Ann Arbor Dominican sisters to buy John Paul II Center in DC

The John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.

Ann Arbor, Mich., Oct 26, 2010 / 02:45 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- To accommodate their rapidly growing community, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist announced today that they will purchase the financially beleaguered John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. near the Catholic University of America.

The center, which was the brainchild of the now retired Archbishop of Detroit, Cardinal Adam Maida, has been beset by numerous financial difficulties over the years. Intended to be a museum and Catholic intellectual hub, the center borrowed heavily from the Archdiocese of Detroit, owing them $40 million as of 2006, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Ann Arbor sisters have had a different problem as they’ve been unable to build facilities fast enough to house new members.

In an e-mail announcement on Oct. 26, the Dominican order wrote that their community “welcomed 22 aspirants in August of this year – a gift from the Lord that continues to call us to ongoing discernment of how to provide for the formation and education of the young women seeking to enter religious life.”

“In order to plan and care accordingly for these vocations, the Dominican Sisters of Mary,” the community is “in the inspection phase of a purchase and sale agreement to buy a building at 3900 Harewood Road, known to many as the JPII Cultural Center, near the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.”

“It is our hope to use this building as a House of Studies for the continuing education and formation of our Sisters.”

The Dominican sisters made headlines in February, when they made an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show – fielding questions regarding their vocation and discernment, their vows of poverty and chastity, and their life in community. Sister Maria Guadalupe Hallee, Director of Mission Advancement for the sisters, told CNA last March that since the show, almost all the feedback the sisters have received has been overwhelmingly positive.

Funny thing how the traditional orders are busting at the seams...while the “new, improved, modernized ones” are virtually all reduced to a handful of elderly ladies rattling around in big, empty buildings.

Actually, it’s not funny at all. It’s very sad. I know some elderly sisters from a “modernized” order and they all know something went really wrong 40 years ago, but they have no idea of how to change it back.

I know some elderly sisters from a “modernized” order and they all know something went really wrong 40 years ago, but they have no idea of how to change it back.

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They can start with losing the butch haircuts and pantsuits. Get back in their habits, back in the classroom and back in chapel and their orders will thrive.

I know some elderly sisters from a “modernized” order and they all know something went really wrong 40 years ago, but they have no idea of how to change it back.

Ditto. I am now employed at a local Catholic all girls academy. With the shrinking number of nuns that once ran the school, it has now passed into the hands of professionals. There are still a handful of sisters on campus, all dressed in lay clothes. Recently, the nun who used to do my job, stopped by to assist with a major fundraising event. She introduced herself and said "Just call me (first name)". I explained that I could not do that. Several days later, I met another nun, dressed in blue jeans and a sweatshirt. She struck up a quick conversation, again introducing herself by her first name. Once again, I explained that I could not call her that. In the course of that abbreviated conversation, I commented on the growth of religious communities that retain the habit and live in community (these sisters all have private residences). She said the sisters had noticed this but the rationale behind the success of those orders, like the Ann Arbor Dominicans, still needed to be "unpacked".

I think they "get it" but, preferring to continue their independent lifestyle, will shy away from any such changes. BTW, one of their sister communities, is down in Orlando FL. While updating information on one of their members, I couldn't help but notice the name of the road leading to their motherhouse - Bon Vivant Way! I kid you not.

From the Dominican Sister's website "About Us" page:

Through profession of the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, along with a contemplative emphasis on Eucharistic adoration and Marian devotion, our community exists for the salvation of souls and the building of the Church throughout the world.

If all religious orders would adopt and implement this statement, the Church would be greatly strengthened.

I hope they can make something of it. The current “Cultural Center” is a sick joke of a museum.

Amen!

I went there a few years ago (mind you, I live in suburban DC so it's no struggle to get there). The only thing worth seeing was a traveling exhibit of papal portraits. The gift store reminded me of a low-budget version of the Episcopal gift store in the basement of the National "Cathedral." Disgusting.

One of the sisters is the daughter of a friend of mine. Let’s not insinuate about them. Their devotion to God is admirable. Your comments are not.

I believe you misread my response. I was responding to someone who was complaining about sisters in unnamed orders who wear pantsuits and have [what he called] butch haircuts.

My own sister-in-law had to get a pretty severe haircut when she joined an order and, like the Dominicans in the article, wore a veil. I have absolutely NO problem with this sisters, and opur next door neighbors had them over for dinner when they were in town, largely to encourage their 10 year old daughter to be open to a good religious vocation.

If one of our daughters has a religious vocation, this is one of only a handful of orders that we would encourage her to consider.

I hope they can make something of it. The current “Cultural Center” is a sick joke of a museum.

The only thing worth seeing was a traveling exhibit of papal portraits.

Hey does it have that Koran he so famously received as gift?

(grin)

Seriously, I received a fundraising letter when this was first getting started. I thought at the time that I couldn't think what they could put IN it that would make it a viable concern ....

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