Got questions?
You are not alone. Ask your question here, and someone will get back to you soon. If we think your question could be helpful to others, we may post it – anonymously – on the website. Here are some of the common questions we are asked.

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A. As we age, we retire from full time ministry, but we never retire from our life-long vocation as vowed religious. Sisters often move first from full-time to part-time ministry, then gradually toward retirement at the motherhouse in Springfield. Depending on individual desires and abilities, there are plenty of activities at the motherhouse that enable us to remain active.

Q. Where do you live?

A. Some of us live in convents and some of us live in houses or apartments. We have a strong commitment to community life, so, with few exceptions, we live together with other Dominican Sisters. The places we live often depend on the location of our ministries. If we are serving in a parish we most often live in a convent provided by the parish. If we minister at one of the institutions we sponsor, such as a high school or hospital, then we live in a convent owned by that institution. Occasionally we minister in a place where there are no convents available. In those instances we may rent a house or an apartment that is conveniently located for our ministry.

Q. Do sisters ever have arguments?

A. Becoming a sister does not mean leaving behind the usual human emotions and conflicts, so yes, we do sometimes have disagreements. We try to handle these disagreements with love, always keeping in mind that we have a common mission and goal for our lives together.

What is a typical day like?

A. We don’t always know what the day will hold when we get out of bed in the morning! There are some elements of the day that are predictable, however. We pray morning prayer and evening prayer as a community, and attend Mass together. We also spend time each day in private prayer. In addition to ministry, we have the responsibilities that come with keeping a home running: cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. We will make time just to be together each day, sharing what happened and discussing things that are important to our community life and ministry. If we are living a healthy, balanced life, each day also includes some physical exercise, relaxation, and fun – a walk or a swim, a card game or gardening, visiting or enjoying a hobby.

Q. Do you miss having a family?

A. It is probably safe to say that most of us, at some time in our lives, feel the loss of not having a family of our own. It would be the same for people with families who might at times wonder what they got themselves into! Both life choices, religious life and married life, are important ways to fulfill the commitment to follow Jesus that was made at our baptism. Like everyone else who has made a commitment to a particular way of life, there are days when we feel perhaps we should have chosen something else. That’s not every day, of course!

Q. Do sisters get vacation?

A. Yes! In addition to an annual retreat and time to visit with our families, we are encouraged to take time off from ministry to do something that is fun and relaxing for us. For many of us that means traveling to visit friends or see new places, within the constraints of simple living.

Q. Who cooks and cleans?

A. In most of our convents, we do. In some of our larger convents where these tasks take so much more time, there may be a sister assigned to these responsibilities full time, or we may hire someone to help us.

Q. How do you pay your expenses?

A. In most instances we receive a salary for our ministry. Each year we budget for our needs as a local community. Just like you, we are responsible for living within our means. Because we share all our goods in common, including our salaries, we live simply and pool the funds we don’t need at the local mission to send to the congregation for the care of our retired sisters.