
The history of the Conventual Sisters of St Dominic begins with the first Dominican Nuns in Ireland in the 13th century, through the harsh persecutions of the Isle of Saints and Scholars, until the call of Oceania brought these good Sisters to Western Australian shores in 1899, and then to the Wagga Wagga diocese in 1988. The Conventual Sisters of St Dominic were officially erected as an Institute of Diocesan Rite in 1993.
St. Dominic founded his first community of nuns in 1206 and even at this stage, these Religious women carried out within their enclosure the apostolate of teaching the Faith.
Monasteries of Dominican nuns grew steadily over the next three hundred years. There were almost certainly monasteries of nuns in Ireland soon after 1224, when the Dominican friars were established there.
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Mother Gabriel Gill |
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Bishop of Wagga Wagga |
In
1988, three sisters left Western
Australia to trial a new
community in the Diocese of Wagga Wagga. They did this in the belief that God
was calling them to return to a more traditional form of Dominican religious
life.
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Beginning Anew - the Founding Sisters |
Type of Community
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In 1993, the founding sisters make their vows in the newly-erected community. |
This
is not a 'new' community with a 'new' charism. It has continuity of
spirit and tradition with the long history of Dominican women in Ireland and Australia,
yet incorporates the vital elements of true renewal and reform desired by the
Church in our times.