The trip to the Dominican Motherhouse in Nashville. The chance to see how the sisters we saw every day at school lived. We had all heard the stories and had waited our turn for four years.
We signed up as soon as we could, knowing there was only room for 40 girls. The excitement mounted until here it was, the final text telling our parents we loved them. All 40 of us turned in our phones, not to see them for the next four days. For that time, we were not going to be screenagers; we were free to be fully present in the moment to appreciate the beauty, simplicity, peace, and joy of the convent and the sisters.
As we drove the 14 hours to the motherhouse, we were filled with excitement about the weekend ahead of us. When we finally arrived at the convent, we headed up to our dorms. Unlike regular dorms, they were a sacred space where we were to remain silent, respectful and prayerful. Afterward, we went downstairs to the beautiful chapel to pray with the sisters and listen as they praised God with one voice.
One memory that was particularly powerful was when we played basketball outside with the novices. The novices — members of the order who have not yet taken their final vows — were so friendly and so joyful that we ended up staying outside and talking to them for almost an hour after our game was over. The sisters were so fun to be around, both while playing basketball and while talking to them. We learned that one of them came from Austria to join the Dominicans, another came from China, and another from our home in Northern Virginia. The crazy part was that these sisters were only a few years older than us; two of them were fresh out of college. It was amazing to spend time with these young women who were such active witnesses to the faith, and at such a young age.
We were very fortunate to be able to spend time with the sisters at the convent. They often joined us for meals and we would share stories about our lives. It was very interesting to hear so many different stories about how each sister responded to their call to join the convent. It was clear that these women were called by God in a special way, and we are very blessed and grateful to be able to see a glimpse of their life for a few days.
After Sunday Mass with the sisters, we packed up and made our way back to Virginia. We were truly blessed and fortunate not only to have been allowed to travel to the motherhouse and experience how the sisters live, but also to grow in the appreciation for the Dominican sisters we have at our own school and see every day. As we returned home, we carried with us not just memories, but also a stronger faith and a greater awareness of God’s presence and overwhelming love.
