There is no better way to celebrate Monday of Holy Week than with NUNDAY! Today Nunday features the Congregation of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master (Pauline Family).

Sister M. Louise, O’ Rourke, pddm, sent in this photo of an international group of junior sisters representing nine nations. They were gathered in Rome from September to November for a three month intense preparatory course for Perpetual Profession.

Writes Sister Louise, “The experience was memorable as we returned to our charismatic roots, visiting where our Founder Bl. James Alberione (S. Lorenzo di Fossano, Cuneo, Italy) lived and brought to life our religious family. One of the highlights was the visit to our elderly sisters who recounted the austere yet joyful beginnings of our Congregation in the early 1930’and 40’s.
They are a beautiful and living example of women who were willing to leave everything in blind faith, out of love and conviction for the call of God!

During these months which we journeyed together, we discovered that the bonds of our consecrated life and a common love for our mission keep us together even though we are miles apart, have different habits or speak different languages!

LEFT: (top to bottom): Sr. M. Gabriela (Poland), Sr. M. Kelly (Brazil), Sr. M. Cecilia Dieu (USA, native of Vietnam). RIGHT: (top to bottom): Sr. M. Louise (Ireland), Sr. M. Marta (USA, native of Nicaragua), Sr. M. Emma Manuela (Mexico), Sr. M. Hedda (Philippines) and Sr. M. Justine (Burkina Faso). Photo taken outside the house where Bl. James Alberione was born in S. Lorenzo di Fossano, Cuneo, Italy.

The photo was taken in November 2010 and since then three sisters have professed perpetual vows and the others are preparing for this step in the upcoming months. Let us keep the sisters in our prayers!

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To see more photos of Catholic sisters and nuns and links to their stories, visit the A Nun’s Life Facebook photo album. If you’ve got a photo and story (how you know Sister) of a real Catholic sister or nun, check out the details on submitting your photo for consideration.

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Join the A Nun’s Life community for prayer at 6 p.m. Central Time (your time zone).

Happy NUNDAY! It’s a beautiful day here in the Illinois — the sun is shining, the breeze is cool, and I’ve got a full day of domestic and ministerial responsibilities! The new IHM house is up and running. Hoping to score a bed frame from Craigslist today and to get the moving boxes to the recycling center. Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes as we transitioned out of the Petri Dish convent to our new home.

We celebrate Nunday today with two beautiful photos from Amparo, a young woman from Argentina.

Writes Amparo (who is pictured on the left), “In the middle is Sister Ceci, from the congregation of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, and the picture was taken in a “Life’s Projects” camp they held at the beginning of this year. She chose not to wear the habit, though she usually wears a blue skirt. Ceci is a great friend of mine.”

“In this pictures all of the ladies, minus the one wearing pants are disciples. The one with the veil is Sister Gaby (she chose to wear the habit), the first disciple I met and also a great friend of mine. In the bottom the two are Luciana and Ceci in order. The one between the two men is Sister Luz and the other one is Sister Ana, the Superior of the Argentinian province.”

To see all the photos of Catholic sisters and nuns and links to their stories, visit the A Nun’s Life Facebook photo album. If you’ve got a photo and story (how you know Sister) of a real Catholic sister or nun, check out the details on submitting your photo for consideration.

In response to my post about the movie Nun of That, Sister Louise O’Rourke, PDDM, sent me a link to a video she created following a 2-week intensive course of video production in 2004. Sister Louise is a Catholic sister of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master based in Ireland.

Sister Louise’s goal in creating the video was to challenge the stereotypes of young people toward religious and vice-versa. I think she did a great job. Sister notes that not only is she a real sister, but she did all her own stunts! Also, she notes to ignore the 1st minute of the video as it was the first video exercise she had to do.

Excellent job, Sister Louise! Thank you for sending this. You show that nuns are real people who are dedicated to God and who live and minister as film producers or ninjas while at the same time being contemplative, relevant, joyful, smart women of faith.