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Q. What is the duration of
an adoration period?
A. There is always one or two
Sisters in adoration before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. During
the day these periods are usually about 45 minutes; during the night
they last an hour.
Q. What is the purpose of the grille in the chapel and convent
parlors?
A. The grille is sign and symbol
of the secluded life the Sisters have chosen to live in order to
find God more completely. The conscious renunciation of certain
social advantages, known and esteemed at their true value, frees
the Sisters to devote themselves more thoroughly to the quest for
God to attend to him more perfectly, and share to a more universal
degree the suffering and hopes of all mankind.
Q. Do the Sisters ever leave the enclosure?
A. Yes, for legitimate reasons, such as medical treatment.
Q. How often are the Sisters permitted visits from family members
and close friends?
A. Three times a year. Special
considerations is given in cases when visitors come from out of
town.
Q. Do the Sisters wear the rose-colored habit when they leave the
enclosure?
A. The Sisters wear a gray habit
when they leave the enclosure. The rose-colored habit is worn only
within the cloister.
Q. What are the regulations regarding fasting?
A. The community fasts together
several times a year. However, personal fasting is left to the discretion
of each Sister.
Q. Do the Sisters watch television?
A. The use of television is
limited to circumstances of a religious nature, in keeping with
the Church's norms for cloistered-contemplative religious.
Q. How are the Sisters informed about current events?
A. The Sisters get the daily
newspaper. The daily newscast from the radio may also be taped and
played when the community is assembled together.
Q. What kind of work do the Sisters do? How do they support themselves?
A. Besides ordinary household
chores, the Sisters have a correspondence apostolate by which they
acknowledge the many letters received every day from people requesting
their prayerful support. People can also be enrolled in Masses and
the prayers of the Sisters, and a certificate inscribed and issued
upon request. These enrollment cards besides the good-will offerings,
which many people include with their prayer requests, are the main
support of the Sisters.
Q. Do the Sisters take a vow of silence?
A. The Sisters do not take a
vow of silence, but have a rule of silence. However, it is always
permitted to say what is necessary for the sake of charity and work
performance. There are two recreation periods a day.
Q. What do the Sisters do during the recreation periods?
A. A variety of things: some
prefer to work on crafts and hobbies as they share conversation
with each other. Others like to play games indoors or, weather permitting,
to take part in more active games outdoors.
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