Dominican Nuns of the Monastery of Mary the Queen Break Ground

On Monday, March 1, Dominican Provincial, Fr. James Marchionda, OP, and his Socius, Fr. Don Goergen, OP, were present in Girard, Illinois, to support our Dominican Nuns of the Monastery of Mary the Queen, at the ground-breaking ceremony for their new monastery. They were joined by Fr. Ed Ruane, OP, and Br. John Steilberg, OP, from St. Louis, as well as two of our Springfield brothers, Fr. Clint Honkomp, OP, and Fr. Mike DeTemple, OP.

Bishop Paprocki of Springfield presided over the ceremony, and Fr. Marchionda was invited to do the First Reading and Responsorial Psalm. Approximately 40 people – Nuns, Sisters, Friends and Benefactors, as well as all the people involved in the construction plans – were gathered on an absolutely gorgeous day.

This courageous community of nuns has worked diligently for over six long years to establish a Monastery here in the territory of the Province of St. Albert the Great. The Springfield Sisters have graciously hosted them on their own property since they arrived in the Midwest from Elmira, New York. Plans are that the Monastery construction will be completed and ready for occupancy by January 2022. Let us pray with them for this goal.

Please join the province in prayer that God will continue to bless these wonderful, holy women with ongoing strength, stamina, courage, and wisdom, as they make their home among us. May they receive many vocations in the years to come. May the Dominican friars continue to enjoy a long, loving, and inspired relationship with them, as we have with the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament in Farmington Hills, Michigan, the Dominican Nuns in Ortonville Michigan, and our sisters located just outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin. May they always feel the warmth of our fraternal welcome as we benefit from their prayerful presence in the midst of the province. Together, may the Dominican Family remain the Holy Preaching.