Sustaining a Mission of Prayer & Sacrifice for the Needs of the World
By: Carolyn WilsonFor over 100 years, The Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament in Farmington Hills has been a home for Dominican cloistered life and perpetual adoration. Currently it is home to nearly 30 nuns who only leave the monastery occasionally. Their lives are dedicated to prayer in the chapel seven times a day, singing the Divine Office daily, and 24-hour perpetual adoration of the Eucharist.As Sr. Mary Peter Fox, OP, Prioress of the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament, shared about the life of the sisters, her smile radiated joy. She describes her vocation as living the community’s mission of “prayer and sacrifice for the needs of the world and the Church”.Though most of the sisters have limited contact with the public, Sr. Faustina Marie Staszkiewicz, OP, serves as an Extern for the Community. She represents the Community as she meets with people who visit the Monastery with prayer requests and at vocation retreats, where she enjoys joining in the activities and games – even skidding down a hall into a bunch of balloons on one occasion!
Sr. Faustina Marie shared that she and the Community have “adopted the whole world”. They enjoy being a part of the many families with whom they come into contact and for whom they pray.
The Community earns income through their Gift Shop, the repackaging and distribution of altar breads, and generous benefactors, but they do not have the steady income stream required to sustain and grow their current Community of 27 sisters and one postulant. As such, they are seeking ways to make their community financially sustainable into the future.
“We are confident we made the right decision to set up an endowment, because the Foundation is focused on supporting Catholic causes.”
About a year ago, Frank Migliazzo, one of the Foundation’s Directors, introduced Sr. Mary Peter to the Catholic Foundation. She trusted Frank’s advice and so she invited Angela Moloney, President and CEO of the Foundation, to speak to the Community’s Board about setting up an endowment fund.
“We are very confident we made the right decision to set up an endowment with the Catholic Foundation, because the Foundation is focused on supporting Catholic causes”, Sr. Mary Peter shared.
The Cloistered Dominicans have a public chapel which is open daily for Eucharistic adoration. Those seeking a place to gather with the Community for the celebration of the Eucharist can do so daily at 7:15 a.m. or on Sundays at 11 a.m. To learn more about the sisters and their community, visit http://www.opnuns-fh.org/. The sisters welcome your support, including the support of their endowment which will help ensure their future financial sustainability.