
can look back on a history of over four centuries. The sisters main
income is the production of wine, hosts and natural medicines. In
the second half of the 20th century the community of Santa Catalina
founded three new monasteries in Ecuador: the Most Holy Rosary
founded in 1959 (Caranqui, Ibarra), the monastery of Venerable.
Jess Herrera de Catalina founded in 1977 (Durn, Guayaquil) and the
monastery of the Holy Family (San Rafael, Quito) founded in
1980.
1 Ecuadorian Artistic Heritage, chap. 7, p, 199.
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The monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena is today considered a
jewel of the national cultural heritage of Ecuador, with its the
artistic wealth of paintings, sculptures and liturgical ornaments
housed today in a museum which is much visited.
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ECUADOR Monastery of the Most Holy Rosary calle Princesa Pacha
No.8 - 148, Ibarra - Caranqui (Imbabura), Tel: 00593 6 2 652549
Founded from Santa Catalina Quito in 1959 Two of the daughters of a
very Christian family in the parish of Caranqui became nuns of the
Dominican monastery of St Catherine in Quito with the names: Mara
Imelda and Mara Angelica; in due curse they were entrusted with the
mission of founding a new monastery. They had in mind to make use
of the extensive family property in their home parish. After
lengthy negotiations, on December 9, 1958, land was donated by the
Espinosa family to the community. Permission from Rome for the new
foundation had already arrived on May 26, 1959. On August 4, at
that time the feast St Dominic, at the monastery of St. Catherine
in Quito was celebrated a mass of solemn farewell to the five
sister foundresses, among them the two daughters of the Espinosa
family . The town of Caranqui is eternally grateful to Mr. Carlos,
Beatriz and Isaac Espinosa Vasquez, for having donated their
property to this monastic foundation, which was inaugurated with
much ceremony and enthusiasm on the part of the expanding local
population. The main income of the sisters is the production of
wine, communion hosts and the production of liturgical vestments.
The pastoral mission that the community has is the prayer, and
contemplation.
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ECUADOR Monasterio Venerabile Catalina Herrera Av. Nicolas
Lapentti 306 Duran Tel. 00593 42 814677 Founded from Santa
Catalina, Quito in 1977 The first idea of the foundation of this
monastery emerged in 1976 with the celebration of the 180th
anniversary of the death of the Venerable Sr Catalina de Jess
Herrera, who by her mystical work, "Secrets between soul and God",
is praised as the most illustrious writer from Guayaquil and the
most important in the Spanish-American colony of the 18th century.
On the occasion of the translation of part of the remains of Sr
Catherine, the then Archbishop of Guayaquil, Mgr. Bernardino
Echeverria, expressd his desire to have a contemplative Dominican
monastery in his diocese to the nuns of the monastery of Santa
Catalina of Quito. This idea was supported by Fr Ignacio Urquizo,
O.P., Superior of the convent San Pablo de Guayaquil and Miss
Alicia Riofro, prioress of the Dominican laity from the city. The
foundation finally took place on June 28, 1977, with the
collaboration of the nuns of the Monastery of Most Holy Rosary of
Caranqui, with Mother Mara Jacinta de los ngeles Astudillo as
prioress The first sisters came to the new foundation on August 8th
of that year and settled in a house in the town. During eighteen
months the community daily experienced the gift of friendship and
fraternal generosity of the Dominican family, in particular of the
women of the Dominican laity. On December 3, 1977 began the
construction of the first section of the monastery on land donated
by the archdiocese in the town of Duran. The community moved to the
new building and the monastery was erected canonically on August 8,
1979. Since then, community, overcome quite a few difficulties,
perhaps of all home, has lived to experience how the goodness and
the love of God is manifested clearly and is made reality its
presence, as Jesus says in the Gospel: "for where two or more
gather in my name, there I am in the midst of them" (Mt 18.20).
Today the community is large and young and lives out day by day its
Dominican vocation.
