More Handmaids Coming Home! - Handmaids of the Precious Blood

And these Handmaids are living!

The newly painted cross on the front of the Priory of the Heart of Mary.

Bishop Stika on a visit to Lake Villa.

We recently shared the exciting news of the final interment of our departed Handmaids in the new Blessed Sacrament Cemetery at Cor Jesu Monastery in New Market. Now we have more good tidings and we ask your prayers as we prepare for the arrival of our five “Lake Villians” from the Heart of Mary Priory in Lake Villa, IL. They will join us at Cor Jesu Monastery in middle to late May in anticipation of the celebration of, not one, but two Jubilees: One Golden and one Silver. The black and white image above was taken on the arrival day for the first Handmaids to pioneer it in the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1980. Now after 36 years, the Lord is asking our Handmaids up north, to journey south to the warmer air of East Tennessee and reunite again on one property. Though it will take some building and construction before we can all be together again under one roof, it means the world to us to be together at least at the same address.

Our Handmaids with Father Deitz after his anniversary Mass.

Our Handmaids with Father Dietz after his anniversary Mass.

God’s Providence, as always, allowed the good fortune that our Sisters in Lake Villa could celebrate our chaplain’s 59th anniversary of priestly ordination before they head south. Father Don Dietz, OMI, has been our Chaplain at the Priory for many years now and we are so grateful for his ministry to the Sisters and his deep fidelity to the Mass. Join us in our prayers for him as he prepares for his next assignment. We wish him the best and ask Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy and Mother of Priests, to always watch over him.