Handmaids' News Blog
On June 17th, 2016 the Handmaids of the Precious Blood enjoyed the special milestone of our fifth Handmaid to persevere through a half a century, fifty years, of vowed religious life. Sister Rose Anne of Jesus, recently arrived from Illinois to finally settle down in East Tennessee, spent the day in community celebration as all the stops were pulled out …
While we celebrated the formal farewell Mass for our Sisters at the Heart of Mary Priory in Lake Villa, IL on May 7th, 2016, we haven’t shared photos until now. That’s because we were busy getting ready to move. The May 7th Mass with Bishop Rassas was heavily attended with over 200 people crowding into Saint Therese building. We are …
Happy Foundation Day! In 1947, on the Feast of Pentecost, May 25th, the Handmaids of the Precious Blood were founded. Ever since, we’ve marked May 25th as the anniversary of our beginnings in New Mexico. But this year is a different kind of milestone. Why? After all, 69 years doesn’t sound as historical as next year’s 70th will be. We …
Our two Handmaid Sisters from Lake Villa were ALL smiles, very happy Handmaids, when they arrived at their new HOME in East Tennessee on May 10th, 2016. Despite all the work leading up to packing and flying out, the car rides to and from the airports, and a delayed flight to boot, they stepped onto Appalachian soil refreshed and joyful …
Timing Is Everything It didn’t surprise us when Sister Mel Pierre took a turn for the worse and entered hospice while staying at the Catholic Charities run Holy Family Villa in Illinois. For three years she offered herself to the Lord as a holocaust for priests in the unique form of suffering that is dementia, while receiving outstanding and loving …
“Dear Fathers, did you know?…” [We are happy to republish this post from the later portion of the Jubilee Year for Priests when our Oblates of the Precious Blood shared details of what they were offering for priests. May this continue to provide encouragement and inspiration for all our beloved priests.] We address this page to our dear priests who …
And these Handmaids are living! 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 …
Handmaids Come Home to Blessed Sacrament Cemetery On March 29th, 2016, the Handmaids of the Precious Blood celebrated an important milestone in their settlement in New Market, TN. After moving our entire Resurrection Cemetery from Cor Jesu Monastery in Jemez Springs, NM to the Christ, Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton, TN in 2013; we did not anticipate moving …
Rev. Mother’s “Innerview” with the Institute on Religious Life is published in the November/December Religious Life magazine. Download the PDF or read the article below.
On Sunday October 18th, 2015, Bishop Stika celebrated Mass at our Chapel in our Mater Dei building before proceeding on to the former lodge down the hill to bless Cor Jesu Monastery. Both the building (now called Mater Dei) and the rustic lodge (now called Cor Jesu Monastery) have undergone extensive repairs and renovations in a very short period of …
Knights of Columbus To The Rescue! On September 19th, 2015 a significant step was completed in the move of our old library to the new Cor Jesu Monastery when nearly 6,000 books were carried from our storage area into the still-to-be-assembled library areas of the building. Knights and Knights-to-be came from Sacred Heart Cathedral for the all day moving marathon. …
Just days after our big move to New Market, Bishop Stika came to celebrate Mass and bless the Chapel, Oratory, and cells of our house that we will initially occupy. Thanks to the hard work of many volunteers and laborers under the guidance of Jimmy Dee, the garage was transformed in record time into a lovely, prayerful Chapel where we …