The Monastery Chapel The Cell of Venerable Catalina
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ECUADOR Monasterio de la Sagrada Familia Calle Coca-el-Tingo
Apartado 1023 Los Chillos (Pichincha) Quito Tel. 00593 22 850712 /
02 6039862 Founded in 1980 from Santa Catalina, Quito Around the
year 1974, Provincial Fr Toms Valdivieso op and Sr Mara Luisa
Palacios, prioress of the monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena
(Quito), began to take the first steps necessary for the foundation
of a new monastery. Attaching importance to conditions favourable
to silence and meditation, they began looking for land where
monastic life could develop to its full potential. They found a
very suitable place for the construction of the monastery located
in the Valle de los Chillos, San Rafael. On January 29th 1978, the
foundation stone of the monastery was solemnly blessed. The
canonical erection was on April 27, 1980, and the foundation was
placed under the patronage of the Holy Family. Note that the spirit
of St Dominic accompanied from the beginning this new house of
prayer, since the Master of the Order, Fr Vincent de Couesnongle,
blessed the place where it was going to be built, with words of
hope and commitment, seeing it as a spiritual support to the
Dominican family in Ecuador. Life was not easy for the foundresses
but they gladly accepted these sacrifices in order to ensure a
Dominican presence in this place and to lay the foundations for new
generations who will give their lives to the praise of God. The
sisters have vineyards on their property and run a flourishing
winery, producing wines for the celebration of mass. This is their
principal source of income.
Sisters of La Sagrada Familia Monastery working in the winery
and in choir
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CHILE Monasterio de Santa Rosa C/ Trinitarias 7101 Las Condes
Santiago. Tel: (2) 2294667 Founded in 1754 from Lima, Peru The
Chilean Monastery of St. Rose of Lima originated in the beaterioof
St. Rose, founded in Santiago in 1680 and located at the junction
of Calle Rosas and Amuntegui. This beaterio acquired the rank of
monastery in 1754, with the arrival of three nuns from the
monastery of the same name in Lima. One of the three was Laura de
la Oliva, the first Prioress and a cousin of the saints. In 1935,
the monastery was obliged to move - to the Calle Manuel Montt; the
location where it had been sited since its inception had become the
object of litigation. The new location, however, fell victim to
urban development, and in 1954 the community was obliged to accept
the hospitality of the Poor Clares, in the Monastery of St. Clare
in Calle Lillo. Finally, they were able to settle in Las Condes.
Then it was a rural area almost totally uninhabited. Remembering
those years, sisters recount how, during Divine Office, they saw
all manner of country animals walking by. Today, our monastery is
in the centre of the city, in conformity with St. Dominics original
vision of our contemplative life. The Monastery of St. Rose of Lima
in Santiago, as with sister houses in Spain and Argentina, belongs
to the Federation of Dominican Monasteries of the Immaculate
Conception, which in the Southern hemisphere unites five
monasteries of contemplative Dominican nuns in Argentina and three
of contemplative Dominican nuns in Chile. It is thanks to the
Federation that the monasteries of Copiaop and Linares (Yerbas
Buenas) were founded, Copiap in 1986 with Dominican sisters sent
from Spain, and Linares in 1994 with sisters from Spain, Santiago
and Copiap.
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CHILE Monasterio del Inmaculada de Atacama Casilla 166 - Copiap.
Fono/fax (52) 221395 Founded in 1986 by nuns from Spain The history
of this monastery in the North of Chile began in 1983 when
Monsignor Fernando Arizta, Bishop of Copiap, visited the Federal
Monastery of Torrente in Spain, and in an interview with the then
Mother Federal Sor Ana Mara Primo, proposed the foundation of a
monastery of contemplative Dominican nuns in his diocese. And so on
the 11th of February 1986, came to these lands six nuns of the
Spanish federation to settle in Chile. They were soon joined by
Chilean vocations, and less than ten years later the nuns of
Copiapo were able to send sisters to found the new monastery at
Yerbas Buenas. The beginnings were marked by the usual mixture of
hardships, sufferings and joys, but when the community reached its
25th anniversary in 2011 great celebrations were held, which reveal
the impact of this monastery on the local Church and
population.
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CHILE Inmaculada de Maule Camino de la Peuela s/n Yerbas Buenas.
