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History of Our Foundation The Dominican Monastery of Saint Jude was founded on August 17, 1944 by Mother Mary Dominic, O.P., and Mother Mary of the Child Jesus, O.P. The purpose of this foundation was to provide a place where those who aspired to the Contemplative Life could enter regardless of race. Many bishops were contacted and asked if such a community would be welcome, however the replies were not too encouraging. Many thought it a noble idea, but unsuitable to their area or the time or to the people of their diocese. In 1944 our foundresses were finally welcomed by Archbishop Thomas Toolen of Mobile, Alabama. With the cooperation of Father Harold Purcell, founder of the City of Saint Jude, a place was found in the (then) Diocese of Mobile. Fr. Purcell intended to establish the cloistered sisters in a building adjoining the Church of Saint Jude in Montgomery. He could not build, however, because of the shortage of materials in wartime. There was a house available in Marbury, 30 miles north of Montgomery. All he needed to do there was to make suitable adaptations to turn a frame farm house into a temporary monastery. Our foundresses left the monastery at Catonsville, Maryland, on August 17, arriving in Marbury the next day. The small frame house was ideally situated in a quiet, country spot. Named for Saint Jude, the Saint of the Impossible, the monastery is proof of his powerful intercession and patronage. With the Bishop's approval the community decided to remain in Marbury. In the early 1950s the Nuns began to solicit funds to build a permanent Monastery on the adjoining hilltop. There were countless responses to the request, "Just throw a brick at us! Each one is 14 cents." Bishop Toolen turned the first spadeful of earth on November 13, 1952. The community moved into this new Monastery on the Feast of Saint Jude, October 28, 1953. The Canonization of Saint Katharine Drexel has special significance for the nuns in Marbury. Many of them attended schools operated by her Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Some even met Mother Katharine when she made her annual visitations to the classes. The Josephite Fathers also had a notable part of the early history of Saint Jude's monastery. One Sister remembers reading about the new monastery in their magazine Colored Harvest, as it was known then. The article inspired her to write and seek admission. Daily Life In the Monastery of Saint Jude, we have Adoration and the Rosary throughout the day and it is in these hours before the Most Blessed Sacrament that our life finds it fullest meaning. These devotions have been maintained for well over 50 years. Our nuns also chant the full Monastic Liturgy of the Hours (in English and Latin) and participate in the celebration of the Mass daily. Time is provided for prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture. Most work is performed in common. Such activities as cooking, washing, mending, cleaning, gardening, and secretarial tasks are shared as far as possible. There are recreation periods each day during which we participate in activities that offer a change of pace. On pleasant days, we may go hiking in the woods, play catch or badminton, or just watch the birds. Indoors there are games, knitting, rosary making or other hand work. The main feature of every recreation is talking! As in any close family, the pleasure of simply being together builds and strengthens the bond of love.
Starting with the needs of the Church and the Holy Father, we hold up to the Lord the particular intentions of friends, of the sick, the persecuted, the poor and desperate, prisoners, the young, the elderly, the lonely of all ages and circumstances, and the souls in Purgatory. The list is unending, for all of us need prayers. We also commend to your prayers the souls of our sisters who have completed their earthly pilgrimage:
May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Home | Prayer & Contemplation | St. Dominic | Community & Heritage | Vocations Dominican Monastery of Saint Jude |
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