Mount de Sales breaks ground for new convent

Baltimore, MD - For more than a quarter century, the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia have graciously given the fruits of their religious life to the Mount de Sales Academy community, participating in and witnessing to a period of increased enrollment.

With the increase in student population, the school is starting its improvement campaign that includes the building of a new convent.

Sister Anne Catherine, was a guest on Good Morning Maryland and share information with viewers about the huge project the school is undertaking...

The campaign kick-off will be held at noon on Friday, June 4, 2010 with a ground blessing ceremony on the future site of our new convent, adjacent to the current athletic field.

The impact of the Sisters on the formation of our students, and all members of our community, can only be understood by our Heavenly Father as each Mount de Sales girl forever internalizes the faith and knowledge of the Dominican Sisters shared with joy and simplicity in their homes as they live their vocations as wives, mothers, single women, and religious sisters.

Homes and communities around the world are filled with love of God, fidelity to the Church, and devotion to the Blessed Mother because of time spent at Mount de Sales Academy under the guidance of the Dominican Sisters. Now is the time for us to build a new home, one that supports the Dominican religious life and their work for our students, at Mount de Sales Academy.

The four pillars of Dominican life are prayer, study, community, and apostolate or ministry. Their convent supports their monastic religious life that is ever old in tradition and ever new in the 21st century. Since their arrival in 1985, the Dominican Sisters have lived in the Gate House, which was originally built as a hunting lodge, later used for the Academy's chauffeur, and then served as a residence for the school chaplain and caretaker.

While the exterior is architecturally important and attractive, the living space was not designed for and does not support religious community life. The Gate House, however, will continue to be utilized. In keeping with their vows of poverty, the Sisters do not need nor desire extravagant surroundings but it is our responsibility to provide a convent that supports their religious life and, therefore, blesses their work for our students.