Casilla 29 Correo Yerbas Buenas - Linares. Tel: (73) 390071 Founded
in 1994 by nuns from Santiago and Copiapo
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PERU Monasterio de Santa Catalina de Siena AREQUIPA When the
Spanish first reached the Valley of Arequipa in 1537, it was
already occupied by different ethnic groups originating from the
high Andes; the area was already settled with villages and
agricultural holdings. The city of Arequipa would be founded three
years later (1540). At the end of the 16th century the Valley of
Arequipa, was like a beautiful oasis, where corn, alfalfa, potatoes
and wheat gave a special character to the area. Surrounded by three
colossal snow capped volcanoes, there is the great Chilina quarry,
where sillar, the local name given to it by the master stonemasons
and a firmer building material than clay, was to be found in
abundance. The Dominican Order was the only religious order that
came to Peru with the Spaniards at the beginning of the conquest,
and with them evangelization; a few years after the founding of the
city, the need arose for a convent for nuns and an agreement was
made at a meeting of the Council in 1568. In 1571, during the visit
of the Viceroy Francisco de Toledo, some important members of
Arequipa society asked the representative of the crown for
permission to establish The Private Monastery for Nuns of the Order
of St Catherine of Siena; construction began shortly afterwards on
a site near the plaza de Armas. After the years necessary for
building, the Bisop of Cuzco, Sebastin de Lartan, within whose
ecclesiastical jurisdiction Arequipa fell, authorised the inception
of the monastery and the entrance of Doa Mara de Guzmn together
with four nuns on 10 September 1579. Mara de Guzmn was indeed the
foundress of the monastery. She was born in Arequipa in 1543. When
she was just eighteen years old, her father lvaro Carmona, promised
her in marriage to Diego Hernndez de Mendoza; the father of Maria
Guzmn gave 10% of his fortune as a dowry. The future foundress was
widowed aged thirty, having no offspring; and so she took the
decision to enter religious life. She donated land and all her
fortune for the foundation of the new Dominican monastery in
Arequipa. Maria de Guzman wished the foundation to be placed under
the patronage of St Catherine of Siena, whom she had taken as a
role model. She was aged thirty-three when she received the habit,
together with her young followers.
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The Foundress of the first Dominican monastery in Peru Maria de
Guzman The citadel that makes up the monastery complex has an area
of more than twenty thousand square metres and is built entirely of
sillar. It includes a church, cloisters, cells, streets, gardens
and its own cemetery The stunning architectural style is that of
the colonial churches and houses, with tall thick walls frequently
supported by buttresses, in order to make the building more solid.
An important feature is the number of cloisters with internal
patios, with elegant arches and often decorated with frescoes. The
Novices Cloister is decorated with paintings depicting the
mysteries of the Rosary. In contrast, the cells of the sisters are
very simple.
A fresco in the main cloister
But the most important thing in is the community of nuns. From
the beginning the monastery received Creole (daughters of Spaniards
born in Peru) and mestizo women as well as daughters of high
ranking natives (curacas). Yet there was a degree of flexibility,
and on occasion women of lower social rank were admitted, as were
lay sisters, trained to help with household tasks. On entering
religious life, the novices had to bring with them their habits, a
trousseau of twenty five articles, payment of 100 pesos in silver
for their food, and also had to deposit a dowry on making
profession. By special permission from Pope Urban VII, girls
between the ages of six and twelve were allowed to be educated
within the monastery, as was usually the case in monasteries in the
Spanish American colonies. Young women were also temporarily
admitted when their husbands or fathers were obliged to leave on
long journeys. Architecturally, this resulted in the intra-mural
construction of small dwellings with all the comforts and
commodities of the period and separated one from the other by
narrow lanes. The interior of the monastery became, effectively, a
small colonial town. Today, this is a source of delight for
tourists. Such a permission, however, had an inevitable effect on
monastic life, and made the observance of authentic claustral
silence and austerity extremely difficult.
The earthquakes that continuously affected Arequipa damaged the
monastic buildings many times; as rebuilding was frequently
financed by the families of the sisters thus rendered homeless,
social differenced began to emerge in the architectural styles,
with
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individual cells, kitchens, accommodation for maids etc. In the
second half of the 17th century, the first efforts were made to try
to reform some customs that had crept into the life of the nuns;
for example, as regards the number of women employed as servants,
or the number of visits of people from outside. The monastery,
however, was always much loved and deeply respected by the citizens
of Arequipa (the White City), not least for the memory of Blessed
Ana de los Angeles Monteagudo. She spent almost her entire life
within the monastery; she was placed with the nuns at the age of
three and returned to her family at the age of fourteen, only to
run away from home after a few months in order to consecrate
herself to Christ in the Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena. She
died on January 10 1686, at the age of eighty-four. Her cell with
various mementos - is kept as it was; she is buried in the
monastery church. This extensive colonial-style monastery is now
maintained as an attractive museum. A modern building has been
erected next to it, more comfortable and functional for the nuns of
today.
