‘Thanks be to God, we have not run out of supplies,’ says Sister Catherine from her convent in Lymington, ‘though we have had to cut back on certain items, like our favourite peanut butter’.
She is one of 13 women who make up the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph.
As Dominican religious sisters, they are allowed to leave the convent to do work in the community, although with the coronavirus pandemic they have been confined to their quarters.
Like everyone, the sisters, who range from 26 years old to 85, have had to adapt to the lockdown situation with daily prayers via YouTube, crafting face shields that fit over their wimples and digging out the jigsaw puzzles.
Sister Catherine tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Bananagrams seems to be the ongoing popular game for us – we now have three sets!
‘A few sisters have brought out some jigsaw puzzles (I am hopeless at this!), and a couple of sisters have slowly taken up learning watercolour painting!.
‘Ah, and since we’ve been so blessed to live in the New Forest, sisters are able to go for longer walks (yes, with social distancing).’
The sisters’ daily schedule sees a ‘rising bell’ sound at 5:45am before they start silent prayer at 6:30am.
They then go about their religious studies and do household chores before a group prayer at midday and then lunch at 1pm.
Traditionally in the afternoons, they would get out to do work with partner organisations but due to the coronavirus pandemic, they have to stay put.
Sister Catherine explains: ‘Since we’re Dominican religious sisters, as opposed to nuns who do not leave their convents, our apostolate tends to focus around preaching and teaching the truths of the Catholic faith: evangelisation and catechesis, as well as various pastoral ministries.
‘This often requires that we physically go to parishes, schools, conferences, retreats, etc. to preach and teach.
‘But with the current pandemic, when we know this type of outreach is needed now more than ever, instead of going out of the convent for our apostolates as we would normally do, we’re trying to find creative ways to “go out” online.’
The Dominican Sisters of St Joseph have become more active on social media in recent months, with video readings and encouraging posts tailored to worshippers.
They currently have 3,339 followers on Facebook, 6,800 followers on Instagram and 205 subscribers to their YouTube channel, DominiCam.
Rounding out the sisters’ day, evening prayer takes place at 5pm, followed by supper at 6:20pm, ‘fun and games’ at 7:45pm, and a final prayer at 8:15pm. A ‘grand silence’ then commences until the same routine starts the next day.
Asked what the sisters have learned through dealing with the pandemic, Sister Catherine says ‘to have more patience and more compassion’.
She continues: ‘Additionally, we’ve recognised perhaps on an even more profound level just how blessed we truly are.
‘Not only are we able to have daily mass and a sacred place to pray, but God’s Providence has been absolutely incredible, even miraculous at times!
‘Financially, yes, we are struggling like many of you as we’re not able to go out for our normal apostolate; however, God never ceases to amaze us with the generosity shown to us through those that support us whether through their prayers, food donations, and monetary contributions.’
So far, none of the sisters have been infected by the coronavirus but they have measures in place if anyone does become infected and requires further isolation.
Last week, one of the sisters was concerned about a hospital appointment, so she went about crafting a plastic face shield that fits over her wimple for the occasion.
The nuns will also adopt PPE if necessary as the lockdown measures lift and community visits resume.
Concluding with a message of positivity to those struggling to cope with the outfall of the coronavirus, Sister Catherine says: ‘We’ve had a few snippets of some ‘glory moments’ that have shot through the darkness of this pandemic that witness to the hope and goodness found in the core of each person, and it has been amazing.
‘Remember the glory, record the glory, and keep searching for it. God will always surprise you, especially in your darkest moments.
‘Remind yourself: this is only a moment in time, a moment that will pass.’
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/21/nuns-reveal-what-life-has-like-convent-coronavirus-prayers-via-youtube-face-shields-wimples-jigsaw-puzzling-12729893/
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