Out With the New and In With The Old

Anastasia Kenney | Catholic Anchor

The title may seem odd, especially in light of the facts.  The Archdiocese of Anchorage is losing 83yr old Sister Ann Fallon, an Adrian Dominican Sister back to Michigan, while at the same time 35yr old Anastasia Kenney is joining the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. (Read the full articles at the Catholic Anchor.)

Anchorage has become a stronghold of Dominican culture. Likewise, more traditional and orthodox Dominican orders are booming with vocations across the country. So in essence, Anchorage is a microcosm of what is occurring in the greater American Catholic Church: there is an ushering out the 'New' and welcoming back the 'Old.'

More than anything I think this is a sign of the times. Our younger Catholics are embracing tradition and orthodoxy. The Adrian Dominicans were part of the visitation of Women's Religious orders by the Vatican. Their influence in Catholic education circles is waning. Yet, the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and Mary, Mother of the Eucharist are booming beyond control to the point that their expansion and construction can't keep up with their growth. This shows where the hearts and minds of young Catholic women are in this country. It shows where the Spirit is leading these ladies, and how their hearts are being called.

Let us pray for both women for their service to God and the Church. Let us also focus our hearts on where the Church is heading, and where hearts are being drawn. Let us also pray that is another contingent of Sisters are brought up here they are of the habited kind that reflects that direction. I don't want to criticize the Adrian Dominicans too harshly, there are a lot of holy women that did tons of good for a lot of people. That being said, there is a clear difference between them and the habited more traditional Dominican orders that are seeing a vocations boom.

The Difference is clear...

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The difference between orders like this is that there is a theological and spiritual reason behind an order's Charism. What they do, and how they are is evident in very clear ways, especially in their choice of habit (or not) and their Charism and mission. The reason that more traditional and habited orders are growing, while the more 'Modern' ones are on the decline, is that young women in this modern culture of sex, relativism, and vulgarity long for something greater. There is the phrase that says that, 'Heaven is much to far away.' To that I say 'AMEN!' I want Heaven to look nothing like modern culture.

The young (and not so young) Catholic women I know want nothing to do with this culture either. The idea of being a 'Bride of Christ' is much more appealing to them than to be a women of the World. Habits become for them a way to live counter-culturally in a very visible way. They are able to preach to the world their beliefs without even opening their lips. In our times this is very important. Women are embracing this because they have seen over the past few decades the failed promises of the world, and they have also seen the failed attempts at making the religion relevant in the world. To them the Church is something Sacred and of a higher order. It is a reflection of the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. Likewise, they want to reflect that, and not the world.

The hardest thing about living in Alaska is knowing that where we lived in Michigan,  we were 6 minutes from an independent school run by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. We now live in an area that has continually rejected the idea of a Catholic school. I just pray that with the Dominican presence in Alaska, that one day, maybe the OP's will come up here and start one. We can pray.

Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception

Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

Adrian Dominican Sisters

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