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CUZCO, Monastery of St Catherine of Siena The monastery of St
Catherine of Siena was founded in 1601 in the city of Arequipa, but
was soon transferred to Cusco because of a series of devastating
natural disasters that happened in Arequipa at the beginning of the
17th century. The initiative for the foundation came from the widow
Doa Luca Rivera de Padilla de Arequipa, who possessed a large
fortune. In February 1605, the first twenty five professed nuns
arrived in Cusco. After several transfers within the city, the
monastery was established on the site of of the old Aqllawasi.
Probably, in the choice of the site, its former function was taken
into account. The new monastic buildings were completed in
1610.
The foundresss cell Aqllawasi in quechua means "House of chosen
maidens". At the time of the Incas here lived the aqllas, women of
noble families, chosen throughout the Empire for their beauty and
high rank. They entered the Aqllawasi young and remained within its
walls, practically without contact with the outside world, for the
rest of their lives. All types of communication with men was
strictly prohibited and they had to remain virgins until death.
They were considered to be wives of the Sun and other deities
venerated in Cusco. Their main occupations were the elaboration of
fine textiles for the court of the Inca and the preparation of
ceremonial drinks, activities that were considered sacred. The
first Europeans who came to Peru called the aqllas "nuns". The
architectural complex of the Aqllawasi occupied a large space that
corresponds today to the block bounded by the main square and
Arequipa, Loreto an Maruri streets. It was built in the form of a
cloister, with high outer walls. On the inside, according to
chroniclers of the sixteenth century, there were walkways or
streets, around which were the houses and workshops of the aqllas
and the women who were at their service, called mamacona. Currently
few fragments of the whole survive, the best preserved are parts of
the perimeter wall. The largest and best preserved fragment is the
long wall of the southwest side.
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In 1650 the new monastery, like many other new buildings of
Cusco, was destroyed by a massive earthquake. Reconstruction work
began the following year with the foundation of the new church that
remains standing today. It is a simple building with a nave, which
stretches along the northeast faade of the monastery. It contains
the image of the Virgen de los Remedios, patroness and protector of
the monastery from the moment of its foundation, object of great
devotion of the Cusco. The monastery contains a museum of colonial
and religious art. The collection includes an excellent selection
of the Cusco School of painting, featuring some of the greatest
works of Amerindian art -- a combination of indigenous and
typically Spanish styles. The collection also includes four
paintings of the Lord of the Earthquakes (El Seor de los Temblores)
painted by Amerindians. The interior of the monastery is quite
beautiful, with painted arches and an interesting chapel with
baroque frescoes of Inca vegetation. Other items of interest
include some rather macabre statues of Jesus and an extraordinary
trunk that, when opened, displays the life of Christ in 3-D
figurines. (It was used by missionaries to convert the indigenous
population in far-flung regions of Peru.) Currently thirteen
professed nuns live in the monastery of Santa Catalina of Cusco,.
Their cells are located in the two internal cloisters, behind the
church. Since colonial times the nuns of Santa Catalina have been
known for their sophisticated embroideries of liturgical vestments,
and for making pastries.
The Novitiate The Art Gallery The Refectory
The Chapter Hall Former work room
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LIMA Monastery of St Catherine of Siena In 1589, a certain Mara
de Celis, grandmother of the Archbishop of Mexico and of two
Provincials of the Dominican Order in Peru, resolved to found a
monastery of Dominican nuns in Lima, where as of that date - there
was no Dominican house for women. Her project was put to the
Dominican Provincial, Father Domingo de Valderrama, who in turn
delegated it to the Father Procurator. The necessary steps were
taken with enthusiasm and success, and the required permissions
obtained from Pope Sixtus V and from Phillip II of Spain. During
this preliminary period, however, Doa Mara de Celis died, and plans
came to a halt, due to a lack of financial means.
Time passed but the idea lived on. In 1607, Rose of Lima had a
series of disconcertingly detailed and powerful revelations on the
subject, to the extent of declaring that, were she to become a nun,
she would enter this monastery which would shortly be founded. Rose
did not simply announce this foundation; she did everything
possible to realise it. It was she who obtained the land for the
construction of the monastery and who commissioned through the
Dominican friars in Rome the painting of St. Catherine of Siena
which still hangs in the monastery choir. Her words were: It is the
Lords wish that the new house of prayer be under her (Catherine of
Sienas) patronage
On one of her missions of charity, Rose met a certain Lucia
Guerra de la Daga, thirty years old and mother of three children.
In Lucia, Rose recognised Gods instrument for the foundation of the
new monastery, and told her so. Doa Lucia did not respond. Her
resistance lasted for some years until, suddenly, there grew within
her a strong urge to respond to Roses message and to Gods call. New
approval and permissions were sought and, once obtained, Lucia
Guerra de la Daga ceded all her goods and possessions to the new
monastery, the building of which could now start.
Construction was finished in 1624. Thirty-three young women were
chosen from amongst the many waiting for the opening of this new
house of prayer. At the request of the Archbishop, five
Conceptionist nuns and two Dominicans from the monastery of
Arequipa came to help. On February 10 1624, the future nuns, amid
great pomp and rejoicing and accompanied by the Viceroy, the
Cathedral Chapter and the populace, processed from the Cathedral
and entered through the doors of the new monastery.
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The following day, Doa Lucia Guerra de la Daga and her sister
Clara received the habit and started their noviciate in the
presence of the Archbishop and of the Provincial of the Dominican
Order, according to the Rules and Constitutions of the Order of St.
Dominic. The thirty-three young women who accompanied the
foundresses were clothed with the habit on February 13. All made
their profession a year later, at which time Lucia Guerra de la
Daga was elected prioress and the Conceptionist nuns and the
Dominicans of Arequipa returned to their respective
monasteries.
During the first ten years of its existence, the Monastery of
St. Catherine of Siena, Lima housed up to three hundred nuns. In
1629, it received Doa Mara de Oliva the mother de Saint Rose, thus
fulfilling another of the saints prophecies: You yourself, dear
Mother, will be one of the nuns of the monastery which will be
founded after my death. The mother de Saint Rose took the name in
religion of Sister Mara de Santa Mara. The remains of this
exemplary nun are kept in a chapel in the monastery.
In 1708, at the request of the then Archbishop, four nuns from
this Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena, Lima left to help with
the founding of the new Monastery of Sta. Rosa de Sta. Mara in the
same city.
The Lord of the Sanctuary of Santa Catalina
The Monastery of St Catherine of Siena in Lima is home to a very
famous crucifix known as the Lord of the sanctuary of Santa
Catalina, and to which are attributed miraculous powers; it dates
from the early 17th century, although its origins and exact date
remain obscure. It is the subject of much popular devotion, and
each year in October the statue is taken in procession through the
streets of the city.
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Monastery of Sainta Rose of Lima, Lima The canonization of Saint
Rose of Lima on April 12th 1671 caused the city of Lima to exult
over the virtues of its Patron Saint. Several pious young women
conceived the desire to imitate the saint and from 1678 occupied,
with the authorisation of the Ordinary, a house next to the
sanctuary and the Dominicans; they began to wear the Dominican
habit.
As the number of "Beatas rosas" (Holy Roses) - as they were
known - grew, it seemed a good idea to build a monastery for them,
and so the license for the foundation was requested from the King
of Spain. The fact that the Beatas rosas had received so many
donations (around four hundred thousand pesos) is considered to
have influenced his Majesty in favour of granting the foundation.
And so by virtue of a royal proclamation, given in Madrid on
January 26th 1704, Philip V of Anjou, raised the bguinage to the
rank of monastery. There was however a delay in putting this order
into effect, and it was not until 2nd February 1708 that the
monastery was formally erected.
This was a great event in Lima, as the city was anxious to have
a convent of nuns in honour of Saint Rose. The Archbishop,
Monsignor Melchor de Lin y Cisneros, approved the transfer of three
Dominican nuns of the monastery of Santa Catalina in Lima to the
bguinage, These three nuns were destined to lead the new monastery
and included Doa Josefa Portocarrero, daughter of the Viceroy,
Conde de Monclova. Almost all of Lima turned out in solemn
procession, accompanied by the prelate, ecclesiastics and
ministers.
It was thought desirable to transfer the bguinage of Santa Rosa
to a more salubrious location. Reverend Father Alonso Messia helped
the nuns to acquire the house where Saint Rose died, as it was the
only place associated with her life and sanctified by her; he did
everything possible to convince the viceroy to grant this grace,
and so it was achieved by a decree of January 2nd 1709, causing
great joy amongst the nuns. Another momentous date for the
monastery was May 17th 1710, when the first prioress was appointed;
all eyes turned towards Doa Josefa Portocarrero Laso de la Vega and
so she was appointed prioress by Rev. Dr. Don Francisco Alonso
Garcs, with the blessing of all.
The room in which Saint Rose died is preserved as a chapel,
together with her relics. Her life is illustrated in many fine
frescoes.
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PERU Monasterio de Santa Rosa de Lima, Arequipa
Eight hundred years ago, Dominic gathered at Prouilhe a group of
women converted from Catharism. They would be consecrated to God
and their prayer and penance would be the foundation and support of
the preaching work of Dominic and his Order (the Santa Predicacin).
.. the mission of the friars, sisters and lay members of the Order
is to spread the name of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the
world. The mission of the cloistered nuns is to seek Christ in
silence, to ponder and to call upon Him, so that the the Word of
God should not return empty but should prosper and bear fruit in
those who have been sent. (Const. fund and II)
Our sisters of Prouilhe, guided by our holy father Dominic,
strengthened their spirit through the study of Gods Word, becoming
flames of love and enabling this fire to catch and take hold of
other sisters, who founded other monasteries. By the grace of God,
this fire reached as far as the Americas. Thus it is that we have
six Dominican monasteries for women, two dedicated to our mother
St. Catherine and two to St. Rose of Lima, devotion to whom spread
fast throughout Peru.
259 years ago, on June 13 1747, four sisters from the Monastery
of St. Catherine in Arequipa founded a second house in this same
city, under the full name of the Monastery of Santa Rosa de Santa
Mara del Seor San Jos. Our predecessors gave their all in order to
ignite the Dominican flame in the hearts of their countrymen and
women, to bring their fellowmen to God, to teach us to be as
Abraham, to not retreat or to fail to win from God His grace and
mercy.*
May the cry of our father Dominic - What will become of sinners?
- resonate in our own bowels of mercy;, may it shake us (wake us
and propel us) out of our own fears and into the work that God has
entrusted to each one of us.*
It should be remembered that the original intention of our
donors Jos Alcazar y Padilla and Doa Mara de Pealoza was to found
this monastery in the city of Moquegua. The Bishop of Arequipa Juan
Calero de Toledo, however, successfully requested Phillip V of
Spain to grant the permission to found in Arequipa instead, on the
grounds that this was a far more populous city. The condition
remained, nevertheless, that preference should be given to
vocations from Moquegua.
-
PERU Monasterio de Nuestra Seora del Rosario Quillabamba Founded
in 1994 by the Federation of Dominican Nuns of Peru
Compared to Perus other Dominican monasteries some of which have
more than three centuries of history behind them, this is indeed a
very recent foundation. It owes its existence to the express wish
of the Church, and is the fruit of the prayers and evangelisation
of missionary brothers and sisters in the harsh Amazonian
environment.
The Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary was inaugurated on June
26 1994. It was a day of intense emotion for the many who
accompanied Bishop Juan Jos Larraeta and the nine Dominican
foundresses, under the authority of Mother Teresa del Nio Jess
Capelln Arenas. Present in spirit were all the members of all the
Dominican monasteries in Peru, each one of which had contributed
one or more sisters in order to make up the required number of
nuns. All requisite formalities had been completed and permissions
obtained from the Holy See and the Master of the Dominican Order.
The duly prepared monastic buildings were ready; they are situated
on the property of the Mission of Quillabamba.
It is easy to describe the calm and solemnity of the
inauguration ceremony, but behind it lay hard work, worry and even
moments of anguish. Certain institutions and persons must be
acknowledged with gratitude: Juan Jos Larraeta O.P., Apostolic
Vicar of Puerto Maldonado; the Dominican Brothers of the Regional
Vicariate of St. Rose of Lima, particularly Father Francisco
Panera; the Federation of Nuns of Our Lady of the Rosary of Peru,
with special mention of the Federal Prioress Teresa Capellan. A
work of such magnitude required the co-operation, understanding and
generosity of many.
The monastery was conceived as an oasis of peace, where the
amazing orchestra of the jungle will be changed into prayer. It
will be a house of contemplation, from which will flow light and
thanks for our brother preachers, a place of rest in which to find
strength for the missionary task. The prayers, sacrifices and love
of the sisters of Quillabamba rise heavenwards, to be returned in
grace and blessings for the Dominican mission and in comfort and
joy for the inhabitants of the region. The heart of the Church
seems very close here, in the Peruvian mountains, in full
missionary field.